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Technical Intern Training Visa

Participate in Japan's government-supervised technical skills training program

Requires Residence Status (Zairyu Shikaku)Single Residence Period: Up to 5 years (3 years for Type 1 and 2; additional 2 years for Type 3)Renewable indefinitely if requirements metProcessing Time: 2-4 months

The Technical Intern Training Program (技能実習) is a government framework that allows workers from developing countries to acquire vocational skills in Japan and transfer that knowledge back to their home countries. It covers a wide range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and care services, and has historically been one of the primary channels for foreign labor entering Japan.

Despite its stated training objectives, the program has faced significant international criticism for enabling labor exploitation, restricting workers' freedom of movement, and in some cases facilitating forced labor. Japan's Diet enacted reform legislation in June 2024 that will abolish the Technical Intern Training program and replace it with a new Employment for Skills Development (育成就労 / Ikusei Shūrō) system, scheduled to launch by 2027. The new system permits limited job changes within the same sector, strengthens worker protections, and is designed to align with the Specified Skilled Worker pathway.

For workers considering this program, it is essential to use only registered, government-approved Supervising Organizations and sending organizations, and to understand your legal rights from the outset. Former Technical Intern Trainees who wish to continue working in Japan can transition to the Specified Skilled Worker visa, which offers better labor protections and more transparent working conditions.

Who Is This For

  • ✓Workers from developing countries sent to Japan under government-approved training organizations
  • ✓Participants in bilateral technical cooperation programs
  • ✓Young workers seeking vocational skills training in Japanese industries

Validity Periods

1 year (Type 1)2 years (Type 2)2 years (Type 3)

Single Residence Period: Up to 5 years (3 years for Type 1 and 2; additional 2 years for Type 3)

Requirements

  • •Acceptance into a government-approved Technical Intern Training program through a Supervising Organization (監理団体)
  • •Age typically 18 or over
  • •No prior Technical Intern Training experience in Japan (for new applicants)
  • •Willingness to transfer acquired skills back to the home country upon return (the stated program objective)
  • •No family relationship with the Japanese employer or supervisor
  • •Clean background record

Costs & Fees

Certificate of Eligibility applicationFree
Visa sticker issuance fee15,000 JPY (single entry, from 2026-07-01)
Supervising organization management feeBorne by the accepting company
Travel expensesUsually borne by the accepting party
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Visa fees

Full breakdown of Immigration fees, scrivener rates, and all other costs for this visa type.

Required Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Application for Certificate of Eligibility
  • Recent passport-size photograph
  • Training plan (実習計画) approved by the Organization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT)
  • Acceptance letter from the Supervising Organization (監理団体)
  • Letter of recommendation from the sending organization in the home country
  • Confirmation of enrollment in pre-departure Japanese language and safety training
  • Health certificate

Where to Apply

The supervising organization applies for a Certificate of Eligibility to the Immigration Bureau on the trainee's behalf

Application Process

  1. 1Apply through a registered sending organization in your home country
  2. 2Be matched with a Japanese Supervising Organization and host company
  3. 3Complete pre-departure training (Japanese language, safety, cultural orientation)
  4. 4Obtain OTIT approval for your training plan
  5. 5Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility
  6. 6Travel to Japan on a Technical Intern Training visa
  7. 7Undergo initial training at the Supervising Organization before beginning on-the-job training
  8. 8Complete the program and return to your home country (or transition to Specified Skilled Worker status)
Next step

Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Once you've chosen your visa, your Japan-side sponsor (employer / school / family) files the COE with Immigration — then you exchange it for a visa at the embassy.

COE Application StepsRequired Documents

Residence Status (COE) Review Time

Average processing days as of Jun 2026, based on official Ministry of Justice statistics.

Technical Intern Training Visa — 1(a) Non-Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
20.5days
30-mo avg: 23.8 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
—
—
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
21.0days
30-mo avg: 27.1 days

Technical Intern Training Visa — 1(b) Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
14.5days
30-mo avg: 18.4 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
30.4days
30-mo avg: 23.2 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
31.8days
30-mo avg: 29.9 days

Technical Intern Training Visa — 2(a) Non-Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
34.0days
30-mo avg: 28.3 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
39.5days
30-mo avg: 42.0 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
28.1days
30-mo avg: 32.9 days

Technical Intern Training Visa — 2(b) Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
21.8days
30-mo avg: 24.6 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
47.8days
30-mo avg: 46.0 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
32.8days
30-mo avg: 34.7 days

Technical Intern Training Visa — 3(a) Non-Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
29.0days
30-mo avg: 21.5 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
46.7days
30-mo avg: 47.8 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
39.9days
30-mo avg: 33.9 days

Technical Intern Training Visa — 3(b) Supervising

COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
16.6days
30-mo avg: 21.9 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
47.0days
30-mo avg: 44.5 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
31.8days
30-mo avg: 31.8 days

Figures include waiting time for supplementary documents. Denied and withdrawn applications are excluded.

Renewal and change-of-status 'notice' figures include the wait between review completion and pickup at Immigration Bureau.

See full COE processing time & monthly trends →

Work Restrictions

Restricted to technical intern training within the scope of companies and job types specified in the training plan. Cannot independently change employers or engage in work outside the plan.

Family & Dependents

Family accompaniment is not permitted. Family members cannot be brought throughout the entire training period (maximum 5 years).

Renewal & Extension

Type 1 (1 year) → Type 2 (2 years) → Type 3 (2 years), maximum 5 years in total. Must pass skills assessments for each upgrade. Must change training locations when upgrading from Type 2 to Type 3.

Common Visa Transition Paths

These are the most common paths — many other transitions are possible if you meet the eligibility criteria for another residence status.

Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1 & 2)
Can switch to Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 after completing Technical Intern Training Type 2

Practical Tips

  • →Can switch to Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 after completing the training to continue working in Japan
  • →Can call the foreign worker labor consultation hotline for labor issues
  • →Keep all payslips and labor contracts
  • →Improving Japanese language skills helps in switching to better visa types

FAQ

What industries are covered by the Technical Intern Training program?▾
The program covers a wide range of industries including agriculture, fisheries, food processing, construction, manufacturing, textile production, metal processing, machinery assembly, and care services. Each industry has specific approved technical skills categories.
Can Technical Intern Trainees change employers?▾
Generally no. In principle, trainees are assigned to a specific host company and cannot freely change employers. However, trainees who face exploitation, abuse, or serious contract violations may transfer to another company with OTIT assistance. Authorities have strengthened protections against forced labor in recent years.
Is the Technical Intern Training program being reformed?▾
Yes — and the reform is now law. In June 2024, Japan's Diet enacted legislation abolishing the Technical Intern Training program and replacing it with a new Employment for Skills Development (育成就労 / Ikusei Shūrō) system. The new system is scheduled to launch by 2027, with a 3-year transition period during which existing TIT participants can complete their programs under current rules. The new framework emphasizes worker rights, allows job changes within the same sector under certain conditions, and aligns more closely with the Specified Skilled Worker pathway.
Can I transition to Specified Skilled Worker status after completing my training?▾
Yes. Trainees who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training at the 2nd or 3rd grade level can transition to Specified Skilled Worker (Type 1) status in a related field without retaking the skills evaluation test or Japanese language test.