The Visa Loophole Most Foreigners Don’t Know About

Japan has more pathways in than you think. Here’s the one almost nobody talks about.

Author

Foreign Professional
September 14, 2025

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Partnership Spotlight
Learn Japanese with Toranomon Language School – My Personal Recommendation

I’ve been getting messages for years from readers asking: “How can I actually learn Japanese if I’m moving to Japan?” After trying different approaches myself, I wanted to find a school I could truly stand behind. Over the past several months, I’ve been working directly with Ryoko Marumo, the CEO of Toranomon Language School (TLS), to create a service that genuinely helps international professionals succeed in Japan.

I chose TLS because they combine everything I was looking for: flexibility, professional teaching, and a real understanding of what it’s like to be new in Japan. Ryoko is deeply committed to supporting foreigners in their careers and lives here, and together we’ve designed a program specifically to support my readers as they make the move.

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Visa Loophole
The Visa Loophole You Haven’t Heard About

When people imagine moving to Japan, they often think of two options: become an English teacher or land a competitive job in tech. Both are valid paths, but they miss something important.

Japan has quietly introduced a visa category that is far less known, yet could be the fastest way for many foreigners to start working and living here.

Your Visa
The Specified Skilled Worker Visa (特定技能ビザ)

In 2019, Japan created this visa to address its growing labor shortage. It’s designed to bring in foreign talent to industries where demand far outpaces local supply.

Who qualifies?

  • Workers in industries like logistics, manufacturing, food service, and caregiving

  • No university degree required

  • Japanese language requirements vary, but some companies hire with only basic skills

Why it matters:

  • Companies are actively recruiting abroad under this category

  • It offers a path to long-term residency after enough years of work

  • Japan’s shrinking population means demand for foreign workers is only growing

Your Loophole
Why This Is a Loophole

Unlike the highly competitive “Engineer/Specialist” visas that require degrees and niche skills, the Specified Skilled Worker visa lowers the barrier to entry.

Think of it as a backdoor into Japan: once here, you can build professional experience, improve your Japanese, and eventually transition into better-paying jobs or even permanent residency.

For many, it’s not the final step, but it’s the first step that makes everything else possible.

The Japan Work Report
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CONCLUSION
What You Should Do Next

If Japan is your goal, don’t overlook this pathway. The Specified Skilled Worker visa was created to help foreigners like you, and it’s one of the few categories where the demand is growing faster than the supply.

To help, I’ll be sharing real examples of open roles under this visa in next week’s edition of Foreign Professional. You’ll see which industries are hiring, what qualifications companies actually require, and how to prepare your application so you stand out.

👉 Make sure you’re following along each week so you don’t miss those updates.

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