Japan Job Vacancies in Sri Lanka 2026: SSW Jobs and Salary

The Specified Skilled Worker job categories, test rules, SLBFE steps and what the pay is worth in rupees

Updated • 9 FAQs

How can Sri Lankans get a job in Japan in 2026?

The main legal route is the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, which covers 16 job fields. You need to pass JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 and a skills test, then apply through SLBFE or a licensed agency. SSW workers usually earn JPY 180,000-260,000 a month, about LKR 378,000-546,000.

What is the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) programme?

Japan created the Specified Skilled Worker status of residence in April 2019 to bring in foreign workers who can do a job without further training. Sri Lanka and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on SSW on 19 June 2019. Japan's Ministry of Justice said the agreement aims to eliminate malicious intermediaries, so recruitment is meant to run through approved channels.

There are two levels. SSW (i) is for workers with a basic level of skill and daily-life Japanese, and allows up to five years in total. SSW (ii) is for highly skilled workers, has no stay limit on a renewable basis, and allows a spouse and children to join you.

FeatureSSW (i)SSW (ii)
Period of stayUp to 5 years in totalNo limit, renewable
FamilyBasically not permittedSpouse and children if requirements met
Japanese testJFT-Basic or JLPT N4+Not required
Skills testField skills test (TITP graduates may be exempt)Higher-level skills test

What are the SSW visa job categories for Sri Lanka?

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 16 SSW fields. Sri Lankans can work in any of them once they pass the field's skills test and a Japanese test. Fields marked "Yes" have had skills tests held in Sri Lanka, according to the Embassy of Japan in Colombo; for the others you may need to sit the test in Japan or another country.

SSW fieldTypical workTest held in Sri Lanka
Nursing careCare homes and day-care centres; extra care Japanese test requiredYes
Building cleaning managementCleaning of offices, hotels and public buildingsCheck
Manufacture of industrial productsMachining, metal, electrical and electronic partsCheck
Construction industryCivil works, building and site tradesYes
Shipbuilding and ship machineryWelding, painting and fitting in shipyardsCheck
Automobile repair and maintenanceInspection and servicing at repair shopsCheck
Aviation industryAirport ground handling and aircraft maintenanceYes
Accommodation industryHotel front desk, planning, food service and guest careCheck
AgricultureCrop farming and livestockYes
Fishery and aquacultureFishing and fish farmingCheck
Manufacture of food and beveragesFood processing plants (not alcohol)Check
Food service industryRestaurants: cooking, serving and store managementYes
Automobile transportation businessTruck, taxi and bus drivingCheck
RailwayTrack, rolling stock and station workCheck
ForestryPlanting, thinning and loggingCheck
Wood industrySawmills and wood productsCheck

Japan has also announced three more SSW (i) fields, logistics warehousing, resource circulation and linen supply, which are reported to start in 2027. Test locations in Sri Lanka change from year to year, so check the latest notice from the Embassy of Japan and SLBFE before you register for a test.

Japanese Language and Skills Test Requirements

Language: you must pass the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at N4 or higher. JFT-Basic is computer-based, runs several times a year and gives results on the day. JLPT is held twice a year and results take about two months. Nursing care applicants also need the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.

Skills: each field has its own skills evaluation test. In Sri Lanka, nursing care, food service, agriculture and construction tests have been computer-based, and the airport ground handling test has been paper-based. Workers who finished Technical Intern Training (ii) in a related job can skip the tests.

SLBFE criteria: SLBFE adds its own rules for its government-to-government calls. Its 2024 SSW call for nursing care and food service asked for applicants aged 18 to 30 with G.C.E. A/L, a passed skills test, N4 or JFT-Basic, and no previous Japan visa refusal. Rules can change with each call. If you are thinking about care work, compare pay at home with our caregiver salary in Sri Lanka guide.

How much do SSW workers earn in Japan?

Japanese rules require SSW workers to be paid at least as much as a Japanese employee doing the same job. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare wage census has put the average scheduled monthly wage of SSW workers at roughly JPY 210,000-220,000 in recent years, as reported by Japanese HR publishers.

The table shows typical monthly gross pay by field. Ranges are SalaryLK editorial estimates from Japanese job adverts and wage data, converted at about LKR 2.10 per yen (market mid-rate, 5 October 2026). Overtime, night shifts and bonuses can add more.

FieldMonthly (JPY)Approx. LKR
Nursing care180,000 - 240,000378,000 - 504,000
Food service180,000 - 230,000378,000 - 483,000
Accommodation180,000 - 230,000378,000 - 483,000
Agriculture170,000 - 220,000357,000 - 462,000
Building cleaning170,000 - 220,000357,000 - 462,000
Food and beverage manufacturing180,000 - 230,000378,000 - 483,000
Industrial products manufacturing190,000 - 260,000399,000 - 546,000
Construction200,000 - 300,000420,000 - 630,000
Automobile repair200,000 - 260,000420,000 - 546,000
Aviation (ground handling)190,000 - 250,000399,000 - 525,000

Pay is higher in Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi than in rural prefectures, but so is rent. Compare these figures with what the same job pays at home: a construction worker in Sri Lanka, a chef in Sri Lanka or a welder in Sri Lanka earns a fraction of the Japanese wage.

What is deducted from a Japan salary?

Gross pay is not what you take home. Employers deduct income tax, resident tax (from the second year), health insurance, pension and employment insurance. Together these often take 15-25% of gross pay. Rent, utilities and food come on top; many employers provide or arrange housing and deduct the rent.

Foreign workers who leave Japan can usually claim back part of their pension contributions as a lump-sum withdrawal payment. A realistic monthly saving for a careful SSW worker is often in the range of JPY 50,000-100,000. Plan your budget the same way you would at home with our cost of living vs salary guide.

How to Apply for a Japan SSW Job from Sri Lanka

  1. 1. Choose an SSW field

    Pick one of the 16 Specified Skilled Worker fields. Fields with skills tests held in Sri Lanka, such as nursing care, food service, agriculture, construction and airport ground handling, are the most practical starting points.

  2. 2. Pass a Japanese language test

    Pass the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) or JLPT level N4 or above. Nursing care applicants must also pass the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.

  3. 3. Pass the SSW skills test

    Pass the skills evaluation test for your chosen field. Former Technical Intern Training (TITP) workers who completed their programme in the same field can be exempt from the tests.

  4. 4. Apply through SLBFE or a licensed agency

    Register for the Japan programme with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment or use an SLBFE-licensed agency. Check the agency licence on slbfe.lk before you pay anything.

  5. 5. Get a job offer and contract

    A Japanese employer (the accepting organisation) interviews you and signs an employment contract that must pay at least what a Japanese worker in the same job would earn.

  6. 6. Certificate of Eligibility and visa

    The employer applies to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for a Certificate of Eligibility. You then apply for the SSW visa at the Embassy of Japan in Colombo.

  7. 7. Register with SLBFE and depart

    Complete SLBFE registration before leaving Sri Lanka. The initial registration fee is Rs. 22,027, which includes SLBFE insurance cover for registered migrant workers.

How do I avoid illegal Japan job agents?

Fake Japan job offers are common on social media. Protect yourself with these checks:

  • - Only deal with SLBFE or an agency on SLBFE's list of valid licensed agencies.
  • - No one can get you an SSW visa without the language and skills tests (except eligible former TITP interns).
  • - Do not pay large cash sums to "guarantee" a job, and always get an official receipt.
  • - A visit or student visa does not let you work full time in Japan.
  • - Call the SLBFE hotline 1989 to check any offer before you pay.

Registered workers get SLBFE insurance and can ask the labour section of the Sri Lankan embassy in Tokyo for help. Comparing Gulf options instead? See our Dubai salary for Sri Lankans guide, or the minimum salary in Sri Lanka for the local baseline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Japan job vacancies in Sri Lanka in 2026?

Most legal Japan jobs open to Sri Lankans in 2026 come through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) programme and the Technical Intern Training Programme. SSW covers 16 job fields, including nursing care, food service, agriculture, construction, building cleaning and manufacturing. SLBFE announces its own Japan calls on slbfe.lk, and licensed agencies also advertise SSW jobs.

What are the SSW visa job categories for Sri Lanka?

Japan lists 16 SSW fields: nursing care, building cleaning, industrial products manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, automobile repair, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, food and beverage manufacturing, food service, automobile transportation, railway, forestry and wood industry. Sri Lankans can apply in any field once they pass its skills test and a Japanese language test.

How much salary can a Sri Lankan earn in Japan?

An SSW worker typically earns JPY 180,000 to 260,000 a month before deductions, which is about LKR 378,000 to 546,000 at the October 2026 rate. Construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing pay towards the top, while agriculture, cleaning and food service pay towards the bottom. Overtime and bonuses can add more.

What Japanese level is needed for the SSW visa?

For SSW (i) you need to pass either the JFT-Basic test or JLPT N4 or higher. JFT-Basic is held several times a year with results on the same day, while JLPT is held twice a year. Nursing care also needs the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test. SSW (ii) has no language test requirement.

Is there an age limit for SSW jobs from Sri Lanka?

Japan does not set an upper age limit for SSW, but you must be 18 or older. SLBFE sets its own criteria for each call. For example, its 2024 SSW call for nursing care and food service asked for applicants aged 18 to 30 with G.C.E. A/L and 13 years of schooling.

How do I register with SLBFE for a Japan job?

Apply for an SLBFE Japan call or go through an SLBFE-licensed agency, then complete foreign employment registration before you leave. The initial registration fee is Rs. 22,027, made up of Rs. 18,200 plus VAT and SSCL. Registration gives you SLBFE insurance cover and access to help from the Sri Lankan embassy labour section.

Can I take my family to Japan on an SSW visa?

Not under SSW (i), which allows up to five years in total and basically does not permit family members to accompany you. SSW (ii), for workers who pass a higher skills test, has no stay limit on a renewable basis, and a spouse and children can join you if you meet the requirements.

How much does it cost to go to Japan from Sri Lanka on SSW?

Official costs include the JFT-Basic or JLPT test fee, the skills test fee, the SLBFE registration fee of Rs. 22,027, a passport and medical tests. Training-school fees and agency charges vary. Anyone asking for large cash payments to guarantee a Japan job, or offering a visa without tests, is a red flag.

What is the difference between SSW and TITP?

TITP (Technical Intern Training) is a training programme where interns learn skills for up to five years and usually cannot change employer. SSW is a work visa for people who already have the skills and Japanese level, and SSW workers can change jobs within the same field. Many former TITP interns move to SSW without taking the tests.

Sources

Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries

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