Why Bangladeshi Workers Choose Japan
Japan's ageing workforce has opened a genuine, government-structured pathway for Bangladeshi workers through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW / Tokutei Ginou) visa, introduced in 2019 under a Bangladesh-Japan bilateral Memorandum of Cooperation, alongside the older Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) that Japan is now phasing into a new "Ikusei Shuro" (employment for nurturing) framework.
জাপানের বয়োবৃদ্ধ জনশক্তির কারণে ২০১৯ সালে চালু হওয়া স্পেসিফাইড স্কিলড ওয়ার্কার (SSW) ভিসা বাংলাদেশি শ্রমিকদের জন্য একটি বাস্তবিক ও সরকার-কাঠামোবদ্ধ পথ।
SSW is not the same as the older internship scheme: the Specified Skilled Worker visa is a genuine work visa with direct employment rights, requiring a passed skills test plus the JFT-Basic (or JLPT N4+) Japanese language test — it is a different, more worker-favourable legal category from the Technical Intern Training Program.
SSW পুরনো ইন্টার্নশিপ স্কিম থেকে ভিন্ন: এটি একটি প্রকৃত কর্মভিসা যেখানে সরাসরি কর্মসংস্থানের অধিকার রয়েছে।
Job Market & In-Demand Sectors
Caregiving (Kaigo)
Japan's largest SSW demand category by far, driven by its rapidly ageing population and chronic shortage of care workers.
Manufacturing & Food Processing
Factory production lines and food/beverage manufacturing recruit heavily under both SSW and the older TITP framework.
Construction
Building and civil engineering sites employ SSW workers in categories such as scaffolding, reinforcement, and finishing.
Agriculture & Fisheries
Seasonal and year-round farm and fishery work is another SSW-eligible category with growing Bangladeshi participation.
Occupations in Highest Demand
সর্বোচ্চ চাহিদাসম্পন্ন পেশা: Caregiver, Factory Production Worker, Construction Worker, Food Processing Staff, Farm Worker.
Costs & Earnings
| Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| SSW monthly salary (varies by sector/region) | ¥160,000 - ¥220,000 |
| JFT-Basic / JLPT exam fee | Confirm current fee with the Japan Foundation test centre in Dhaka |
| Skills evaluation test fee (sector-specific) | Varies by industry body administering the test |
| Recruitment cost (BMET-regulated, via a licensed Sending Organisation) | Confirm current ceiling with BMET |
Only BMET-licensed Sending Organisations recognised under the Bangladesh-Japan bilateral arrangement are authorised to recruit for SSW positions — any agency charging far outside the BMET-regulated ceiling should be treated as a red flag.
শুধুমাত্র বাংলাদেশ-জাপান দ্বিপাক্ষিক ব্যবস্থার আওতায় বিএমইটি-স্বীকৃত সেন্ডিং অর্গানাইজেশন SSW নিয়োগের জন্য অনুমোদিত।
Recruitment Channels & BMET Registration
BMET Registration (Smart Card) — mandatory for all outbound workers; provides access to Wage Earners' Welfare Board insurance and grievance channels.
Licensed Sending Organisation (SSW route) — under the Bangladesh-Japan bilateral MOC, only a BMET-registered Sending Organisation may match candidates with a Japanese Accepting Organisation and Supervising Organisation for SSW positions.
Pass the language and skills tests first — legitimate SSW recruitment always requires a passed JFT-Basic (or JLPT N4+) and a sector skills test before a job match is arranged; be wary of any agency promising to bypass these requirements.
Visa & Documentation — Full Step-by-Step Guide
Required Documents
- Valid passport and completed visa application form.
- Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — obtained by the Japanese employer/Supervising Organisation on your behalf.
- JFT-Basic (or JLPT N4 or higher) pass certificate.
- Sector-specific skills evaluation test pass certificate.
- Signed employment contract.
- Academic transcripts and certificates.
- Medical fitness certificate.
- BMET registration (smart card) and Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) certificate, including basic Japanese workplace-culture briefing.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Register with BMET and enrol with a licensed Sending Organisation.
- Sit and pass the JFT-Basic/JLPT language test and the sector-specific skills evaluation test.
- Get matched with a Japanese employer through the Sending Organisation and Supervising Organisation.
- Employer applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) with Japan's Immigration Services Agency.
- Once the CoE is issued, submit your visa application with your passport and CoE at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka.
- Complete BMET's mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) training.
- Travel to Japan and complete residence card registration after arrival.
Fees Summary
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | Approximately BDT 2,100 (single-entry), payable in cash at the embassy |
| Sending Organisation service charge | Confirm current amount, within the BMET-regulated ceiling |
Embassy in Bangladesh
Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh
Plot No. 5 & 7, Dutabash Road, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Application Tips
- Prepare for the JFT-Basic and skills tests before committing to an agency — passing them first gives you far more leverage in choosing a legitimate Sending Organisation.
- Confirm your Sending Organisation's BMET licence and its listing under the Bangladesh-Japan bilateral SSW arrangement.
- Keep your CoE, contract, and test certificates together for visa submission and after arrival.
Employer Obligations
The Japanese Accepting Organisation, together with a government-registered Supervising Organisation, is responsible for support services (housing assistance, Japanese-language support, and life-orientation guidance) required under the SSW framework.
জাপানি নিয়োগকর্তা ও তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সংস্থা এসএসডব্লিউ কাঠামোর অধীনে আবাসন ও জীবনযাত্রার সহায়তা প্রদানে বাধ্য।
Worker Rights & Protections
| Protection | Details |
|---|---|
| Direct employment rights (SSW) | SSW workers hold a genuine work visa and are covered by Japanese labour law, unlike the more restrictive TITP internship framework |
| Supervising Organisation oversight | A government-registered body monitors employer compliance and worker welfare under SSW |
| Bangladesh Embassy Labour Wing (Tokyo) | Handles worker complaints, contract disputes, and repatriation assistance |
Japan's Immigration Services Agency and the Organization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT) both maintain complaint channels independent of the employer; SSW workers additionally have the right to change employers within the same sector, unlike most TITP interns.
SSW শ্রমিকদের একই খাতের মধ্যে নিয়োগকর্তা পরিবর্তনের অধিকার রয়েছে, যা টিআইটিপি ইন্টার্নদের ক্ষেত্রে প্রযোজ্য নয়।
Typical Processing Timeline
Language & Skills Test Preparation
Register with BMET and prepare for the JFT-Basic and sector skills test.
Employer Matching
Get matched with a Japanese employer through your Sending Organisation.
CoE & Visa Application
Employer secures your Certificate of Eligibility; apply for the visa in Dhaka.
PDO Training & Travel
Complete orientation, then travel to Japan for residence card registration.
FAQ
Do I need to speak Japanese before applying? Yes — a passed JFT-Basic (or JLPT N4 or higher) is a mandatory requirement for the SSW visa, not an optional advantage.
Is SSW the same as the old "trainee" programme? No — SSW is a direct work visa under Japanese labour law, while the Technical Intern Training Program is a separate, more restrictive category that Japan is phasing out in favour of a new framework.
Can I bring my family? SSW type (i) generally does not allow dependents; the more advanced SSW type (ii), available in select sectors after further qualification, does permit family accompaniment.