1-1 Background

The aviation industry is facing difficulty securing workers due to the declining birthrate, diversification of career choices, and other factors, and a serious labor shortage has become clear. As the average age of aviation workers rises, it has become difficult to secure enough workers through domestic human resources alone. This system was introduced to accept foreign workers in response to this situation.

1-2 Information for People Working with Specified Skilled Worker Status

The Immigration Services Agency compiles and publishes the number of people working under Specified Skilled Worker status once every half year (once every three months until 2022). According to that data, the population ratios by country and age group are as follows.

As of the end of June 2024, 959 people work in the aviation field under Specified Skilled Worker status. By region, most workers are from Asia, with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar being the top countries of origin.

Although the Specified Skilled Worker system began in 2019, the number of people working in aviation under this status has increased by 1,000 over the past three years, and the number of accepted workers is expected to continue expanding.

source : 出入国在留管理庁（https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/zairyuarchive.html）

2-1 Job Description

The main duties under Specified Skilled Worker “Aviation” are ground handling and aircraft maintenance.

The main tasks of ground handling are as follows.

• Aircraft Ground Movement Support Work

This work involves guiding aircraft and ensuring safety when they move on the ground, such as on runways or parking areas. Workers use guide vehicles and signals to guide aircraft safely to parking positions.

• Baggage and Cargo Handling Work

This work involves managing and transporting passengers' baggage and cargo from the check-in counter to the aircraft, or until they are received at the destination. It includes sorting and transporting baggage and cargo.

• Aircraft Loading and Unloading of Baggage and Cargo

This work involves loading baggage and cargo into the aircraft cargo hold and unloading them after arrival at the destination. Workers arrange cargo and handle safe loading and unloading.

• Aircraft Interior and Exterior Cleaning and Maintenance Work

This work involves cleaning the inside and outside of aircraft, cleaning and maintaining seats and toilets, and preparing the cabin to maintain passenger comfort.

Aircraft maintenance involves basic work in aircraft and equipment maintenance, such as simple inspections and replacement work, under guidance and supervision. Specific examples are as follows.

• Line Maintenance

This is basic maintenance performed in a short time between an aircraft's arrival and its next flight.

• Airframe Maintenance

This is usually performed every 1 to 1.5 years and involves detailed inspection and maintenance of the entire aircraft over about 1 to 2 weeks.

• Component and Engine Maintenance

This is specialized maintenance of parts removed from aircraft, such as landing gear, control surfaces, instruments, and engines.

source : Immigration and Residence Management（https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/10_00179.html）

2-2 Differences by work category

The aviation field is divided into airport ground handling and aircraft maintenance. In ground handling, workers guide aircraft, handle baggage and cargo, load and unload aircraft, and clean and maintain aircraft interiors and exteriors. In aircraft maintenance, workers perform basic tasks such as inspections and parts replacement under guidance and supervision.

2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work

In the aviation field, you need to understand Japanese related to safety checks, signals, baggage and cargo, equipment, restricted areas, and reporting abnormalities. At airports, time management and following safety rules are especially important.

3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay

The average wage by field for Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the wood industry cannot be sufficiently confirmed from public statistics because there are still very few residents. Salary differs by factory type, region, working hours, night shifts, overtime, and machine operation experience. Under Specified Skilled Worker, pay must be equal to or higher than that of Japanese workers doing the same work. When checking jobs, check the base salary, overtime pay, shift allowance, social insurance, dormitory fees, and safety training.

The salary amounts above are statistical average payments or guide amounts from job conditions. They are not the actual take-home pay. Take-home pay changes depending on taxes, social insurance fees, dormitory fees, food costs, overtime pay, night shift allowance, transportation costs, and other items. Under SSW, the pay must be equal to or higher than the pay of Japanese workers doing the same job.

3-2 Working hours, work location, and shifts

Airport work may include shift work in the early morning, late night, weekends, and holidays. Check outdoor work, heavy lifting, rules in airport restricted areas, and whether security training is provided.

3-3 Things to Check Before Applying

Before applying, check not only the monthly salary, but also the actual job content, working hours, days off, overtime pay, night shift allowance, dormitory fees, food costs, social insurance, transportation costs, qualification support, who will handle the residence status application, and the name of the registered support organization.

For aviation jobs, check whether the job is ground handling or aircraft maintenance, the airport location, early morning and late-night shifts, heavy lifting, security training, whether uniforms and safety equipment are provided, and how to commute to the airport.

• See how to find a company and how to check job offer details

4-1 First, check the Japanese language test needed for your field.

To obtain Specified Skilled Worker status for “Railway,” you must pass a Japanese language test and the Railway Field Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Test for your desired job category.

To work as Specified Skilled Worker (i), in principle, you need to pass a Japanese language test and a field-specific skills evaluation test. For the Japanese language test, JLPT N4 or higher, or JFT-Basic A2 or higher, is accepted. In the nursing care field, the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test is also required. People who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) may be exempt from tests depending on the field and work content.

• View Exams Required to Obtain Specified Skilled Worker Status
• View Detailed Information about JLPT N4
• View Detailed Information about JFT-Basic A2

4-2 Skills Evaluation Test

The Aviation Field SSW Evaluation Test is divided into airport ground handling work and aircraft maintenance work. Check the test guidelines and latest information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the airport ground handling test site, the Japan Aeronautical Engineers' Association, and other official sources.

• View Detailed Information about JLPT N4
• Check Official Railway Field Information

5-1 Move on to study, job search, and application

After checking the job content and required tests, next check the flow for test study, company search, and residence status application. Even if you pass the tests, you still need an employment contract with a company and a residence status application.

• Check Official Railway Field Information
• Search for Companies
• View Residence Status Application Method
• Check the Visa Application Flow