Learn about job duties、work arrangements、how to assess pay、and the required exams。Also check the conditions for your desired work category。
Drive trucks・taxis・buses、and perform related duties。Passing the skills test alone does not permit commercial driving、and a Japanese driving license and compliance with operator requirements are also needed。
Points to note about the system・covered work：The A2.2 exception does not apply unconditionally to all taxi・bus drivers。Check conditions such as onboard support、communication・cooperation arrangements for route buses in certain areas、and Japanese language study plans。Automobile Transportation Business is not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii)。
Official information by field from the responsible ministries・Immigration Services Agency
For the numbers of residents by field・nationality、see Immigration Services Agency publications。Check the reporting date、and consider these figures separately from the availability of jobs。
Published figures on foreign residents with Specified Skilled Worker statusSpecified Skilled Worker is a status of residence for people with certain skills to work in Japan。Generally、people who successfully complete Technical Intern Training No. 2 are exempt from the Japanese language exam。For skills exam exemptions、check the correspondence between the occupation・tasks completed and the desired field。
Technical Intern Training aims to contribute internationally through the transfer of skills。Labor laws also apply to technical interns。For the conditions for transition to the Employment for Skill Development system starting on 1 April 2027、check official guidance。
Latest guidance on Specified Skilled Worker・Employment for Skill Development2-1 Job Description
Drive trucks・taxis・buses、and perform related duties。Passing the skills test alone does not permit commercial driving、and a Japanese driving license and compliance with operator requirements are also needed。
2-2 Differences by work category
Truck category test and a Japanese Class 1 driving license。 Japanese proficiency is generally A2.2 or JLPT N4 or higher。
Taxi category test、Japanese Class 2 driving license、new driver training。Japanese proficiency is generally JLPT N3 or higher、with conditional exceptions。
Bus category test、a Japanese Class 2 driving license、and new driver training。Japanese language requirements vary by route bus・chartered bus services and support arrangements。
2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work
For driving work, Japanese is needed for traffic rules, safety checks, roll calls, vehicle inspections, accident reports, and communication with passengers and shippers. For buses and taxis, customer service Japanese is important. For trucks, words related to delivery destinations and cargo handling are also important.
3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
In the published pay statistics by field for 2021、there is no figure for this field。For current pay、check job postings and employment contracts。
Check base pay、scheduled working hours、hours covered by fixed overtime pay、overtime・night shift allowances、bonuses、taxes・social insurance、and dormitory fees separately when comparing。Even with the same monthly pay、conditions vary depending on working hours and deductions。
Distinguish historical statistics from current job offer terms。For Specified Skilled Workers、pay must be equal to or higher than the pay of Japanese workers with equivalent skills・experience。
3-2 Working hours, work location, and shifts
Working hours differ greatly by category and company. Check early morning and late-night work, long-distance driving, shift work, waiting time, whether there is commission-based pay, and support for getting a Japanese driver's license.
3-3 What to Check in a Job Posting
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 job offers, check the category: truck, bus, or taxi. Also check support for getting a Japanese driver's license, training period, accident response, commission-based pay, late-night allowance, overtime, vehicle inspections, dormitory, and commuting method.
4-1 Tests Required for This Field
Truck drivers generally need JLPT N4 or higher or JFT-Basic A2.2、and taxi・bus drivers generally need JLPT N3 or higher。For taxis・route buses、conditional exceptions allow work with A2.2-equivalent proficiency when support such as an accompanying person is provided。For taxi・bus drivers、verification of B1-equivalent or higher proficiency is required for Certificate of Eligibility applications submitted on or after 1 April 2027、while the timing for changes・extensions is under consideration。
Japanese・skills requirements vary by field and work category。In the exam information by field below、check the required Japanese proficiency、additional exams、driving licenses、work experience、and exemption requirements。
4-2 Skills Evaluation Test
Trucks・taxis・buses have separate evaluation tests。 CBT or an on-site test arranged in advance is available、 and applicants must hold a valid Japanese or foreign driving license on the test date and meet other requirements。 Identity documents are reviewed before booking CBT。
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.