This page provides information useful for choosing a job, such as job types available in the automobile transportation business field, job duties, required Japanese language ability, skills exams, and the current number of workers.
The automobile transportation field was added to Specified Skilled Worker in 2024 to accept foreign workers as bus, taxi, and truck drivers. Japan lacks workers for logistics and local transport, so it is accepting ready workers for driving jobs.
The Immigration Services Agency regularly compiles and publishes the number of foreign nationals staying in Japan under Specified Skilled Worker status. New fields added in 2024 have only been in operation for a short time, so the number of residents is still small.
As of the end of December 2025, 151 people are working under Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the “Automobile Transportation Business” field. Automobile transportation business is a new field added in 2024, and the number of foreign residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) was 151 as of the end of December 2025. The number is still small because the system is new, but it has increased greatly from 10 in the previous period.
The Specified Skilled Worker system began in 2019. Automobile transportation business, railway, forestry, and wood industry were added in 2024, so the numbers may change as more tests are held, companies prepare to accept workers, and residence status applications increase.
source : 出入国在留管理庁（https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/ssw/nyuukokukanri07_00215.html）
There are two systems for accepting foreign workers: the Technical Intern Training Program and the Specified Skilled Worker System, but their purposes and characteristics are different.
The Technical Intern Training Program is a system for learning technologies and skills in Japan and using them to help develop the home country after returning. In principle, changing jobs is not allowed, and the period is fixed. The program is planned to shift to the Training and Employment System, but during the transition period, you also need to check how the current system is handled.
The Specified Skilled Worker System accepts foreign workers with certain skills and Japanese language ability as job-ready workers in fields with serious labor shortages in Japan. Under Specified Skilled Worker (i), you can work for up to 5 years in total, and changing jobs is possible if conditions are met, such as staying in the same field or job category.
Automobile transportation business, railway, forestry, and wood industry, which were added in 2024, are currently covered by Specified Skilled Worker (i). They are not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii), so if you want long-term work, check system changes and the conditions for other residence statuses.
2-1 Job Description
Under Specified Skilled Worker “Automobile Transportation Business,” you can work as a bus driver, taxi driver, or truck driver. For all of these, you need not only safe driving, but also knowledge of Japanese traffic rules, inspections, handling passengers and shippers, and safety and health.
Main Jobs in the Automobile Transportation Business
This job safely carries passengers on route buses, charter buses, and other buses. In addition to driving, you handle passengers, inspect vehicles, and check things before and after operation.
This job safely carries users to their destinations. In addition to driving, you need customer service, fare collection, and knowledge of geography and traffic rules.
This job transports cargo to specified places. In addition to transport work, you need cargo handling, loading and unloading, checks at delivery points, and knowledge of safety and health.
Check the latest information from the responsible ministry and test organization for details on the work and acceptance conditions.
2-2 Differences by work category
In automobile transportation, the job content differs greatly by category: truck, bus, or taxi. For trucks, delivery and cargo handling are important. For buses, passenger transportation and safety checks are important. For taxis, customer service, understanding local geography, and fare collection are important.
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
The average wage for SSW workers in this field may not be clear from published statistics alone. Pay varies by job category, region, working hours, night shifts, overtime, experience, and qualifications. When reviewing a job, check estimated take-home pay, overtime pay, dormitory fees, social insurance, and transportation costs in addition to base salary.
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
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
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker status for “Automobile Transportation Business,” in addition to passing the Japanese language test and skills exam, you need to check requirements such as the driver's license required for each 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.
4-2 Skills Evaluation Test
The Automobile Transportation Business Field Specified Skilled Worker (i) Evaluation Test is conducted by ClassNK. The test is held by category: truck, bus, and taxi. Truck tests cover operation work and cargo handling work. Bus and taxi tests cover operation work and customer service work.
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.