Yes. N4 or above is enough to start: an online pre-study course (about 2 months, 42 hours total), 14 days in Japan with 10 days of intensive training, the national basic care examination, then job matching, a Specified Skilled Worker visa (up to 5 years) and employment at roughly ¥250,000–300,000 a month. The N2 route studies for the Care Welfare Worker licence (2 years, about ¥1.74m tuition) for a long-term career. Follow Japanese official and school rules. Labour Services Company Ltd. (licence 81090) administers the whole route; not legal advice.
Last verified against Labour Department / Immigration Department publications: 2026-09-14.
The N4 route in seven steps
Online pre-study (2 months) → fly to Japan for 14 days (10 days intensive training, 60 hours) → sit the national basic care examination → match with an employer → the employer supports the 5-year Specified Skilled Worker visa → start work (about ¥250,000–300,000/month) → within 3 years, prepare the full Care Welfare Worker licence. Total online-course fee reference: about ¥777,000 (board excluded).
The N2 route: study for the licence
With N2 and high-school education, apply to a Japanese specialist school (April intake, applications closing end-January): two years with 1,850 class hours and 450 internship hours, legal part-time work up to 28 hours weekly, then the national Care Welfare Worker examination and long-term employment on a work visa (from about ¥210,000–250,000/month).
Basic requirements and support
High-school graduation or above, N4 Japanese to start, good health and clean record (tattoos not accepted). We provide a fast 3-month course, job matching, and full relocation support.
Can I start without Japanese?
The pre-study course includes Japanese tuition with Chinese translation; N4 is the entry bar — below that, prepare with the course first.
Can the Specified Skilled visa be extended?
Up to 5 years; for a long-term stay, pass the Care Welfare Worker national licence within the period and switch to a regular work-visa route.
Is it different for Hong Kong applicants?
The process is the same, following the established route for Chinese (including Hong Kong) students; our consultants assess individual cases.