Chai & Matcha Diaries

Indian Workers in Japan: Opportunities through TITP and Skill Exchange Programs

Japan’s aging population and shrinking labor force have created immense opportunities for skilled foreign workers—especially from India. Over the last five years, the India–Japan partnership has expanded beyond business and technology to include large-scale human resource exchange programs such as the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) system, aimed at enhancing workforce mobility between the two nations.

Why Japan Needs Foreign Workers

Japan faces a striking labor gap due to its high median age of over 48 and low fertility rate, with forecasts projecting a 30–40% population decline by 2035. To maintain productivity, Japan has opened immigration pathways for skilled professionals under programs like TITP and SSW—encouraging participation from countries with strong technical talent pools, such as India.

1. The main types of Indian workers who go to Japan

Broadly speaking, Indians go to Japan under these categories:

A. Technical Interns (TITP / trainees)
These are people sent to Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP). The program is supposed to transfer skills to trainees from partner countries by allowing on-the-job training in Japanese workplaces (manufacturing, construction, food processing, hospitality, etc.). India started sending trainees in recent years under MoUs with Japan. TITP placements are often coordinated by sending organisations, training institutes and partner companies.

B. Specified Skilled Workers (SSW)
Introduced in 2019, the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status targets sectors with labour shortages (nursing care, building maintenance, hospitality, manufacturing, food processing, construction, etc.). SSW workers must pass skills tests and (for some categories) Japanese language requirements. This pathway allows longer stays than trainee visas and — importantly — requires salary and benefits in parity with local workers doing the same work.

C. Highly-skilled professionals & specialists
Engineers, IT professionals, researchers, university faculty and high-level specialists come on business/working visas (Highly Skilled Professional visas, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, intra-company transfers). These roles rely on direct recruitment by companies and typically pay at much higher levels.

2. Who promotes and supports these programs?

A mixture of Japanese government bodies, Indian agencies, and non-profit / quasi-government organisations support recruitment, testing and training:

  • JITCO (Japan International Trainee & Skilled Worker Cooperation Organization) — promotes and supports TITP and SSW frameworks, coordinates Japanese-side guidance for trainees and employers.
  • OTIT (Organization for Technical Intern Training) — conducts surveys, provides oversight and follow-up for trainees.
  • Indian government & partners:
    • NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) and state skill missions — provide pre-departure training and tie-ups with Japanese programmes (TITP / SSW pathways).
    • Embassy/Consulates of Japan in India — visa guidance, public announcements (e-visa rollout, etc.).
  • Industry & university programmes:
    • METI’s India–Japan Talent Bridge and similar campus initiatives (college roadshows, internships, job fairs) connect students and firms directly; these have become more visible in 2024–25.

So there’s an ecosystem: Japanese ministries set rules, JITCO/OTIT/Japanese employers provide placements, Indian skill agencies train and screen, and universities or private recruiters bridge the two.

3. Application Process for Indian Workers

Step-by-Step Guide

There are two main routes: through an employer / sending organisation or direct application for skilled roles. Steps typically look like this:

A. For TITP (technical intern trainee)

  1. Find an authorised sending organisation in India (many states have partner institutes or agencies certified to send trainees).
  2. Attend pre-departure training (basic Japanese, workplace manners, basic technical skills). NSDC/JITCO guidelines often feature here.
  3. Match with a Japanese employer via the sending organisation. Contracts and conditions are arranged, and the employer applies for permission for a trainee.
  4. Arrive in Japan, join on-the-job training. TITP terms are typically up to 3–5 years depending on the programme rules.

B. For Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

  1. Prepare for and pass skill tests for the industry you want (there are sector-specific exams). You may also need to pass a Japanese language test (often N4/N3 level or an industry-specific test). MOFA and SSW portals list sectors and exam rules.
  2. Secure an employer in Japan who will sponsor your status of residence.
  3. Employer assists with visa application; you provide medical, identity and other documents. SSW rules stipulate compensation parity with neighbouring Japanese workers.

C. For highly skilled / IT jobs

  • Search company job portals, LinkedIn, JETRO job boards; or attend campus METI/industry events (Talent Bridge). Recruiters also hire via on-campus drives. For top roles, companies sponsor work visas (Engineer / Highly Skilled Professional), and salary negotiation happens like a normal job.

D. Visa application

  • Once employer sponsorship is ready, apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through the employer in Japan; then apply for the visa at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in India. (Embassy pages explain current eVISA or paper processes in detail.)

4. Pay Scale for Beginners

TITP Salary

  • Historically TITP trainees often received pay near local minimum wages in the sector; monthly incomes could be modest (sometimes ¥100,000–¥180,000/month depending on hours and deductions). Some trainees reported conditions close to minimum wage; government reforms have attempted to improve protections. Surveys and official follow-up reports show wide variance by country and industry.

SSW Salary

  • SSW rules require wages at parity with Japanese colleagues in the same role/area. That creates a floor above minimum wage in many sectors. Published model cases and averages show SSW monthly incomes often around ¥180,000–¥300,000 depending on industry — care work tends to be on the lower end (around ¥220,000 in some data), while specialized electrical/electronics fields can be significantly higher. Bonus/allowances vary by employer.
  • summaries.)

Highly skilled / IT / professional roles

  • Engineers and IT professionals hired on standard work visas often start higher: ¥350,000–¥800,000+ per month for mid/senior roles in major cities, with salaries rising quickly for in-demand skills (AI, semiconductors, systems engineering). India–Japan Talent Bridge events promote offers reportedly in several lakh rupees per year for top hires.

A few practical salary tips

  • Always ask for take-home (after taxes, social insurance) or at least check gross vs net.
  • Confirm overtime rates, allowances (housing, transport), and whether the employer provides social insurance and pension contributions. For SSW, these should be comparable to Japanese workers.

5. Migration Scale and Outlook

According to the 2025 India–Japan Human Resource Exchange Action Plan, both nations aim to facilitate the movement of up to 500,000 professionals over the next five years, including 50,000 from India. This strategy aligns with Japan’s long-term requirement to sustain industrial productivity and India’s ambition to become a global supplier of trained manpower.​

Each year, several thousand Indians successfully migrate to Japan under TITP and SSW programs—numbers projected to rise tenfold by 2030.

6. Common pitfalls & practical advice

  • Don’t sign unclear contracts. Before leaving India, get a clear employment contract (wages, overtime rules, housing support, insurance).
  • Language matters. Even basic Japanese (JLPT N4/N5) helps enormously — for daily life and for many jobs, employers prefer at least conversational Japanese. SSW exams often require language ability.
  • Check uploading credentials. For nursing/medical jobs, confirm licensing requirements and the exam roadmap.
  • Be cautious with middlemen. Use government-approved sending organisations and accredited agencies; JITCO / NSDC lists program partners. Avoid recruiters promising unrealistic wages.

7. Final thoughts — why it is both opportunity and responsibility

Japan needs workers — and India has talent. The combination is already growing into real opportunities: manufacturing and care sectors need staff, and Japan is building structured pathways to bring workers in legally, with training and protections. But newcomers must prepare: understand visa rules, test requirements, living costs, and basic Japanese. And governments on both sides are actively working to make the corridor smoother — with talent bridge programmes, testing centres, and campus tie-ups.

If you’re thinking of going to Japan from India: research your specific sector (TITP vs SSW vs skilled professional), find accredited training/sending partners, invest in language learning, and verify employment contracts carefully. The pathway is real — and getting clearer every year — but preparation makes the difference between a tough short stay and a life-changing experience.

Sources & further reading (read these first if you’re serious)

  • MOFA — Specified Skilled Worker overview (program & rules). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • Japan JITCO — Technical Intern Training Program & SSW support organisation. JITCO
  • NSDC / TITP guidance (India side) — program notes and training guidance. NSDC
  • OTIT surveys & TITP follow-up reports (Japan) — trainee surveys and statistics. OIT+1
  • India–Japan Action Plan & PIB / MEA press releases (2025) — targets for people exchange and 50,000 skilled worker component. Press Information Bureau+1
  • SSW wage & rules reference (industry/portal) — salary parity and model cases. ssworker.jp+1
Suisei Kinsei

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