SSW Elderly & Disability Care (Kaigo)

What is Elderly Care (Kaigo) (SSW)?

An SSW field focused on caring for and supporting elderly people in healthcare facilities and nursing homes. A caregiver (kaigo worker) helps the elderly with daily activities — eating, bathing, moving around, personal hygiene — and gives physical and emotional support so they can live comfortably and with dignity.

Japan has one of the largest elderly populations in the world, so demand for elderly-care workers rises every year.

Advantages of Our Elderly Care (Kaigo) Program

• Work legally in Japan on an SSW visa.
• Japanese language and caregiving skills training that meets Japanese standards.
• A clear career path in elderly care.
• Insurance (subject to company policy).
• Dormitory or housing allowance (subject to company policy).
• The chance to earn a bonus based on performance and company policy (subject to company policy).
• Salary starting from ¥176,000 (depending on placement and subject to company policy).

Requirements for the Elderly Care (Kaigo) Program

• Ages 18–34 at registration. Applicants up to 38 are still accepted if the JLPT and SSW certificate requirements are already met.
• Japanese language ability of at least JFT-Basic (A2) or JLPT N4.
• A pass in the Kaigo Skills Evaluation Test (Kaigo Ginou Hyouka Shiken).
• A pass in the Kaigo Japanese Language Evaluation Test (Kaigo Nihongo Hyouka Shiken) — Kaigo is the only SSW field that requires this extra language test on top of JFT-Basic or JLPT N4.
• An interest in and dedication to elderly care.
• Physically and mentally healthy.
• No criminal record.

Our Service

We work with elderly care facilities and healthcare institutions that are officially registered and recognized by the Japanese government, so job placements are handled legally and safely.

You go through document screening and an initial interview with Nakamura Study Japan. Once you pass, you move on to an interview with our partner companies or elderly care facilities in Japan. Successful candidates receive an official job offer and support with documents, visa, and departure for Japan.

Our training covers:

• Japanese until you can communicate as the workplace requires.
• Basic elderly care to the standards of Japan's kaigo industry.
• Work culture, service ethics, and communicating with the elderly.
• Job-interview preparation and adapting to life in Japan.

Once preparation is complete, we help with departure, documents, and settling into your new workplace and surroundings in Japan.

Program Timeline

• Language Preparation (9 months): Study Japanese until you pass JFT-Basic A2 or JLPT N4, while preparing for the SSW Elderly Care (Kaigo) skill exam.
• SSW Exam Preparation (1 month): Focused preparation for the two exams the Kaigo field requires: the Kaigo Skills Evaluation Test and the Kaigo Japanese Language Evaluation Test.
• Document Preparation (1 month): Prepare your documents, CV, and interviews.
• Job Matching (2 months): Your CV goes to companies in Japan to be matched with available vacancies.
• Interview (2 months): After passing document screening, you interview directly with Japanese companies.
• Pre-Departure Preparation (1 month): Once accepted, your visa, flight tickets, and accommodation are completed before departure.

What is the Tokutei Ginou (SSW) Visa?

Tokutei Ginou, or Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), is a Japanese government program that addresses labor shortages across industries, including elderly care (Kaigo). Foreign workers work legally with rights, wages, and benefits equal to those of Japanese workers. There are 2 types:

• SSW 1: for workers with basic skills; work in Japan for a maximum of 5 years, without bringing family.
• SSW 2: an advanced level for higher skills; the period of stay can be extended indefinitely as long as the requirements are met, you can bring a spouse and children, and you have better prospects of settling in Japan long-term.