Japan has a large, ongoing shortage of software and IT talent — and it's one of the few paths where English-speaking Indians can get hired without heavy Japanese. But the route is different from the SSW visa most of this site covers, so it's important to get the facts right.

The key difference: IT is not an SSW field

Software and IT roles do not go through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa. Instead, they use the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa — Japan's standard "skilled professional" work visa. The practical implications:

  • You generally need a relevant university degree (in IT/CS/engineering, or a related field) or substantial equivalent professional experience.
  • There's no field skills test like SSW — your degree and job offer do the qualifying.
  • Salaries are typically higher than entry-level SSW fields.

If you don't have a degree, this route usually isn't available — see working in Japan without a degree for the SSW alternatives.

Why Japan wants Indian IT talent

Japan's tech sector is short on engineers and has been actively hiring from India — often for roles in software development, infrastructure, and increasingly AI and data. Many global and Japanese companies run English-friendly engineering teams, which lowers the language barrier for skilled developers.

What you need

  • A relevant degree (or strong equivalent experience) and a matching job offer.
  • Japanese helps a lot for many roles, but some engineering roles are genuinely English-friendly — more Japanese widens your options and pay.
  • The standard visa paperwork: your employer supports a Certificate of Eligibility, then you apply for the visa in India. (See the application process for the general flow — it's similar.)

What you'd earn

Engineer/Specialist salaries are generally well above entry-level fields and scale with skill and Japanese ability. Check real take-home in ₹ with the salary calculator.

The long-term picture

The Engineer/Specialist visa is renewable, allows you to bring family, and counts toward permanent residency — so it's a strong long-term route for qualified professionals. Japan also has a Highly Skilled Professional points system that can fast-track PR for strong candidates.

Your move

If you have an IT/engineering degree or solid experience, focus on finding an English-friendly employer and strengthening your Japanese in parallel. Start free with Komichi's Japanese decks. Always confirm current visa requirements with the Immigration Services Agency (isa.go.jp).