Food Service Path
Food Service & Cooking Jobs in Japan
Kitchen, restaurant, and food-prep work in Japan on the SSW visa — no degree needed, skills over diplomas.
Visa:SSW Type 1
Degree:Not required
Salary:~¥194,000/mo
Status:Check availability
Important: Check the current application status first
As of 2026, there have been reports that new overseas SSW Type 1 applications for the food-service field have been paused/restricted (reportedly until around 2027), affecting kitchen, server, and related roles. This may change.
Before you invest time or money, confirm the current status directly with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or a registered agent.
If food service is paused when you check
The other SSW trades (construction, manufacturing, agriculture) and caregiving are open and similar in profile — no degree required.
Who this is for
You've worked in kitchens, restaurants, catering, or food production — or you want to — and you don't have a degree. Japan's food service sector hires foreign workers on the SSW visa.
What you need
Basic Japanese
JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic (A2)
The food-service skills test
Via Prometric
18+, good health, clean record
Plus a job offer from a registered employer
Your step-by-step path
1
Check current application status
Food service SSW applications may be paused/restricted. Confirm with official sources before investing time or money.
2
Reach N4 / JFT-Basic
Basic Japanese is required — JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic (A2).
JFT-Basic exam in India →3
Pass the food-service skills test
Via Prometric — covers kitchen, food prep, and service skills.
4
Find a sponsoring employer
Get a job offer from a registered employer, then COE and visa.
How to apply →The honest trade-offs
•
Fast-paced, on-your-feet work — often evenings and weekends.
•
Modest pay — around ¥194,000/month average. The appeal is stability and equal pay, not a high salary.
•
Current uncertainty — new overseas applications may be paused. Have a backup field in mind.
•
Beware fraud — never pay lakhs for a 'guaranteed' food-service job.
Start here (your reading list)
SSW Visa from India
Complete 2026 guide to Japan's skilled worker visa.
Work in Japan Without a Degree
All no-degree routes — SSW is the primary one.
JFT-Basic Exam in India
Where, when, and how to take the Japanese test.
How to Write a Japanese Resume
The resume format that actually works in Japan.
Tool
Japan Salary Calculator
See your real take-home pay in ¥ and ₹.
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See what you'd actually take home
Japan salaries look high until you see the deductions. Our calculator shows your real take-home in ₹. Use the "SSW Service" preset.
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