JOBSPUZZLE
Englishاردوहिन्दीالعربيةPakistan 🇵🇰India 🇮🇳Philippines 🇵🇭Nepal 🇳🇵Bangladesh 🇧🇩Indonesia 🇮🇩Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

Japan work visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens

For Sri passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route with conditions

Japan takes Sri Lankan workers mainly through the Specified Skilled Worker route, which needs a skills test and a Japanese-language test first.

What the employer must have

  • The Japanese accepting organisation must meet the SSW conditions and file the status-of-residence application.
  • The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

What you must do before you leave

  1. Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong.
  2. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything.
  3. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check.
  4. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate.
  5. Pass the industry skills test and the Japanese-language test BEFORE you accept an offer — no agency can waive them.

Things to watch

  • SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel.
  • The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid.
  • SSW Type 1 allows up to five years in total and does not permit family to accompany you.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can a Sri Lankan passport holder work in Japan?

Japan takes Sri Lankan workers mainly through the Specified Skilled Worker route, which needs a skills test and a Japanese-language test first.

What does an employer in Japan need before hiring a Sri Lankan worker?

The Japanese accepting organisation must meet the SSW conditions and file the status-of-residence application. The demand must be approved by SLBFE as a job order.

What must a Sri Lankan citizen do before leaving to work in Japan?

Register with SLBFE before you leave. It is not optional: section 53(3) of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 requires every Sri Lankan leaving for employment to register with the Bureau first, and registration is what puts you inside the welfare and insurance system if things go wrong. Use a licensed foreign employment agency and check its licence number on slbfe.lk before you hand over anything. Ask for the JOB ORDER, and read the maximum fee printed on it. SLBFE approves each job order with a maximum amount the Sri Lankan agency may charge you — charging above it is an offence, and the figure is published on SLBFE's own site for anyone to check. Complete the pre-departure training the Bureau requires for your job category and keep the certificate. Pass the industry skills test and the Japanese-language test BEFORE you accept an offer — no agency can waive them.

What should Sri Lankan workers watch out for with Japan job offers?

SLBFE states plainly that it cannot guarantee a listed vacancy is still open, because the agency may already have filled it. Always confirm the job order is live before you pay, resign or travel. The maximum chargeable amount on the job order is the whole protection. If an agency asks for more than the printed figure, that is the moment to walk away and report it to SLBFE — not after you have paid. SSW Type 1 allows up to five years in total and does not permit family to accompany you.

Should I pay an agent for a job in Japan?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Sri Lankan citizens can work in

All work visa guides

412 live Japan vacancies for Sri Lankan workers

From Sri Lanka's SLBFE register — vacancies registered for Sri Lankan workers.

See all jobs and apply