Student Visa vs SSW (i) in Detail
| Student Visa | SSW (i) in Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Admission to a Japanese school | No education requirement |
| Experience / exam | None (degree route) | Skills exam pass |
| Japanese | Depends on the school | JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic |
| Family | Conditional (mainly university students) | No family sponsorship |
| Work rights | Permit needed, ≤28 h/week | Own field only |
| Period of stay | Per program, up to 4y3m per grant | 1y / 6m / 4m — 5 years total cap |
| Renewal | Yes, no limit | Renewable up to 5 years total |
| Changing employer | Not applicable | Yes, same field (14-day notification) |
| Road to PR | Counts toward residence, not work years | Limited on (i); upgrade to (ii) for the standard route |
This table is a simplified overview verified against official sources on the linked visa pages — each page cites the specific Immigration Services Agency documents per requirement. Always confirm with those sources before acting.