Japan: international nurse mobility
Japan’s ageing population and growing shortages in healthcare and elder-care work have made the country a potential employment destination for Indian nurses and caregivers under its Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa program, which requires applicants to meet language and industry skill benchmarks and aims to address labor shortfalls in sectors like caregiving. Structured partnerships between India and Japan — including language training initiatives and government-supported placement programs — have seen Indian candidates prepared for and placed in Japanese care jobs, and broader bilateral goals include facilitating the mobility of tens of thousands of skilled Indian workers over the next several years. While many view these opportunities as offering international experience and relatively strong demand for workers who meet the criteria, the current policy framework is geared toward meeting Japan’s immediate staffing needs and does not automatically lead to permanent residency or full professional licensure without further qualifications, making long-term career prospects dependent on individual goals and additional certification.