Japan plans to more than double the number of foreigners eligible for skilled worker visas in the five-year period starting fiscal 2024 to over 800,000, as the government seeks to alleviate labor shortages in industries like manufacturing, construction and agriculture.

The expanded limit applies to participants in the Specified Special Worker program, which was launched in 2019 for foreign workers with specialized skills and Japanese language ability. Around 200,000 were working in Japan under this framework as of November 2023.

The new 800,000 limit is based on expected labor shortages in certain industries even if employers were to raise wages and make other changes to attract talent.

Japan had previously capped the program at 345,000 for the five years through March 2024.

Specified special workers can currently work in one of 12 fields, each with their own caps. Most hold Type 1 status, which allows them to work in Japan for up to five years.

With the right exams and other qualifications, they can eventually qualify for Type 2 status for those with expert skills. Type 2 workers can renew their status indefinitely, bring over family members, and eventually apply for permanent residency. There were just 29 Type 2 specified skilled workers in Japan as of the end of November.

In February, the government proposed expanding the Specified Special Worker program to cover four more fields — road transportation, rail, forestry and timber — bringing the total to 16. It plans to bring in 25,000 drivers for taxis, buses and trucks as part of this expansion.

Japan has also been working on a replacement to its controversial technical intern program for unskilled workers, which has been criticized for low pay and labor abuses.

The new program, slated to be implemented by 2027, aims to complement the specified skilled worker visa by fostering foreign talent, while bolstering the country’s workforce at the same time. A cap on the number of people entering the country on this program will be set in the future.