【Work in Japan】Trends in the Number of Foreign Workers by Nationality in Japan’s Nursing Care Sector Under the Specified Skills Program

In Japan, the number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) “Nursing Care” (介護) was 79,884 at the end of June 2026 (preliminary figure). This is an increase of 12,013 in half a year, from 67,871 at the end of December 2025. By nationality, Indonesia is the largest with 26,433, followed by Myanmar with 24,313.

In this article, we sort the number of people in the nursing care field by nationality and by year, using the “Number of Foreign Residents under Specified Skilled Worker” that the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA) publishes every half year. The limit on the number of workers accepted (the upper limit for each facility) is explained in The headcount limit for accepting Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” workers and how to calculate the number of full-time staff.

For the overall picture of acceptance (tests, the council, home-visit care, etc.), see Accepting workers in the Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” field: requirements and process.

Trends in the total number of Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” residents

The number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) “Nursing Care” has increased every year since the system started in 2019. At the end of June 2026, it was 79,884, which is 18.8% of all Specified Skilled Worker (i) residents (425,961). (ISA, “Publication of the Number of Foreign Residents under Specified Skilled Worker”)

*These are the figures for the nursing care field in the ISA table “Number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) Foreign Residents by Main Nationality/Region and Specified Industrial Field” (Table 1), as of the end of December of each year and the end of June 2026.

All figures are “preliminary figures”

The ISA states that the figures in this publication are “preliminary figures” and not “final figures.” The year-end tables and the end-of-June tables are treated the same way. (ISA, “Notes on Use”)

The expected number of accepted workers is 126,900, and there is a proposal to revise it to 146,900

The expected number of accepted Specified Skilled Worker (i) workers in the nursing care field is 126,900 up to the end of March 2029 (end of March, Reiwa 11). This is set in the field-specific operational policy approved by the Cabinet on January 23, 2026. (ISA, “Main points of the field-specific operational policies”)

The ISA’s “Nursing Care Field” page still shows the earlier expected number of 135,000 (as displayed as of April 21, 2025). The current expected number is the 126,900 mentioned above.

According to ISA materials, the number of residents in nursing care as of the end of July 2026 (preliminary figure) was 81,436. The ratio to the expected number of accepted workers (fill rate) was 64.2%, and the increase over one year was 24,402. (ISA, “Expected number of accepted Specified Skilled Worker (i) workers and number of residents (as of the end of July, Reiwa 8, preliminary figures)”)

At the expert panel meeting on October 19, 2026, a proposal was presented to revise the expected number of accepted Specified Skilled Worker (i) workers in the nursing care field to 146,900. This is a proposal, and it has not yet been approved by the Cabinet (as of October 26, 2026). Under the proposal, the expected number for Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) would be reduced from 33,800 to 13,800, and that portion would be moved to Specified Skilled Worker (i). The total for the nursing care field (160,700) would not change. (ISA, “15th Expert Panel Meeting on the Basic Policies and Field-Specific Operational Policies of the Specified Skilled Worker System and the Employment for Skill Development System”)

As the reason for the revision, the materials state that the number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) is increasing faster than expected when the expected number was set. They state that with the current allocation, the expected number of accepted workers could be exceeded in the second half of fiscal Reiwa 9.

In fields that come close to the expected number of accepted workers, new acceptance may be stopped (in the food service industry field, a measure has been taken to temporarily stop issuing the Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) from April 13, 2026). If you are making a hiring plan in the nursing care field, please check the ISA’s announcements to see how the proposed revision is decided. (ISA, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the Food Service Industry Field”)

Trends in the number of Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” residents by nationality

In the nursing care field at the end of June 2026, Indonesia is the largest with 26,433 (about 33%), followed by Myanmar with 24,313 (about 30%). From the end of 2020 to the end of 2023, Vietnam was the largest, but at the end of 2024, Indonesia and Myanmar overtook it.

*The nursing care field column of ISA Table 1 (each point in time, preliminary figures). “－” means there were none (the notation used in the tables up to the end of December 2020). Nationalities are listed in order of the numbers at the end of June 2026.

The test route and the technical intern training route

Ways to become a Specified Skilled Worker (i) in “Nursing Care” include the “test route,” where the person passes the tests, and the “technical intern training route,” where the person has satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii). At the end of June 2026, in the nursing care field, 69,285 people came through the test route and 10,384 (about 13%) through the technical intern training route. The route for graduates of certified care worker training schools had 15 people, and the EPA certified care worker candidate route had 200. (ISA Table 7 (nursing care field))

Procedures for each country (Memorandums of Cooperation)

Japan has created bilateral Memorandums of Cooperation (MOC) on Specified Skilled Worker with 17 countries (checked on the ISA page on October 26, 2026). Depending on the country, there may be sending procedures in the home country or special documents to submit with the status of residence (在留資格) application. The ISA states that acceptance is not limited to countries that have created a Memorandum of Cooperation. (ISA, “Bilateral Memorandums of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Worker”)

Below, we introduce the trends for each nationality and the procedures for each country shown on the ISA page.

Indonesia

Indonesia, with 26,433 at the end of June 2026, is the largest nationality in the nursing care field. The number more than doubled in a year and a half from 12,242 at the end of 2024. 23,629 came through the test route and 2,697 through the technical intern training route.

According to the ISA page, when an accepting organization directly hires an Indonesian national, the Indonesian side strongly requests registration in the Indonesian government’s job offer and job search system (IPKOL). It also states that a person who has received a Certificate of Eligibility must register in Indonesia’s overseas worker management system (SISKOP2MI) before applying for a visa.

Myanmar

Myanmar, with 24,313 at the end of June 2026, is the second largest nationality after Indonesia. At the end of 2022 it was 1,927, in fourth place, but it has increased greatly since then. 22,161 came through the test route and 2,151 through the technical intern training route.

According to the ISA page, the Memorandum of Cooperation with Myanmar has been renewed for a continuation period of 5 years from April 1, 2024.

Vietnam

Vietnam was the largest nationality in the nursing care field from the end of 2020 to the end of 2023. At the end of June 2026, it was 9,928, in third place. This is a decrease of 473 from 10,401 at the end of December 2025.

A feature of Vietnam is the high share of the technical intern training route. At the end of June 2026, 3,532 (about 36%) came through the technical intern training route, well above about 13% for the nursing care field as a whole.

When accepting a Vietnamese national, the status of residence application may require submission of a “Recommendation List” approved by the Vietnamese side. Since June 27, 2024, for the time being, for applications for change of status of residence by people in Japan, this applies to people who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii) (including those expected to complete it) and international students who have completed a course of 2 years or more in Japan (including those expected to complete it). It is not required when a person already staying under Specified Skilled Worker changes jobs or extends their period of stay (在留期間).

Nepal

Nepal, with 7,410 at the end of June 2026, is the fourth largest nationality. The number more than doubled in a year and a half from 3,602 at the end of 2024. 7,200 (about 97%) came through the test route and 210 through the technical intern training route.

According to the ISA page, a person who returns temporarily to Nepal after obtaining a Specified Skilled Worker visa or changing their status of residence must obtain an overseas labor permit on the Nepali side and show it when leaving the country.

Philippines

The Philippines had 6,112 at the end of June 2026. At the end of 2019, it was the largest nationality in the nursing care field (14 people). 5,178 came through the test route, 839 through the technical intern training route, and 90 through the EPA certified care worker candidate route.

According to the ISA page, to accept a Filipino national, as the sending procedure on the Philippine side, the accepting organization must submit the necessary documents to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General in Japan, be screened, and be registered with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines. It also states that the person must show an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) when leaving the country.

China

China is the largest nationality among all foreign residents, with 941,031 at the end of June 2026 (ISA press release). On the other hand, the number under Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” is only 1,540.

China is not on the ISA list of Memorandums of Cooperation (checked on October 26, 2026). However, as mentioned above, people from countries without a Memorandum of Cooperation can still be accepted. Among Chinese nationals in the nursing care field, 1,224 (about 80%) came through the test route and 316 through the technical intern training route.

Cambodia

Cambodia had 434 at the end of June 2026. The number is not large, but it is increasing little by little every year.

According to the ISA page, the status of residence application for a Cambodian national requires submission of a “Registration Certificate” issued by the Cambodian side (since August 5, 2019).

Thailand

Thailand had 472 at the end of June 2026. There are 6,983 Thai nationals under Specified Skilled Worker (i) across all fields, but three fields, industrial product manufacturing (2,250), food and beverage manufacturing (1,900) and agriculture (1,243), account for about 77%.

According to the ISA page, when a Thai national in Japan completes Technical Intern Training (ii) or (iii) and changes their status of residence to Specified Skilled Worker (i), an employment contract certified by the Office of Labour Affairs of the Royal Thai Embassy in Japan must be submitted.

Other nationalities

People of nationalities other than the 8 countries above totaled 3,242 at the end of June 2026. In ISA Table 7, these include 1,666 from Sri Lanka, 564 from India, 422 from Mongolia and 326 from Bangladesh.

The total for other nationalities has roughly doubled from 1,601 at the end of 2024.

Summary

The number of residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) “Nursing Care” reached 79,884 at the end of June 2026 (preliminary figure). The increase is led by Indonesia and Myanmar, and Nepal is also growing. Vietnam decreased in the most recent half year.

Compared with the expected number of accepted workers (126,900), the number of residents reached 64.2% at the end of July 2026. Whether the proposed revision to 146,900 is approved by the Cabinet will change how much room there is for future acceptance. When making a hiring plan, please check the latest announcements from the ISA.

Because there is a professional and technical status of residence called “Nursing Care” (介護), the nursing care field is not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii) (特定技能2号). The total period of stay under Specified Skilled Worker (i) is, in principle, 5 years (depending on the results of the certified care worker national exam, there is a measure that allows an extension of up to 1 year). For a person to work long term, one path is to pass the certified care worker national exam and change to the “Nursing Care” status of residence. (ISA, “Nursing Care Field”, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Extension of the period of stay for Specified Skilled Workers in the nursing care field”)

The sending procedures for each nationality and whether a change of status of residence is needed depend on the person’s background. For individual cases of acceptance, please consult a professional.

Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation

• Immigration Services Agency, “Publication of the Number of Foreign Residents under Specified Skilled Worker”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) Foreign Residents, Tables 1 to 3 (end of June, Reiwa 8)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) Foreign Residents, Tables 1 to 3 (end of December, Reiwa 7)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Publication of the Number of Foreign Residents under Specified Skilled Worker (Reiwa 4 and earlier)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Key Points of the Number of Foreign Residents under Specified Skilled Worker (end of June, Reiwa 8)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Notes on Use”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Main points of the field-specific operational policies (expected number of accepted workers)”
• Immigration Services Agency, “15th Expert Panel Meeting”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Bilateral Memorandums of Cooperation on Specified Skilled Worker”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Nursing Care Field”