Conditions for Specified Skilled Workers to Work in Home-Visit Care in Japan | 1 Year of Experience, Training, Accompanied Visits, and the Certificate of Conformity

Since April 21, 2025, nursing care workers with Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号) status can work in home-visit services such as home-visit care (訪問介護) if they meet the conditions. The worker must have completed the initial training course for care workers (介護職員初任者研修) or similar and, in principle, have at least 1 year of work experience. The facility must put in place 5 obligations and receive a “certificate of conformity” (適合確認書) for each foreign national before the worker starts.

According to the council secretariat’s guidance, before the certificate of conformity is received, the worker cannot engage in home-visit services, including accompanied visits. If there are no deficiencies in the documents, the review is said to take about 2 to 2.5 months from submission (the secretariat’s estimate as of May 2026). If you plan to have a worker work in home-visit services, it is important to start preparing early.

The conditions and overall process for accepting workers under Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” are explained in the parent article.

→ [2026 Edition Accepting Specified Skilled Workers in the “Nursing Care” Field: Requirements and Process | Tests, the Council, and Home-Visit Care](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/2886)

The contents of this article were checked on October 12, 2026 against materials from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省, MHLW) and the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, ISA), and the guidance of the nursing care field council secretariat (Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services, JICWELS).

The flow until the worker starts

Before having a worker work in home-visit services, proceed in the following order. This is a separate procedure from the status of residence (在留資格) application to immigration.

The council is the “Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field” set up by MHLW. Procedures for the certificate of conformity are handled by the council secretariat (JICWELS).

(Sources: MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”, Membership rules of the Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field, Handling of career development plans, etc. for foreign care workers working in home-visit services, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “Frequently asked questions about the conformity check application”)

Home-visit services where workers can and cannot work

Even among home-visit services, the conditions differ by service. For long-term care insurance services such as home-visit care, the 5 obligations and the certificate of conformity are required. Home-visit bathing care does not require the obligations or prior notification.

Because home-visit bathing care is provided by several people, it is said to be easier to secure a guidance system. Examples of training include the basics of home-visit bathing care, how to use the equipment, and responding to emergencies.

Completing only the daily living assistance worker training is not enough

A person who has completed only the daily living assistance worker training (生活援助従事者研修) does not meet the conditions for working in home-visit services. The MHLW Q&A says that such a person is not allowed to do only daily living assistance in home-visit care. This is because the Specified Skilled Worker system requires workers to engage in work such as physical care.

For a person who has completed the initial training course, physical care is the main work. On that basis, it is said that doing daily living assistance as part of home-visit care may be allowed.

Key points for home-visit services in disability welfare

For home-visit services in disability welfare, it is a precondition that the worker meets the qualification and training requirements for each service. Check whether a worker can engage in each service depending on the training course in the appendix table of the disability welfare points-to-note notice.

• For the mobility support program, the municipality decides which training is required. The “vehicle transport type,” which picks up and drops off people by going around in a vehicle, is not covered
• For comprehensive support for persons with severe disabilities, the worker can engage in it if they meet the training requirements of each home-visit service provided
• Home-visit child development support is for people who have engaged in work such as care for children with disabilities for 3 years or more
• Home-visit bathing services under the community life support program must be provided by several people

Notes on serviced housing for older people and residential-type private nursing homes

In MHLW’s list of eligible facilities, private nursing homes are eligible only if they provide daily life care for residents of specified facilities. The external service use type is excluded. Serviced housing for older people is eligible as a private nursing home only if it meets the requirements of a private nursing home.

The council secretariat explains that a person who has received a certificate of conformity can engage in home-visit services under the Long-Term Care Insurance Act at home-visit care facilities, etc. For example, it says that the person cannot engage in work not based on the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, such as at a residential-type private nursing home attached to a home-visit care facility.

(Sources: Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services (March 31, Reiwa 7, Shaen-hatsu 0331 No. 40 / Ro-hatsu 0331 No. 12), Q&A on the same, Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services in disability welfare services, etc., List of eligible facilities, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “How to apply for a conformity check and documents to submit”)

The worker’s conditions: the initial training course and 1 year of work experience

The worker must meet 2 conditions: having completed the initial training course for care workers or similar (the same as Japanese staff), and having at least 1 year of work experience at care facilities, etc. The 1 year of experience is the rule in principle; the exception is explained in the next section.

How work experience is counted

Work experience is counted as the period spent engaged in care work, etc. at facilities on MHLW’s list of eligible facilities. Periods of care work at disability welfare service facilities and at hospitals or clinics are also included.

The period is checked with the employment contract (雇用契約) or the notice of working conditions from that facility. If these have been lost, check with the shift schedules, work schedules, pay slips, withholding tax slips, etc. for that period. Keep these at the facility so that you can show them immediately when asked during an itinerant visit.

The council secretariat explains that work at facilities where Specified Skilled Workers cannot work is not counted as work experience.

When the conditions must be met

According to the council secretariat’s guidance, completion of the initial training course or similar and 1 year of work experience need to be met not at the time of the conformity check application but at the time the worker starts home-visit work. When applying, you enter the status on the application system without submitting completion certificates, etc. The supporting documents are checked during itinerant visits.

(Sources: Supplementary guidelines (nursing care field), Q&A on the same (Q11–13), (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “Frequently asked questions about the conformity check application”)

Exception for workers with less than 1 year of work experience

A person with less than 1 year of work experience can also work, as an exception, at the discretion of the accepting facility. In that case, the facility takes the following 2 measures.

1. Limit this to people with higher Japanese ability than the status of residence requires, such as the equivalent of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N2
2. Carry out accompanied visits for at least the set period for each user

The MHLW Q&A basically assumes passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 as the N2 equivalent.

Accompanied visits cannot be shorter than 2 months. The periods in the table are the minimum. The facility decides the period needed for each user, looking at the user’s situation, etc., until the worker can provide the service properly alone.

ICT here means, in addition to monitoring cameras, things such as smartphones and tablets that allow constant communication with the facility. When using a monitoring camera, explain this to the user and family and get their consent.

(Sources: Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services, Q&A on the same (Q14), Supplementary guidelines (nursing care field))

5 things the facility must observe (obligations)

The facility needs a system and plans to observe the following 5 things. They are also set out in the public notice (the standards for the nursing care field).

① Training for the foreign national

Separately from the initial training course, the facility provides training. It is mainly expected to be given during the OJT period until the worker can visit alone. The training should include the following.

• The basics of home-visit services (work flow, basic movements, understanding individual plans, privacy protection, legal compliance, harassment measures, abuse prevention, etc.)
• Daily life support skills (cooking, cleaning, taking out garbage, etc.)
• Communication with users, families, and neighbors (listening, acceptance, empathy, etc.)
• The Japanese way of life (culture, customs, annual events, etc.)
• Responding to emergencies (rules when a user’s condition suddenly changes, contacts, equipment to use, etc.)

The facility decides the frequency and number of training sessions. It is said that holding joint sessions with several facilities within the same corporation or using outside organizations are also possible.

② OJT through accompanied visits

Do not have the worker visit alone from the start; a service provision manager or senior staff member accompanies them for a certain period. The facility decides the number of visits and the period, looking at the situation of the user and the foreign national.

The notice gives the following example of how to provide guidance: at first, the worker mainly observes; next, roles are divided and the worker does physical care, etc.; and finally, the foreign national takes the lead while the accompanying person checks. MHLW has also published a reference example of an accompanied visit check sheet.

③ Career development plan

Explain the content of the work and points to note carefully, check the worker’s wishes, and then make a plan for each foreign national together with the worker. The plan includes goals for acquiring care skills, an activity plan to achieve them, goals for obtaining qualifications and taking training, career goals, and goals for acquiring Japanese ability.

Both the facility’s explainer and the worker sign the plan, and a copy is given to the worker. The council secretariat requires handwritten signatures from both. It warns that there are many cases where the explainer’s signature is missing. Failing to achieve a goal in the plan does not by itself immediately count as a violation of the obligations.

Use the form revised on December 1, 2025.

④ Harassment measures

Do both of the following.

• Prepare and share a response manual for prevention, clarify the roles of managers, etc., prepare and share rules for dealing with incidents, and inform users and families
• Carry out the rules when an incident actually happens, and set up and publicize a contact point where the foreign national can consult

This also covers sexual harassment and customer harassment from users and families.

⑤ Setting up the environment, including the use of ICT

Do all of the following 4 things.

• Prepare a manual that summarizes emergency contacts and the response flow
• Training that assumes emergencies
• A system in which other staff can rush to help in an emergency
• A system for sharing service provision records and handover notes among all staff

It is said that using ICT such as communication apps and record-keeping software can be considered. Efforts to reduce the burden of making records are also important.

Other things to consider

Choose the places to visit based on the user’s condition and living environment, the wishes of the user and family, and the foreign national’s communication ability, care skills, and wishes. Keep a record of the decision. Depending on the foreign national’s situation, considerations such as extending the OJT period, holding regular interviews, and supporting Japanese learning are also expected.

(Sources: Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services, Q&A on the same (Q1–10 and 16), Handling of career development plans, etc. for foreign care workers working in home-visit services, Public notice for the nursing care field, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “How to apply for a conformity check and documents to submit”)

Written explanation to users and families

For users and families who may receive care from a visiting foreign national, give them a document, explain it, and ask for their signature. The explanation covers the following 4 points, among others.

• That a foreign national may visit
• The work experience, etc. of the foreign national who will visit
• That the worker may work while using ICT equipment
• The facility’s contact information for when they have concerns

Give a copy of the signed document to the user and family. Use MHLW’s forms “Attachment 1” (for people with at least 1 year of work experience) and “Attachment 2” (for people with less than 1 year).

(Sources: Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services, Q&A on the same (Q15), MHLW, “Foreign care workers working in home-visit services”)

The flow until receiving the certificate of conformity, and the documents to submit

Whether the obligations are met is checked not when applying to immigration but before the worker starts home-visit work. The check is done by the organization that carries out itinerant visits under MHLW’s program; for Specified Skilled Worker, this is the council secretariat (JICWELS).

How to apply

Apply on the council application system. If newly joining the council, apply at the same time as the membership application; if already a member, apply before accepting that foreign national for home-visit services.

• If the home-visit facility is not on the membership certificate, register the facility (submit the designation notice, etc.)
• Apply for a conformity check for each foreign national

According to the council secretariat’s guidance, after the system update in May 2026, facility applications, foreign national information, and document submission can all be done together on the application system.

Documents to submit for the conformity check application

Training programs and OJT materials can be submitted optionally. According to the secretariat’s guidance, the application is sent back if the names or page numbers of supporting documents do not match. Write the foreign national’s name and date of birth exactly as in the passport.

Tips for proceeding

The council secretariat’s FAQ says it is also possible to first have only the facility-based (residential) facilities put on the membership certificate, and later add the home-visit facility and apply for the conformity check.

When a registered support organization (登録支援機関) helps prepare documents, the guidance says the report should be submitted after consulting the accepting organization and getting its consent. The career development plan is made through discussion among 3 parties, including the foreign national.

The certificate of conformity is issued for each foreign national. The membership rules state that no expiration date is set.

Notes when proceeding in parallel with the immigration application

In the MHLW and ISA materials checked this time (the supplementary guidelines, the MHLW acceptance page, and the ISA operational guidelines) and the council secretariat’s guidance, we found no statement prohibiting the conformity check application and the status of residence application to immigration (such as an application for permission to change status of residence) from proceeding at the same time. The secretariat’s FAQ says there is no particular rule on when the conformity check application can be submitted. It also explains how to fill in the application documents for people who plan to change from Technical Intern Training (ii) to Specified Skilled Worker (i) and work in home-visit services.

When proceeding in parallel, attention is needed on the following 3 points.

• The facility on the membership certificate: MHLW requires you to receive a membership certificate on which the accepting facility’s information is registered before making residence applications to immigration. The secretariat’s FAQ says that if you apply to add a home-visit facility, the membership certificate will not be issued until the conformity check application for that facility is completed. Taken together, if you apply to immigration with acceptance at a home-visit facility that is not yet on the membership certificate, the application is thought to come after the membership certificate listing that facility is issued (after the conformity check application is completed). Because situations where you can proceed in parallel in this way are limited, check with the secretariat when the membership certificate will be issued before making your schedule
• The worker cannot work in home-visit services before the certificate of conformity: Even if immigration permission comes first, home-visit work, including accompanied visits, cannot start until the certificate of conformity is received (secretariat’s guidance)
• Whether the worker can start within 1 month of permission: The ISA operational guidelines list, as an example of grounds for the notification related to difficulty in acceptance, a case where a Specified Skilled Worker has not started work 1 month after the date of permission. The notification is due within 14 days from the date the grounds arose. If only home-visit work is planned and the worker cannot start while waiting for the certificate of conformity, this notification may be required. Because the operational guidelines do not specifically address cases of waiting for the certificate of conformity, check with the Regional Immigration Services Bureau when unsure how it is handled

The operational guidelines require efforts to reliably keep track of the results of the residence examination, etc. of foreign nationals who are scheduled to be accepted. It is important to proceed while watching both when immigration permission is expected and when the certificate of conformity will be issued. The secretariat’s FAQ says it is also possible to first put only the facility-based (residential) facilities on the membership certificate. If the worker is accepted at a residential facility and starts working there, and then is moved to the home-visit facility after receiving the certificate of conformity, the procedures in the later section “When moving a person working at a facility to home-visit care in the same corporation” are required.

(Sources: Supplementary guidelines (nursing care field), Membership rules of the Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field, Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services, MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”, Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers” (Chapter 7, Section 4), (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “How to apply for a conformity check and documents to submit”, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “Frequently asked questions about the conformity check application”)

What continues after the worker starts: periodic reports and itinerant visits

Even after receiving the certificate of conformity, annual periodic reports and checks through itinerant visits continue.

Periodic report (career development plan)

The evaluation period of the career development plan is 1 year. At the end of each evaluation period, make the next plan and submit it to the council secretariat within 4 months after the end of the previous evaluation period. According to the secretariat’s guidance, the first evaluation period is 1 year from the day the worker started home-visit work.

• 1 month before the periodic report, the secretariat sends a notification email
• If the actual evaluation period differs from the one registered when applying, change it on the application system
• At the time of the periodic report, also update the foreign national’s information on the application system (employment conditions document, support plan, and residence card)

Itinerant visits

Before an itinerant visit, questionnaires are sent to the facility and the foreign national. During the itinerant visit, there are interviews with the manager, the service provision manager, and the foreign national. Keep the following documents so that you can show them immediately when asked.

• Training materials, attendance records, and training plans
• Accompanied visit check sheets, OJT plans, shift schedules, and visit records
• Harassment consultation logs, response records, and manuals
• Emergency response manual and staff work schedule list
• Documents showing work experience (for people with less than 1 year, also documents showing the N2 equivalent)
• Copies of the explanation documents for users and families
• Documents confirming completion of the initial training course or similar

If the obligations are not met

If it is found that the obligations are not being met, guidance is given first. If the situation is not corrected, the certificate of conformity is revoked after consultation with MHLW, and procedures for withdrawal from the council proceed. When a revocation notice may be issued, an itinerant visit that also serves as an opportunity to explain is carried out beforehand.

A corporation that has been withdrawn cannot join the council for 5 years from the date of withdrawal. As a result, it can no longer accept Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals in the nursing care field.

(Sources: MHLW, “Foreign care workers working in home-visit services”, Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services, Q&A on the same (Q18 and 20–22), Membership rules of the Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “About periodic reports”)

When moving a person working at a facility to home-visit care in the same corporation

Specified Skilled Workers can transfer to another facility of the same corporation, or move to another corporation. When moving a worker from a residential facility to a home-visit facility of the same corporation, the following procedures are required.

1. Submit to immigration the “Notification of changes to the Specified Skilled Worker employment contract” (within 14 days of the change in employment conditions)
2. If the home-visit facility is not on the membership certificate, add the facility to the council
3. Then apply for a conformity check for each foreign national

Attach to the notification to immigration the employment conditions document (the changed parts), the outline of the facility in the nursing care field (field reference form No. 1-2), etc.

→ Annual Guide to Specified Skilled Worker Notifications: Periodic Notification (April–May) and Ad Hoc Notifications (Within 14 Days)

The application documents for the nursing care field as a whole are explained in the following article.

→ Required Documents for Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” | Attachments and Where to Submit for Certificate of Eligibility, Change, and Extension [2026 Edition](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/5167)

(Sources: Q&A on the same (Q29), Attachment 3: List of documents to submit when transferring to a home-visit service provider within the same corporation)

Frequently asked questions

Q Can the worker drive a car to the places they visit? A Yes, after getting a driver’s license, they can drive in accordance with the Road Traffic Act.

Q Can the worker be in charge of daily living assistance? A The MHLW Q&A says that physical care is the main work and, on that basis, a person who has completed the initial training course may be allowed to do daily living assistance as part of home-visit care. A person who has completed only the daily living assistance worker training is not allowed to do only daily living assistance.

Q If it is only home-visit bathing care, are no procedures needed? A The obligations and prior notification are not required. However, you need to set up a guidance system and provide in-house training on bathing, etc.

Q By when must the initial training course be completed? A According to the council secretariat’s guidance, it is enough to have completed it by the time the worker starts home-visit work; it is not required at the time of application.

Q Does the certificate of conformity have an expiration date? A The membership rules state that no expiration date is set. However, an annual periodic report is required.

Q Can workers under Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) also engage in home-visit care? A The field-specific operational policy shows a framework under which foreign nationals in Employment for Skill Development can also engage in it, with conditions such as completing the initial training course and the same 5 obligations.

Necessary procedures may change depending on individual circumstances. If you are unsure, consult the council secretariat or a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi lawyer (行政書士).

(Sources: Q&A on the same (Q24 and 26–28), Membership rules of the Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field, Field-specific operational policy, Attachment 1: Nursing care, (Procedural guidance) Council secretariat, “Frequently asked questions about the conformity check application”)

Summary

• Since April 21, 2025, nursing care workers with Specified Skilled Worker (i) status can work in home-visit services if they meet the conditions.
• The worker needs to have completed the initial training course or similar and, in principle, have at least 1 year of work experience. With less than 1 year, the conditions are Japanese ability equivalent to N2 and accompanied visits for each user (at least 2 months).
• The facility puts in place the 5 obligations, explains in writing to users and families, and receives a certificate of conformity for each foreign national. The guidance says that even accompanied visits are not possible before the certificate of conformity.
• After the worker starts, there are annual periodic reports (within 4 months) and itinerant visits.

→ [2026 Edition Accepting Specified Skilled Workers in the “Nursing Care” Field: Requirements and Process | Tests, the Council, and Home-Visit Care](https://kisaragi-office.com/immigration_journal/en/archives/2886)

Primary Sources Referenced in Article Creation

• MHLW, “Foreign care workers working in home-visit services”
• Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services (March 31, Reiwa 7, Shaen-hatsu 0331 No. 40 / Ro-hatsu 0331 No. 12)
• Q&A on the points-to-note notice (including Attachments 1–3)
• Explanation form for users and families, Attachment 1 (at least 1 year of work experience)
• Explanation form for users and families, Attachment 2 (less than 1 year of work experience)
• List of eligible facilities
• List of documents to submit when transferring to a home-visit service provider within the same corporation (Attachment 3)
• Points to note regarding foreign care workers working in home-visit services in disability welfare services, etc. (March 31, Reiwa 7, Shaen-hatsu 0331 No. 41, etc.)
• Handling of career development plans, etc. for foreign care workers working in home-visit services (December 1, Reiwa 7, First revision)
• Career development plan form
• Public notice for the nursing care field (MHLW Public Notice No. 66 of Heisei 31, as revised)
• MHLW, “Supplementary guidelines for specific fields (nursing care field)”
• MHLW, “Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers in the Nursing Care Field”
• Membership rules of the Council for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development in the Nursing Care Field
• Immigration Services Agency, “Nursing care field”
• Immigration Services Agency, “Operational Guidelines on the Acceptance of Specified Skilled Foreign Workers” (Chapter 7, Section 4: Notification when acceptance of a Specified Skilled Worker becomes difficult)
• Field-specific operational policy, Attachment 1: Nursing care (Cabinet decision of January 23, Reiwa 8)

Procedural guidance (the nursing care field council secretariat, JICWELS; the organization named as the point of contact in MHLW’s supplementary guidelines)

• Specified Skilled Workers working in home-visit services
• How to apply for a conformity check and documents to submit
• Frequently asked questions about the conformity check application
• Periodic reports for Specified Skilled Workers working in home-visit services