Caregivers in Japan look after elderly people who need help with daily life. The work is called “kaigo” in Japanese. It includes helping residents eat, bathe, dress and move safely. Most jobs are in nursing homes, day-care centres and care facilities attached to hospitals.
Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, and care homes have struggled to find enough staff for many years. Because of this, the government has opened legal routes for foreign care workers. Nursing care is one of the fields under the Specified Skilled Worker system.
Pay is steady but not high by Japanese standards. Foreign caregivers under the Specified Skilled Worker route must be paid at least the same as Japanese staff doing the same work. Night shift allowances and bonuses can add to the basic salary, depending on the facility.
This guide covers indicative pay, daily duties, who can apply, the tests you must pass, the documents you need and the steps to apply. Please note that we only share information. We are not an employer or an agency, and we cannot promise a job or a visa.
Caregiver Jobs · Japan 2026
🧓 Care Work in Japan: Pay, Tests and the Legal Routes for Foreign Workers
Care worker · Nursing home assistant · Day-care staff roles in Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi and regional towns
See how to apply, step by step ↓
📋 Quick Job Summary
| Job Title | Caregiver / Care Worker (Kaigo) |
| Industry | Elderly Care & Welfare Services |
| Location | Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Fukuoka, regional prefectures) |
| Experience Required | Not always; you must pass a care skills test and Japanese language tests |
| Contract Type | Full-Time, shift based |
| Visa Sponsorship | Possible under the Specified Skilled Worker route with an accepting employer; never certain |
💰 Salary & Benefits
| Experience Level | Indicative Gross Monthly Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-1 yr) | ¥180,000 – 220,000/month |
| Experienced (2-4 yrs) | ¥220,000 – 270,000/month |
| Certified Care Worker / Team Leader (5+ yrs) | ¥260,000 – 340,000/month |
👔 Top Hiring Employers
- Special nursing homes for the elderly run by social welfare corporations
- Private fee-based care homes run by care service companies
- Geriatric health facilities linked to hospitals and medical groups
- Group homes for people living with dementia
- Day-care and short-stay service centres
🛠️ A Typical Role Involves
- Helping residents with meals, bathing, dressing and using the toilet
- Moving residents safely between bed, wheelchair and bathroom
- Watching for changes in health or mood and telling the nurse
- Leading simple exercise, games and group activities
- Writing short care records in Japanese at the end of each shift
- Working day, evening and night shifts as part of a team
✅ Who Can Apply
- Adults aged 18 or above in good physical and mental health
- People who pass the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test
- People who pass the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test
- People with basic Japanese, shown by JLPT N4 or the JFT-Basic test
- Nursing or care training is helpful, but it is not required for every route
📄 Documents Required
- Valid passport
- Pass certificates for the care skills test and the Japanese language tests
- CV in the format the employer asks for
- School and training certificates
- Signed employment contract with a care facility in Japan
- Certificate of Eligibility, which the employer applies for in Japan
🎁 Employee Benefits
- Health Insurance and Pension Enrolment
- Paid Annual Leave
- Night Shift Allowance
- Seasonal Bonus (many facilities)
- Housing Support (some employers)
- Training for the Care Worker Exam
📍 Regional Demand
| Area | Demand | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo and Kanagawa | Very High | Higher pay, higher rent |
| Osaka and Hyogo | High | Many private care homes |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | High | Large working population, steady hiring |
| Fukuoka | Moderate to High | Lower living cost than Tokyo |
| Rural prefectures | High | Lower pay, but housing support is more common |
📝 How to Apply, Step by Step
- Learn basic Japanese Study until you can pass JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic. Care work needs daily speaking and simple writing, so do not skip this step.
- Pass the care tests Book and pass the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test and the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test. Check the official test schedule for your country.
- Find an accepting employer Search official portals and major job sites for care facilities that accept Specified Skilled Workers. Use only licensed sending organisations if you go through one.
- Interview and contract Most interviews are held online in simple Japanese. Read the contract for salary, deductions, shift pattern, housing and leave before you sign.
- Certificate of Eligibility The employer applies to the Immigration Services Agency in Japan for your Certificate of Eligibility. This can take several weeks or more.
- Visa and travel Apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate with the certificate. After you arrive, you receive a residence card and join orientation.
🧭 Life and Work as a Caregiver in Japan
🛂 The Main Visa Routes
Most new foreign caregivers use the Specified Skilled Worker (i) status in nursing care. It allows a total stay of up to five years, and family members cannot normally join you. Other routes include technical training programmes and government partnership agreements with a few countries. Each route has its own rules.
⏰ Shifts and Working Hours
Standard working hours in Japan are eight hours a day and forty hours a week. Care homes run all day and night, so staff rotate through early, day, late and night shifts. Night shifts are long and tiring, but they come with an extra allowance. Overtime should be paid.
🗣️ Language on the Job
Japanese is the hardest part for most newcomers. You must understand what residents say, follow instructions and write short care notes. Many facilities give extra language support in the first months. The more you study, the faster your work becomes easier and safer.
🏠 Housing and Living Costs
Some employers offer a dormitory or help you rent a room, and they may deduct rent from your salary. Rent in Tokyo is much higher than in smaller cities. Tax, pension and health insurance are also deducted, so your take-home pay is clearly lower than the gross figure.
💪 Physical and Emotional Demands
Care work is physical. You lift, bend and stay on your feet for hours. It can also be emotional, because you care for people who are frail or near the end of life. Learn the correct lifting methods during training and ask for help with heavy transfers.
📈 Building a Long-Term Career
Caregivers who gain enough work experience and training can sit the national Certified Care Worker exam. Passing it lets you apply to change to the “Nursing Care” residence status, which can be renewed and may allow family to join you. It is a hard exam taken in Japanese.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a nursing degree to work as a caregiver in Japan?
No. For the Specified Skilled Worker route you need to pass the care skills test and the Japanese language tests. A nursing background helps but is not required.
How much Japanese do I need?
At least a basic level, shown by JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic, plus the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test. Employers often prefer a higher level.
How long can I stay in Japan as a caregiver?
Under Specified Skilled Worker (i) the total stay is up to five years. A longer stay is possible if you pass the Certified Care Worker exam and change status.
Can I bring my family?
Not normally under Specified Skilled Worker (i). The “Nursing Care” residence status for certified care workers has different rules.
Will I be paid less than Japanese staff?
The rules say pay must be equal to or higher than that of Japanese workers doing the same job. Check your contract and your payslips.
Can I change employers?
Specified Skilled Workers can change to another care employer, but new paperwork must be filed with immigration first. Ask about the process before you resign.
🔗 Official Sources and Job Portals
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan →
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare →
- Hello Work (public employment service) →
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (visa information) →
- Indeed Japan →
✍️ Conclusion
Care work in Japan is a legal and structured route for foreign workers, with steady demand and equal-pay rules. It also asks a lot: real Japanese language study, official tests, shift work and physical effort. Prepare well, use official information, and accept an offer only after you understand the contract.
