Status of Residence:
Technical Intern Training I a

The "Status of Residence: Technical Intern Training (i) (Category A)" refers to one of the residency statuses in Japan that allows foreign nationals to stay in the country for a certain period to learn technical skills and expertise. This is the initial stage of the Technical Intern Training Program and is mainly aimed at acquiring basic skills that are difficult to learn in the intern’s home country. In this stage, the interns are directly employed by a host company, and they engage in hands-on training to gain foundational knowledge. The duration of the Technical Intern Training (i) is generally one year. Only under certain conditions—such as being under a certified supervising organization—can an intern move on to the next stage, Technical Intern Training (ii).

The difference between "Technical Intern Training (i)" and "(ii)" lies in the content and purpose of the training, as well as the period of stay. While Training (i) focuses on acquiring basic skills, Training (ii) is aimed at more advanced, practical skills. The period of stay can be extended under Training (ii), up to a maximum of two additional years. In order to transition from (i) to (ii), the intern must successfully complete the first stage, including passing relevant evaluations or exams. In the (ii) stage, interns may also be allowed to bring family members in certain cases and are permitted to engage in a wider range of job categories.

The difference between "Category A (イ)" and "Category B (ロ)" refers to the form of acceptance. "Category A (イ)" means the intern is accepted under the "company-based" (individual enterprise) model, where the host company directly provides the training. On the other hand, "Category B (ロ)" refers to the "organization-based" (supervising organization) model, in which a supervising organization such as a business cooperative arranges for the intern to be placed in one or more companies. Therefore, "Technical Intern Training (i) - Category A" refers to the first-stage, company-based training program for foreign nationals staying in Japan under this specific residency status.

A period designated by the Minister of Justice (not to exceed one year)