Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has published a list of 17 countries that have formal bilateral agreements to participate in the Technical Intern Training Programme. The programme allows nationals from participating countries to travel to Japan to acquire skills and knowledge across designated industries. The agreements set out a formal framework governing how interns and sending organisations participate in Japan's technical training initiative.
The 17 approved countries are Vietnam, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Laos, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, East Timor, and Fiji. These countries are located exclusively in Asia and the Pacific region, with Fiji being the sole Pacific island nation on the list. The signatories are concentrated primarily across South and Southeast Asia.
The bilateral agreements provide a structured framework intended to protect the interests of both the sending country and the interns themselves, while holding Japanese organisations to established operational guidelines. The ministry indicated that the agreements exist to coordinate activity between Japan and each participating sending country, ensuring the initiative runs without disruption on either side.
The publication of the list carries practical significance for prospective interns and the organisations that facilitate their placement. Only nationals from countries that have signed a memorandum of cooperation can access the programme through this particular formalised route. Nations that have not concluded such an agreement are not recognised as approved sending countries under the framework.
Notably, no country from Africa, Europe, or the Americas features among the approved sending nations under this framework. This means citizens of countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa do not currently have a formalised pathway into the programme through this channel. The absence of African nations from the list may limit opportunities for technical training in Japan for their citizens.
The Technical Intern Training Programme enables nationals from participating countries to travel to Japan to acquire skills and knowledge across designated industries. The programme is designed to provide a structured framework for cooperation between Japan and participating countries, ensuring that interns and sending organisations operate within established guidelines.
The list of approved countries was released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on September 30, 2026. The ministry's announcement provides clarity for prospective interns and sending organisations, outlining the formal agreements that govern Japan's technical training initiative.
Key points
- Japan's Technical Intern Training Programme is limited to 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific.
- The programme provides a structured framework for cooperation between Japan and participating countries.
- No African, European, or American country is currently approved for the programme.
