| BSWS | Basic Survey on Wage Structure |
| COE | Certificate of Eligibility |
| EHI | Engineers/Specialists in Humanities/ International Services |
| EJU | Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students |
| EPA | Economic Partnership Agreement |
| EPS | Employment Permit System |
| HEI | Higher Educational Institution |
| ICRRA | Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technologies |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| ISA | Immigration Services Agency |
| JASSO | Japan Student Services Organization |
| JAVADA | Japan Vocational Ability Development Association |
| JCCI | Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| JETRO | Japan External Trade Organization |
| JICA | Japan International Co‑operation Agency |
| JICWELS | Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services |
| JITCO | Japan International Training Co‑operation Organisation |
| JLI | Japanese Language Institute |
| JLPT | Japanese Language Proficiency Test |
| LMT | Labour Market Test |
| MBIE | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, New Zealand |
| METI | Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry |
| MEXT | Ministry of Education, Culture Sports, Science and Technology |
| MHLW | Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare |
| MOC | Memorandum of Co‑operation |
| MOFA | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| MOJ | Ministry of Justice |
| NSSZ | National Strategic Special Zones |
| OTIT | Organization for Technical Intern Training |
| OTJT | on-the‑job training |
| PBS | Points Based System |
| RSO | Registered Support Organisation |
| SoR | Status of Residence |
| SSW | specified skilled workers |
| SSWP | Specified Skilled Worker Programme |
| TITP | Technical Intern Training Programme |
| VAMAS | Vietnam Association of Manpower Supply |
| VET | Vocational education and training |
| VJ-FERI | Vietnam-Japan Fair and Ethical Recruitment Initiative |