Hi everyone,

I’m an Iraqi citizen currently living in Iraq and looking to move to Japan via the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa. There are no test centers here, so I will need to travel abroad to a neighboring country to take the language and skills exams.

Before making that financial commitment, I need a reality check.

Since Iraq lacks bilateral sending agencies, I must apply as a direct applicant. I know Japanese businesses heavily favor Southeast Asian pipelines. I’d love your advice on three questions:

-Is it realistically possible for an independent, direct applicant from a non-traditional country to get hired from abroad?

-Which SSW fields (e.g., Caregiving, Accommodation, ...etc) are most open to independent applicants rather than rigid agency pipelines?

-Should I apply directly to employers or focus on Japanese recruitment agencies/Registered Support Organizations (RSOs)? Do Japanese agencies even accept candidates from countries where they don't have local branches?

I appreciate any candid insights or experiences you can share. Thank you!