The Highly Skilled Professional status of residence is designed for individuals who can contribute to Japan’s academic research and economic development. It is divided into two categories: Highly Skilled Professional (i) and Highly Skilled Professional (ii).
Highly Skilled Professional (i) is granted based on a point-based evaluation system. Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is available to those who have engaged in activities under category (i) for a certain period of time.
Points are calculated based on factors such as educational background, professional experience, annual income, and other qualifications. Applicants who reach the required score are eligible for this status.
Highly Skilled Professional (i)
This status allows the following types of activities:
- (a) Advanced academic research and educational activities
- (b) Advanced specialized or technical activities in the fields of natural sciences or humanities
- (c) Advanced business management activities
The period of stay is five years.
Holders of this status are eligible for preferential treatment, including relaxed requirements for permanent residence applications, permission for a spouse to work, and priority processing for immigration procedures.
Highly Skilled Professional (ii)
This status allows the holder to engage in a broader range of activities across the categories permitted under Highly Skilled Professional (i).
Applicants must have engaged in activities under Highly Skilled Professional (i) for at least three years.
The period of stay is indefinite (no renewal required).
Point-Based System
Applicants with 70 points or more are eligible to be recognized as Highly Skilled Professionals.
Those with 80 points or more may apply for permanent residence after one year.
Those with 70 points or more may apply after three years.
(All applications are subject to examination.)
Points are calculated using:
- Basic points: education, professional experience, annual income, and age
- Additional bonus points: research achievements, professional position, nature of job duties, professional certifications, academic degrees, Japanese language ability, and other qualifications
In general, individuals with advanced academic backgrounds, higher income levels, and substantial professional experience receive higher scores.
The point threshold is set at a relatively high level, requiring a significant degree of expertise and income.
For example, suppose a person has a university degree, three years of professional experience in a specialized technical field, is 30 years old, earns an annual income of 5 million yen, and holds JLPT N2 certification.
In this case:
- Education: 10 points
- Work experience: 5 points
- Age: 10 points
- Annual income: 15 points
- JLPT N2: 10 points
- Total: 50 points
This falls 20 points short of the required 70 points.
Reaching 70 points is not easy under ordinary circumstances and requires a strong professional profile and demonstrated expertise.
However, for individuals who are already established specialists in their field, this status offers significant advantages.
The Highly Skilled Professional system strongly supports long-term career development in Japan for highly qualified individuals who meet the required point threshold.
For further details: