Highly Skilled Professional Point System Q&A (Part 1)

This document is part 1 of a Q&A that provides an overview of Japan's Highly Skilled Professional Point System, which grants preferential immigration treatment to foreign nationals recognized as "highly skilled professionals" in order to promote the acceptance of such talent. It covers topics such as the benefits granted to highly skilled professionals, eligibility criteria, accompanying family members, applicable procedures, and more.

The original document (PDF) is in Japanese, and this English version was created using machine translation.

Disclaimer:

This English translation was generated using machine translation software and was not created by a human translator. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate or represent a perfect translation from the original Japanese content. For official guidance, please refer to the original documentation published by the Japanese government. This translated text should not be relied upon as an authoritative source, and no assurances of accuracy are provided. Any reader should confirm accuracy and seek professional advice as needed prior to relying on the information contained within this document. The provider of this translation is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or misinterpretations of the original text.

About the Highly Skilled Professional Point System

Q1: What is the "Highly Skilled Professional Point System"?

A: The "Highly Skilled Professional Point System" refers to a "point-based system for preferential immigration control measures for highly skilled professionals". In other words, it is a system that aims to promote acceptance of foreign nationals recognized as "highly skilled foreign professionals" by providing them preferential immigration control measures through a points-based system.

In Japan, under the basic policy of "positively accepting foreign workers in specialized and technical fields", the resident statuses (work statuses) for foreign nationals working in Japan are prescribed in the Immigration Control Act. Work statuses are categorized according to the type of activity, and determined for foreign nationals who meet the requirements set for each resident status. The "Highly Skilled Professional Point System" refers to a system that provides various preferences in immigration control treatment for foreign nationals with excellent abilities and qualities that are expected to contribute to Japan's economic growth and innovation, from among those who are able to enter and reside in Japan under these work statuses, in order to promote acceptance of such "highly skilled foreign professionals".

Q2: Who is eligible for the point system?

A: As explained in the answer to Q1, the Highly Skilled Professional Point System is a system that aims to give preferential treatment to particularly excellent human resources from among foreign nationals who are able to acquire work statuses. Therefore, those who are not able to acquire any work statuses in the first place, such as those planning to engage in simple labor, and those who may fall under some work status but do not meet the educational background, income, etc. standards, are not eligible to begin with.

Among foreign nationals who are eligible for work status determinations, those who reach a certain number of points (70 points) by being given points according to criteria such as educational background, work experience, and income are recognized as "highly skilled foreign professionals".

Q3: What are the benefits of being recognized as a highly skilled foreign professional?

A: Under this system, the following preferential immigration control measures will be implemented for foreign nationals recognized as highly skilled foreign professionals, in order to promote acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals:

[Highly Skilled Professional (i)]

Permission for composite activities For example, a foreign national residing under "Researcher" status who wants to start a venture business utilizing research achievements normally needs to obtain permission for activities outside his/her status.

In contrast, highly skilled foreign professionals are permitted to engage in composite activities corresponding to multiple statuses without needing to obtain permission for activities outside their status or permission to change resident status.

Maximum period of stay of "5 years" While there are several options for period of stay set according to the resident status and situation of the foreign resident, highly skilled foreign professionals are uniformly granted the maximum period of stay prescribed by law of "5 years". This period of stay can be renewed.
Relaxation of requirements related to period of stay for permanent residence In principle, foreign nationals are required to have a period of stay of 10 years or more in Japan to obtain permanent residence. For highly skilled foreign professionals, the period of stay required to apply for permanent residence is reduced to:

a) 3 years for highly skilled foreign professionals who:

Have 70 points or more at the time of applying for permanent residence, and have stayed continuously in Japan for 3 years or more as a highly skilled foreign professional with 70 points or more; or
Have stayed continuously in Japan for 3 years or more, and are found to have had 70 points or more when points were calculated based on the time 3 years prior to the date of application for permanent residence

b) 1 year for highly skilled foreign professionals who:

Have 80 points or more at the time of applying for permanent residence, and have stayed continuously in Japan for 1 year or more as a highly skilled foreign professional with 80 points or more; or
Have stayed continuously in Japan for 1 year or more, and are found to have had 80 points or more when points were calculated based on the time 1 year prior to the date of application for permanent residence

Preferential processing of entry and residence procedures The Immigration Services Agency will endeavor to process applications related to entry procedures (applications for Certificates of Eligibility) for highly skilled foreign professionals within 10 days from receipt, and applications related to residence procedures (applications for extension of period of stay, applications for change of resident status) within 5 days from receipt.

(Note) This does not apply when required documents are deficient or there are doubts about the contents of the application. In cases where detailed confirmation of submitted materials etc. is necessary, the target processing period may be exceeded. Also, when the contents of an application regarding "Research Achievements" points fall under i(4) for Highly Skilled Professional (i) or ii of the Points Table for Highly Skilled Professional (ii), the Minister of Justice will evaluate the application after hearing opinions from the heads of relevant administrative organs, so preferential processing will not apply.

Employment of spouses Normally, foreign nationals who wish to engage in activities corresponding to statuses such as "Instructor" and "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" need to acquire those statuses and also meet certain requirements related to educational or professional background. On the other hand, for spouses of highly skilled foreign professionals who wish to engage in activities corresponding to these statuses, they are permitted to do so under the "Designated Activities" status as spouses of highly skilled foreign professionals, without needing to meet the educational/professional background requirements.

(Note) It is necessary to reside with the highly skilled foreign professional and receive an equivalent or higher salary than Japanese nationals.

Accompanying parents While parents of foreign nationals residing under work statuses are normally not permitted to enter Japan, parents of highly skilled foreign professionals can enter and reside in Japan if:

They will be raising a child of the highly skilled foreign professional or their spouse aged under 7; or
They will be assisting a pregnant spouse of the highly skilled foreign professional or a pregnant highly skilled foreign professional.

(Note) The highly skilled foreign professional's parent must reside with the highly skilled foreign professional, and the highly skilled foreign professional's annual household income (the combined annual amount of remuneration received by the highly skilled foreign professional and their spouse) must be 8 million yen or more.

Accompanying domestic workers employed by highly skilled foreign professionals

While only some foreign nationals residing under "Business Manager" or "Legal/Accounting Services" status are permitted to employ foreign domestic workers, highly skilled foreign professionals are permitted to bring domestic workers employed by them overseas and employ domestic workers due to circumstances such as having children aged under 13.

(Note) The highly skilled foreign professional's annual household income must be 10 million yen or more, and they must have continuously employed the domestic worker brought from overseas for one year or more. However, if the highly skilled foreign professional engages in business related to Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (Act No. 25 of 1948) Category II Financial Instruments Business, investment advisory and agency business, or investment management business, the requirements of domestic employment and having children aged under 13 do not apply.

[Highly Skilled Professional (ii)]

(Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is for those who engaged in activities under Highly Skilled Professional (i) for at least 3 years.)

a) In addition to activities under Highly Skilled Professional (i), they can engage in almost all work status activities. Specifically, in addition to activities under one or more of Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b) and (i)(c), activities permitted under the following statuses are also permitted:

"Professor", "Artist", "Religious Activities", "Journalist", "Legal/Accounting Services", "Medical Services", "Instructor", "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services", "Entertainer", "Skilled Labor"

b) Period of stay becomes indefinite.

c) Preferential measures 3, 5, 6 and 7 above apply.

Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals in General

Q4: Are graduates from junior colleges, colleges of technology, and vocational schools eligible for education points?

A: "Junior colleges" are included in "universities", and graduates from colleges of technology and graduates from vocational school specialized courses (with the title of "Advanced Diploma") are treated as "persons who have completed an education at least equivalent to that of a university graduate", so they are eligible for education points. However, those who have completed vocational school specialized courses and obtained the title of "Diploma" are not eligible.

Q5: If someone has multiple doctoral, master's, or professional degrees in different fields, are there any limits on points that can be added?

A: Regardless of the combination of degrees, if it can be confirmed by degree certificates or transcripts (in cases where confirmation is not possible by these documents, academic transcripts) that the majors are different, the additional points will be recognized.

Q6: What are "professional degrees in business administration and management" that qualify for points under Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b) and (i)(c)?

A: This refers to degrees awarded upon completion of professional graduate schools specializing in business administration and management, commonly known as "MBA" and "MOT". Overseas MBAs etc. are also eligible as "professional degrees in business administration and management" if deemed equivalent.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website provides a list of professional graduate schools in Japan that award professional degrees.

Q7: What is included in "remuneration"? For example, is overtime pay included in remuneration for point calculation purposes?

A: "Remuneration" refers to "payment made in return for providing a certain service", and includes base salary as well as diligence allowances, adjustment allowances, etc. Commuting allowances, dependent allowances, housing allowances and other payments that are reimbursement of actual expenses (except those subject to taxation) are not included.

While overtime pay is payment made in return for providing a certain service, since it is uncertain at the time of entry how much overtime will be worked, it is not included in "remuneration" for point calculation purposes. Also, in cases of extension of period of stay, "remuneration" for point calculation is judged based on expected annual income, so past "overtime pay" is not included.

Q8: Does "remuneration" include bonuses?

A: "Remuneration" refers to "payment made in return for providing a certain service", so bonuses are included in "remuneration".

Q9: If I receive my salary from an overseas company rather than a Japanese company, is it included in remuneration for point calculation purposes?

A: In cases where a foreign national is being transferred from an overseas company etc. to a Japanese company etc. and their salary is paid by the overseas company etc., the salary paid by the overseas company etc. is included in remuneration for point calculation purposes (evidence of this will be required).

Q10: If a highly skilled foreign professional conducting advanced academic research activities had an annual income of 6.5 million yen when entering Japan but it decreased to 5.5 million yen after entering Japan, resulting in a 5 point decrease for annual income and a total point score below 70, will continued stay no longer be permitted?

A: In order to be granted highly skilled foreign professional status, the total points must be 70 points or higher. On the other hand, it is not necessary to maintain 70 points or higher at all times after being granted highly skilled foreign professional resident status. Therefore, continued stay does not immediately become impermissible when annual income decreases to 5.5 million yen. However, if the total points are less than 70 points at the time of applying to renew the period of stay, renewal of the period of stay will not be permitted.

Q11: If a highly skilled foreign professional conducting advanced academic research activities was 29 years old when entering Japan but turned 30 years old after entering Japan, resulting in a 5 point decrease for age and a total point score below 70, will continued stay no longer be permitted?

A: In order to be granted highly skilled foreign professional status, the total points must be 70 points or higher. On the other hand, it is not necessary to maintain 70 points or higher at all times after being granted highly skilled foreign professional resident status. Therefore, continued stay does not immediately become impermissible upon turning 30 years old. However, if the total points are less than 70 points at the time of applying to renew the period of stay, renewal of the period of stay will not be permitted.

Q12: What is the minimum annual income requirement?

A: To be recognized as a highly skilled foreign professional, the total points must be 70 points or higher, but for advanced specialized/technical activities (Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b)) and advanced business management activities (Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c)), even if the points total from other criteria exceeds 70 points, if the annual income does not reach 3 million yen, the applicant will not be recognized as a highly skilled foreign professional.

Q13: What companies are eligible for innovation promotion support measures and R&D expenditure ratio points?

A: This refers to small and medium-sized enterprises as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Basic Act, with the following capital and employee size requirements depending on industry sector:

1 Manufacturing industry and others: Companies with capital of 300 million yen or less or 300 or fewer regular employees, and individuals

2 Wholesale trade: Companies with capital of 100 million yen or less or 100 or fewer regular employees, and individuals

3 Retail trade: Companies with capital of 50 million yen or less or 50 or fewer regular employees, and individuals

4 Service industry: Companies with capital of 50 million yen or less or 100 or fewer regular employees, and individuals

Q14: What does it mean to be employed at a small or medium enterprise with an R&D expenditure ratio of 3% or more?

A: This refers to small and medium-sized enterprises where R&D expenditures and development expenditures, meaning R&D expenses and development expenses, exceed 3% of either total sales or business income in the fiscal year before the application date (or the fiscal year two years before the application date if the application is made within two months after the end of the previous fiscal year). Such enterprises are expected to generate innovation as R&D-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises, so employment at these enterprises qualifies for points.

Q15: What specifically is meant by "has Japanese language ability sufficient for daily conversation, as well as the ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree, including abstract concepts"?

A: This corresponds to the level of passing the N1 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Therefore, those who have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 exam are eligible, as well as those certified through other Japanese language proficiency exams to have equivalent ability, such as scoring 480 points or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test.

Q16: What specifically is meant by "has Japanese language ability sufficient for daily conversation, as well as the ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances, including abstract concepts, to some degree"?

A: This corresponds to the level of passing the N2 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Therefore, those who have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 exam are eligible, as well as those certified through other Japanese language proficiency exams to have equivalent ability, such as scoring 400 points or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test.

Note that points cannot be added for this item in duplication with "Has graduated from a university in Japan or completed a course of study at a Japanese graduate school and been awarded a degree" or "Has graduated from a foreign university having Japanese language as its major course of study or proved to have passed an examination certifying he/she has Japanese language ability sufficient for daily conversation, as well as the ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree, including abstract concepts".

Q17: What specifically are considered "businesses at the forefront of fields expected to grow in the future"?

A: This refers to businesses in growth fields such as IoT and regenerative medicine that are involved in advanced projects with oversight from the relevant government ministries. Eligible businesses will be pre-approved by the Minister of Justice after consulting with the heads of the relevant administrative organs, and publicized on the Immigration Services Agency website etc.

Q18: What universities are designated by the Minister of Justice in a public notice?

A: The following universities are eligible. A specific list of universities will be published on the Immigration Services Agency website etc.:

I. Overseas universities ranked within the top 300 in at least two of the following university rankings, or Japanese universities ranked in any one of them:

QS World University Rankings (QS Ltd., UK)
Times Higher Education World University Rankings (Times Higher Education, UK)
Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China)

II. Universities receiving subsidies under the Top Global University Project or Global 30 Project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

III. Partner universities designated under the Innovative Asia project implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Note that points cannot be added duplicatively for I, II, or III, but can be added duplicatively with "Has graduated from a university in Japan or completed a course of study at a Japanese graduate school and been awarded a degree".

Q19: What specific training programs are designated by the Minister of Justice in a public notice?

A: This refers to training programs implemented in Japan for one year or longer by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under consignment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the Innovative Asia project implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If a certificate of completion of such training is submitted, documents proving educational background are not required, but documents proving work experience should be submitted separately if points are to be added for work experience.

Note that if the training utilizes classes at a Japanese university or graduate school, points cannot be added duplicatively for participation in the training and for "Has graduated from a university in Japan or completed a course of study at a Japanese graduate school and been awarded a degree".

Next Part: Highly Skilled Professional Point System Q&A (Part 2)