Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa Guide
Highly Skilled Professional Visa and Japan’s Points-based System Explained
The Highly Skilled Professional visa is a status of residence created for foreign nationals with advanced expertise, and the Points-based System for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals is the scoring system used to determine whether an applicant qualifies for it. This page brings together the categories, preferential treatments, points calculation, and application requirements for easy reference.
1. What is the Highly Skilled Professional visa?
The Highly Skilled Professional visa is a status of residence for foreign nationals recognized in Japan as possessing advanced expertise, collectively referred to as “highly skilled foreign professionals.” The Japanese government actively works to attract outstanding overseas talent to boost the domestic economy, offering a range of preferential treatment in immigration and residence procedures to those who meet the relevant criteria.
(1) Three categories of activity
Based on the nature of the activity, the Highly Skilled Professional visa is divided into three main categories:
- Advanced academic research activities: research, guidance on research, or teaching carried out under a contract with a public or private organization in Japan.
- Advanced specialized/technical activities: business activities under a contract with a public or private organization in Japan that require specialized knowledge or skills in the natural sciences or humanities.
- Advanced business management activities: operating or managing a for-profit business entity in Japan.
2. Highly Skilled Professional (i) and (ii)
The Highly Skilled Professional visa is divided into “(i)” and “(ii),” with “(i)” further divided into three sub-types: “(i)(a),” “(i)(b),” and “(i)(c).” “Highly Skilled Professional (ii)” can only be obtained by changing status from “(i).”
(1) What is Highly Skilled Professional (i)?
This is the status of residence initially granted when a foreign national is recognized as a highly skilled professional. Before the August 2018 amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act took effect, this was issued as a “Designated Activities (Highly Skilled Professional)” visa; after the amendment it became an independent status of residence.
Applicants must first meet the requirements for the corresponding ordinary work visa, with points calculated based on academic background, career history, annual income, and similar factors; a total score of 70 points or more is required to apply. Key preferential treatments include:
- Combined activities across categories: ordinary foreign nationals may only engage in activities within their permitted status of residence, but Highly Skilled Professional holders may combine business activities spanning multiple related statuses.
- A five-year period of stay granted upfront: ordinary work visas (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) are usually granted for one or three years, while Highly Skilled Professional status is granted the maximum five-year period of stay immediately.
- A significantly shorter residency requirement for permanent residency: ordinary permanent residency applications require ten years of residence in Japan (including at least five years of work experience); Highly Skilled Professional holders only need to have engaged in the activity for five years (or just one year with a score of 80 points or more) to qualify.
- Relaxed work conditions for spouses: spouses of ordinary foreign workers on a Dependent visa are limited to 28 hours of work per week, but spouses of Highly Skilled Professional holders may work full-time even without the academic or career qualifications normally required for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status.
- Parents may be invited to Japan under certain conditions: for example, to help care for a young child or a pregnant spouse, the holder’s own parents or the spouse’s parents may be invited to live in Japan.
- Domestic employees may be hired under certain conditions: subject to certain requirements, Highly Skilled Professional holders may also employ a foreign domestic worker.
- Priority, expedited processing: ordinary work visa applications typically take one to three months to process, while Highly Skilled Professional applications are given priority and usually processed within five to ten business days.
(2) What is Highly Skilled Professional (ii)?
This status is granted to individuals who have held Highly Skilled Professional (i) status and have resided lawfully in Japan for a set period (three years or more). Key preferential treatments include:
- In addition to the activities permitted under Highly Skilled Professional (i), holders may engage in almost any type of work.
- The period of stay becomes “unlimited,” offering a level of stability effectively equivalent to permanent residency.
- Holders continue to enjoy the relaxed spousal work conditions, priority processing, and other benefits available at the (i) stage.
3. What is the Points-based System?
Japan’s Points-based System for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals uses an objective scoring method to identify foreign nationals with outstanding ability and potential who can contribute to Japan’s economic growth, granting them preferential treatment in immigration and residence management. Since its introduction in 2012, the number of approvals has risen steadily, reaching approximately 410,000 recognized highly skilled professionals by 2022.
The system classifies activities into three categories — advanced academic research, advanced specialized/technical, and advanced business management — and assigns points across the following criteria according to each category’s characteristics. A total score of 70 points or more qualifies an applicant for recognition as a highly skilled professional:
- Academic background: points vary depending on the level of degree held, such as doctorate, master’s, or bachelor’s.
- Career history: points are calculated based on years of work experience relevant to the intended business activity.
- Research achievements: points are awarded for the number and quality of papers published in domestic or international journals, awards received, and similar achievements.
- Qualifications and skills: points are awarded for holding Japanese national qualifications, officially recognized qualifications, or specific international certifications.
- Position: points are awarded for holding a senior management position at a Japanese company, foreign company, or international organization.
(1) The December 2022 revision
The points system was partially revised in December 2022. The main changes include:
- Academic research category: the number of times a paper has been cited was added as an evaluation criterion.
- Specialized/technical category: the range of recognized qualifications and awards demonstrating professional skill was expanded.
- Business management category: management experience gained at an overseas company is now counted.
4. How to qualify for Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b)
Before applying for Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b), an applicant must first meet the basic requirements for the ordinary Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services work visa, satisfying one of the following academic or career conditions:
- Graduated from a university (in Japan or overseas) with a major in natural science or humanities related to the intended business activity.
- Completed a specialized course at a Japanese vocational college and obtained the title of “Specialist” or “Advanced Specialist.”
- Have at least 10 years of relevant practical experience (including time spent studying the related subject at a university or college).
The applicant must also receive remuneration no lower than that of a Japanese employee in an equivalent position. Once these basic requirements are met, the applicant’s combined points for academic background, career history, and annual income must total 70 points or more.
Points calculation examples
Example 1: Age 25, advanced degree, and high income
- MBA obtained overseas — 25 points
- 7 years of IT-related work experience — 15 points
- Age 30 — 10 points
- Annual income of 6 million yen — 20 points
Total: 70 points — qualifies, suited to those in systems development or business support roles.
Example 2: New graduate with a Japan study bonus
- Bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university — 10 points, plus 10 points for a Japanese academic background
- Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 — 15 points
- Two designated IT national qualifications — 10 points
- Age 23 — 15 points
- Annual income of 4 million yen — 10 points
Total: 70 points — qualifies, suited to international students in Japan moving directly into the IT industry.
This page is for reference only. Please confirm the latest requirements with the relevant official authorities, or consult a qualified professional, before proceeding with any application.
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