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Overview of the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional Visa

The Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa is a special visa that offers advantages over ordinary working visas. It is designed for foreign professionals with advanced, specialized skills, aiming to promote the acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals into Japan.

These visas are issued to foreign nationals who, when applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, undergo a screening process for highly skilled professionals. This screening takes place alongside the usual screening for the Certificate of Eligibility to work. Note that this process does not apply to applicants for Diplomat, Official, or Technical Intern Training visas.

The status of residence for holders of the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa is divided into two categories:

• Highly Skilled Professional (i)
• Highly Skilled Professional (ii)

Foreign nationals can apply for the Highly Skilled Professional (ii) status if they have been active as a holder of a Designated Activities (Highly Skilled Personnel) visa or as a Highly Skilled Professional (i) for three or more years. This status offers benefits such as an unlimited period of stay.

See the table below for the specific benefits offered by this visa type.

* Items 3 to 7 are identical for both visa types

This visa is a working visa, so an applicant wishing to apply for it must have be performing a specified type of work or have received an offer from a Japanese sponsor organization to perform a specified type of work.

The point system for highly skilled foreign professionals was introduced to attract individuals with advanced skills and qualities who can contribute to Japan's economic growth and other areas. Under this system, points are awarded based on factors such as academic background, work experience, income, and other criteria outlined in the point table provided by the Immigration Services Agency. Foreign professionals who achieve a score of 70 or higher are granted preferential treatment regarding immigration control and residency management, as well as special residency status.

Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visas are assigned to one of the following three categories based on the activities performed (the applicant's position/roles). The way points are allocated varies by category:

1. Advanced academic research activities (participating in, overseeing, or directing a research project through a contract with a public or private organization in Japan)
2. Advanced specialized/technical activities (performing activities that require specialized skills or knowledge in natural sciences or humanities through a contract with a public or private organization in Japan)
3. Advanced business and management activities (directly managing or overseeing the management of a public or private organization in Japan)

The allocation of points differs between A and C above, but below is a general overview.

• Between 5 and 30 points are awarded based on the applicant’s level of education (higher education levels, such as a master's or doctorate, earn more points).
• Between 5 and 25 points are awarded based on the length of the applicant’s work history (longer work experience results in more points).
• Between 10 and 50 points are awarded based on the applicant’s annual income (higher income earns more points).
• Between 5 and 15 points are awarded based on the applicant’s age (younger applicants earn more points).

*For details, please refer to the “Points Calculation Reference Form” on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

Points are only awarded for items where sufficient documentation can be provided as evidence. Therefore, even if an applicant has many years of work experience, they will only receive points corresponding to the years of service stated in their employment certificate, etc.

In addition to the standard documents required for a working visa, applicants for the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa must submit basic documentation about their company and/or work. As a result, applying for this type of visa requires more documentation than a standard working visa.

The Highly Skilled Foreign Professional visa system, including the point system, is updated as necessary. Please refer to the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website if you are considering applying for this visa.