Highly Skilled Professional

The purpose of the "Highly Skilled Professional" category is to promote the acceptance of highly skilled foreign human resources into Japan by setting points for each item such as "educational background," "work experience," and "annual income," and giving the following preferential treatment to those whose total points reach a certain level (70 points).
(1) Allowing multiple residential activities
This applies to " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a)" and " Highly Skilled Professional 2".
" Highly Skilled Professional Ⅱ" is intended for those who have stayed in Japan for a certain period of time with the " Highly Skilled ProfessionalⅠ", and the restrictions on their activities are greatly relaxed.
(2) Preferential Treatment for Period of Stay
The period of stay is 5 years for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ" and unlimited for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅱ".
(3) Relaxation of requirements for permanent residence permits related to residency history
If you have 70 points, you can apply for a permanent residence permit after staying in Japan for three years; if you have 80 points, you can apply for a permanent residence permit after staying in Japan for one year.
(4) Spouse's employment
Spouses of " Highly Skilled Professional" are granted "Designated Activities" even if they do not meet the requirements of academic or professional background, and can engage in activities that fall under "Researcher," "Instructor," " Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," and "Entertainment (excluding promotional activities, etc.).
(5) Permission to bring parents under a certain set of conditions
Annual household income of 8 million yen or more is one of the requirements.
(6) Permission to bring a housekeeper under a certain set of conditions
The requirements are annual household income must be at least 10 million yen, the salary of a domestic servant must be at least 200,000 yen, and so on.
(7) Priority handling of immigration and residency procedures
The application is expected to approved within 10 days of receipt.

1.Compatibility with state of residence

The activities of "Highly Skilled Professional" are legally required to fall under one of the work-related statuses of residence, so they will always overlap with activities corresponding to these statuses of residence.
(1) Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a)
The law stipulates the activities of research, research guidance, or education, just like "Professor”. However, unlike "professor," the activity is not limited to universities, etc., so it overlaps with "Instructor" and "Researcher" activities.
When your status of residence is determined, you will be assigned a designated organization for your activities, but you are also allowed to engage in similar activities outside of the designated organization or by operating your own business.
(2) Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(b)
Activities that require knowledge or skills belonging to the field of natural science or humanities, i.e., activities that engage in "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities" work.
It can overlap with activities such as " Legal/Accounting Services," "Medical Services," " Nursing Care," and "Entertainment which can be include in "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities".
However, please note that this does not include "International Services" in which many foreigners are engaged. This is because "international services" require thinking and sensitivity based on foreign cultures, and it is difficult to measure the level of them with points.
Unlike "Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a)," you cannot engage in activities at organizations other than those designated when your status of residence was decided. This is because the scope of " Engineer/Specialist in Humanities " is broad, and the scope of activities would effectively be unrestricted if activities based on contracts with organizations other than the contracting organization are allowed.
(3) Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)
The same activities as "Business Management " are applicable. In addition it can overlap with activities such as " Legal/Accounting Services" and "Entertainment" which can be include in "Business Management"( For example, in case you are a lawyer running a law firm , and you run your own management company and perform entertainment activities, or).
(4) Highly Skilled Professional Ⅱ
In addition to "Advanced Profession 1 (a), (b), and (c)," it will be possible to engage in all work-related statuses that do not require landing permission criteria, as well as " Legal/Accounting Services," "Medical Services," "Instructor," " Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," "Nursing Care," "Entertainment," and " Skilled Labor ".
If you wish to engage in work that does not fall under any of these statuses of residence, you should apply for "Permanent Resident" instead of " Highly Skilled Professional 2" . The spouse can be eligible to work without restriction by obtaining " Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident ". However, "Permanent Resident" are not allowed to bring their parents or household staff with them.

2.Landing permission criteria

(1) If the activity of the "Highly Skilled Professional" falls under a status of residence such as "Business Management" or " Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services " that requires landing permission criteria, the landing permission criteria is required to be met.
(2) The activities of the foreign national concerned are not deemed to be inappropriate from the perspective of the impact on Japanese industry and people's lives.
(3) Reasons for point
The main point reasons are as follows.
a. Educational background
The maximum points are 30 points for doctoral degree in the case of "Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a) (b)" and 25 points for MBA/MOT (professional degree related to management and administration) in case of " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)".
The minimum points are the same for all " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ," which is 10 points for university graduates.
If you have multiple doctoral, master's, or professional degrees in multiple fields, you will receive 5 points; if you have graduated from a Japanese university or graduate school, you will receive 10 points; and if you have graduated from a university designated by world university rankings, you will receive 10 points (common to all " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ").
(b) Word experience
The maximum points are 15 points for 7 years or more of work experience for "Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a)", 20 points for 10 years or more of work experience for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(b)", and 25 points for 10 years or more of work experience for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)". The minimum points are 5 points for 3 but less than 5 years of work experience for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a) and (b)", and 10 points for 3 to less than 5 years of work experience for "Advanced Specialist 1 (c)".
(c) Annual income
The maximum points are 40 points for an annual income of 10 million yen or more for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a) and (b)" and 50 points for an annual income of 30 million yen or more for " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)”.
The minimum points are 10 points for an annual income of 4 million yen or more but less than 5 million yen and age 29 or younger in the case of " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(b)," and 10 points for an annual income of 10 million yen or more but less than 15 million yen in the case of " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)”.
You will not be eligible for those other than " Highly Skilled ProfessionalⅠ(a) even if you earn more than 70 points in case your annual income is less than 3,000,000 yen,
(d) Age (excluding " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(c)")
The maximum point is 15 points for those who are 29 years old or younger, and the minimum point is 5 points for those who are between 35 and 39 years old (common to " Highly Skilled Professional Ⅰ(a) and (b)").
(e)Qualifications
15 points for Level 1 and 10 points for Level 2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Fee for Highly Skilled Professional

Services Basic fee (excluding tax) Remarks (legal expenses, etc.)

Change of status & Certificate of eligiblity

170,000yen
(1※)

80,000yen for advance payment.
4,000yen for the legal cost only for change of status

Extension of period

130,000yen

60,000yen for advance payment.
4,000yen for the legal cost only for change of status

Information publicized by the Ministry of Justice