2.11 Points-based preferential immigration treatment for highly - skilled foreign professionals

Advanced academic research activities: " Highly Skilled Professional(i)(a)"

Advanced specialized/technical activities: " Highly Skilled Professional(i)(b)"

Advanced business management activities: " Highly Skilled Professional(i)(c)"

Permission for multiple purposes of activities

Grant the “five years” period of stay

Easing of requirements for permanent residence

Permission for spouse of the highly - skilled foreign professional to work

Permission for the parent(s) to accompany the highly - skilled foreign professional to Japan under certain conditions

Permission for a domestic worker to accompany the highly - skilled foreign professional to Japan under certain conditions

Preferential processing of entry and residence procedures

In conjunction with the activities of “Highly Skilled Professional(i)”, permitted to engage in almost all of the activities of statuses of residence based on employment

Granted an indefinite period of stay

Eligible for the preferential treatments of the abovementioned (3) to (6) * Those who have been active as a Highly Skilled Professional (i) for three years or more can qualify as a Highly Skilled Professional (ii).

Addition to foreign nationals who are engaged in leading edge projects involving relevant ministries in growing fields, such as IT (10 points)

Addition to significant investors (5 points)

Addition to graduates from top-notch universities (10 points)

Addition to foreign nationals who completed human resources development projects using ODA (5 points)

Addition to graduates from universities, etc. in advanced academic research activities (10 points)

Addition to foreign nationals who hold multiple master’s degrees or doctor’s degrees (5 points)

Addition to foreign nationals who have a certain level of Japanese ability, such as the level of N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (10 points)

For foreign nationals who are certified as highly skilled foreign professionals with 70 points or higher, the period to stay required for application of permission for permanent residence was shortened from five years to three years.

For foreign nationals who are recognized as especially highly skilled foreign professionals, those who certified with 80 points or higher, the period of stay required for application of permission for permanent residence was shortened greatly from five years to one year.

Among foreign nationals who fall under Highly Skilled Professional (i) (b) or (c), those who engage in Type II Financial Instruments Business, Investment Advisory and Agency Business, or Investment Management Business (hereinafter referred to as "Investment Management Business, etc.") are eligible for extra points (10 points).

Highly skilled foreign professionals who engage in the Investment Management Business, etc., can now employ a certain number of domestic helpers who meet the necessary requirements according to their annual household income, even if they do not meet the existing provisions related to family circumstances or accompaniment at the time of entry.

Foreigners who attain registration as Investment Management Business, etc., while residing in Japan with "Temporary Visitor" status can now change their statuses of residence to "Highly Skilled Professional" or "Business Manager."

The spouses of a highly skilled foreign professionals intending to work are subjects to the same priority processing for immigration and residency procedures as the highly skilled foreign professionals.