What Are Highly Skilled Professionals? Application Procedures and Required Documents Explained

Preferential measures for Highly Skilled Professional (i) are as follows.

・Permission for multiple types of residence activities

・A five-year period of stay

・Relaxed requirements for permanent residence permission

・Employment of the spouse

・Permission to bring parents if conditions are met

・Permission to bring a domestic worker if conditions are met

・Priority processing of entry and residence procedures

Preferential measures for Highly Skilled Professional (ii) include those available under Highly Skilled Professional (i), plus the following:

・Permission for nearly all work-related activities under statuses of residence

・An indefinite period of stay

Benefits for Companies Hiring Highly Skilled Professionals

In accepting highly skilled professionals, the government defined them as follows.

“‘High-quality talent that complements, rather than substitutes for, domestic capital and labor,’ and ‘talent expected to bring innovation to Japan’s industries, promote the development of specialized and technical labor markets through mutual improvement with Japanese workers, and raise the efficiency of Japan’s labor market’” (Source: Report of the Council for the Promotion of Acceptance of Highly Skilled Professionals, May 29, 2009)

In other words, highly skilled professionals are foreign workers with highly specialized experience and knowledge that is difficult to find through ordinary recruiting, and who are expected to have a positive impact on business activities such as technological advancement, improved service quality, and new business creation.

By hiring highly skilled professionals, companies can strengthen their business strategies. Input from employees with backgrounds different from Japanese society can also bring diverse perspectives to the organization. Furthermore, if Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is obtained, there is no fixed limit on the period of stay. Because this status of residence can also lead to permanent residence, companies can expect stable, long-term employment.

Businesswomen discussing over desktop PC in office. Female colleagues are looking in computer monitor. They are at workplace. Explaining the Application Process for Highly Skilled Professionals

Below, we look at the status of residence procedures required when employing highly skilled foreign professionals.

The application process for a status of residence differs depending on whether the highly skilled foreign professional to be hired is overseas or already staying in Japan.

If the prospective hire is overseas and plans to enter Japan, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. If the person is already residing in Japan, file an Application for Change of Status of Residence or an Application for Extension of Period of Stay.

When Entering Japan for the First Time

When the foreign national to be hired is still overseas and will enter Japan for employment, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility as follows.

1. File an application for a Certificate of Eligibility at a regional immigration services bureau

When applying, select one of Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b), or (i)(c). The application may be filed by the individual or by the prospective accepting organization.

At the same time, apply for recognition as a highly skilled foreign professional. Submission of a “Points Calculation Form” and “documents proving the points” is required.

The Application for Certificate of Eligibility can be downloaded from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

2. The Immigration Services Agency reviews whether landing conditions are met

Based on the application submitted in step 1, the Immigration Services Agency reviews whether the foreign national meets the landing conditions. If the status of residence is approved, a Certificate of Eligibility is issued.

Note that even if the person does not qualify for Highly Skilled Professional status, they may still meet the conditions for another work-eligible status of residence.

3. The foreign national applies for a visa at a Japanese diplomatic mission abroad

With the issued Certificate of Eligibility, the individual applies for a visa at the nearest Japanese embassy, consulate-general, or other mission. Once the visa is issued, the person enters Japan with their passport, visa, and Certificate of Eligibility. If there are no issues, the status of residence is granted at landing examination at the airport.

When Already Residing in Japan

If the individual is already staying in Japan, they hold some status of residence. If they hold a status other than Highly Skilled Professional, a change of status is required, so file an Application for Change of Status of Residence.

The Application for Change of Status of Residence can be downloaded from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

If the person already holds Highly Skilled Professional status but the remaining period of stay is short, file an Application for Extension of Period of Stay. The process is the same for both.

The Application for Extension of Period of Stay can be downloaded from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

1. File the application at a regional immigration services bureau

Submit the Application for Change of Status of Residence or Application for Extension of Period of Stay together with the “Points Calculation Form” and “documents proving the points.”

2. Review by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan

For highly skilled professional screening, reaching 70 points or more is required. Base points are awarded based on academic background, work experience, annual income, and age, with bonus points added for research achievements, position, overseas qualifications, and academic credentials obtained in Japan.

In addition to points, the review also covers whether “the intended activities qualify as those of a highly skilled foreign professional” and whether “the person’s residence status has been satisfactory.”

Reference: Points Calculation Form | Immigration Services Agency of Japan

3. Issuance of the status of residence

If the Immigration Services Agency of Japan finds the application compliant, Highly Skilled Professional status of residence is granted. Even if the application is denied, the person may continue to stay for the remainder of their existing period of stay if time remains on their current status.

Documents Required for Applications Related to Highly Skilled Professionals

For Highly Skilled Professional status of residence applications, the required documents differ depending on whether you apply for (i) or (ii).

When Residing as a Highly Skilled Professional

Select the application form according to the status of residence you are applying for and your situation. (Click “〇” to view the detailed materials required for each application.)

List of Required Documents

Documents required only for Highly Skilled Professional (ii)

・Documents proving the applicant’s income and tax payment status for the most recent period (past five years) (resident tax, withholding income tax and other national taxes, copies of bank passbooks, etc.)

・Documents proving payment status of the applicant’s public pension and public health insurance premiums

Related Persons of Highly Skilled Professionals (Spouse, Children, Domestic Workers, etc.)

Before the Highly Skilled Professional status of residence was created, highly skilled professionals stayed under the Designated Activities status of residence. Accordingly, when a spouse, child, or domestic worker of a highly skilled professional applies for a status of residence, the required documents differ depending on whether the highly skilled foreign professional holds Highly Skilled Professional status or Designated Activities status.

Spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional (Employment Case)

A spouse of a highly skilled professional who holds Highly Skilled Professional status and who will work applies based on the following documents. In all cases, a family register extract or marriage certificate is required to prove the marital relationship.

In addition, for an Application for Certificate of Eligibility or Application for Change of Status of Residence, proof of the activities to be performed and of the required academic background and work experience is needed for employment.

・Application for Certificate of Eligibility

・Application for Change of Status of Residence

・Application for Extension of Period of Stay

Spouse or Child of a Highly Skilled Professional under Designated Activities

When a spouse or child of a highly skilled professional staying under Designated Activities applies for a status of residence, the required documents differ depending on whether they are “dependent” or “will work.”

Dependent case

・Application for Certificate of Eligibility

・Application for Change of Status of Residence

・Application for Extension of Period of Stay

When the spouse works

・Application for Certificate of Eligibility

・Application for Change of Status of Residence

・Application for Extension of Period of Stay

Parents of highly skilled professionals or of their spouses

Normally, parents of foreign nationals staying for work are not permitted to accompany them. However, for highly skilled professionals, parents may come to Japan to provide care when there is a child under 7 years of age, when the highly skilled professional is pregnant, or when their spouse is pregnant.

To obtain the status of residence, the highly skilled professional’s household annual income must be at least 8 million yen. In addition to documents proving family relationships such as family registers, copies of the passports and residence cards of the highly skilled professional, spouse, and child, as well as documents confirming cohabitation with the highly skilled professional, must be submitted.

an asian chinese family bonding time at public park during weekend leisure time in the morning

When the principal holds Highly Skilled Professional status

・Application for Certificate of Eligibility

・Application for Change of Status of Residence

・Application for Extension of Period of Stay

When the principal holds Designated Activities status

・Application for Certificate of Eligibility

・Application for Change of Status of Residence

・Application for Extension of Period of Stay

Persons related to highly skilled professionals (domestic workers)

Highly skilled foreign professionals are permitted to bring domestic workers. Domestic workers fall into the following three categories, and the appropriate application form should be prepared for each.

Entry accompaniment type

They enter Japan together with the highly skilled professional. During their stay, they cannot change employers, and they are expected to leave Japan together with their employer.

Family circumstances type

Domestic workers employed because the highly skilled professional has a child under 13 years of age. Changing employers during the stay is permitted; however, if the employer’s child reaches 13 years of age or the reason for engaging in domestic work ceases to exist, an extension of the period of stay will not be granted.

Financial talent type

Refers to domestic workers employed by highly skilled professionals engaged in investment management and similar work. If conditions such as the highly skilled professional’s household annual income are met, other requirements such as leaving Japan together with the employer are not imposed.

When applying, the required documents differ depending on whether the highly skilled professional holds Highly Skilled Professional or Designated Activities status. Please check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan page.

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Foreign nationals who qualify as highly skilled professionals possess advanced skills and expertise and can be expected to contribute to companies as ready-to-work talent. From the employee’s perspective as well, preferential treatment as a Highly Skilled Professional supports expectations of long-term, stable employment, making this a status of residence that benefits both sides.