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Highly Skilled Worker's VISA
Highly Skilled Worker’s Visa for Japan

In 2012, the Japanese government introduced a new entry system for highly-skilled foreign professionals, in an effort to draw talent into the country. This is known as the Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa, and it is issued through a point-based system to foreigners who meet the criteria.

Image by Freeman Zhou
Who is Eligible for a Highly Skilled Professional Visa for Japan?

There are three categories under which the Highly Skilled Professional Visa for Japan is issued:

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  1. Highly Skilled Professional Visa for advanced academic research activities, issued to foreigners who will engage in education, research, or research guidance in a public or private organization in Japan.

  2. Highly Skilled Professional Visa for advanced specialized or technical activities, issued to foreigners who have specialized skills or knowledge in the field of natural sciences or humanities and who will work for a public or private organization in Japan.

  3. Highly Skilled Professional Visa for advanced business management activities, issued to foreigners who will operate or manage a public or private organization in Japan.

The Point Criteria for a Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

When you apply for a Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa, you have to reach at least 70 points on the Point Evaluation Mechanism in order to qualify. You must fill out a Point Calculation Form (as described on the website of the Japan Immigration Bureau), where you outline all your qualifications along with the corresponding points, and add them up to a total in the end.

 

The points you receive are divided into four main categories:

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  1. Your academic background

  2. Your professional career

  3. Your annual salary

  4. Your age

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Then, you will receive additional points if you fulfill certain requirements, such as:

  • You will work for an organization receiving financial support measures (10 points)

  • You have a degree issued by a Japanese higher education institution (10 points)

  • You have a Level N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or you have graduated from a foreign institution with a major in the Japanese language (15 points)

  • You have a Level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (10 points)

  • You have previous research achievements (15 – 20 points)

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