Points-based preferential immigration treatment for highly skilled foreign professionals

September 13, 2012 - Under this system, personnel of the selected companies of Subsidy Program for Projects Promoting Asian Site Location in Japan, for which JETRO is secretariat, are given 10 points.

Overview of the policy
The points-based system that provides highly skilled foreign professionals with preferential immigration treatment started on May 7, 2012. Under the points-based system, foreign professionals who earn 70 points or more will be recognized as "highly skilled foreign professionals" and will be given preferential immigration treatment.

Point evaluation
As requested by the applicants, the activities of the highly skilled foreign nationals will be classified into 3 categories: (1) Academic research activities, (2) Advanced specialized/technical activities, and (3) Business management activities. According to characteristic features of each category of the activities, evaluation will be made by setting points to such items as "educational attainment," "period of professional experience," "promised annual salary" and "research performance."

Preferential treatment
The personnel who have earned 70 points or more in the point evaluation will be recognized as the highly skilled foreign professional. The following preferential immigration treatment will be given to those highly skilled foreign nationals.

1. Permission for multiple purposes of activities during the stay in Japan
2. Grant of the "5 years" period of stay (Note)
3. Relaxation of requirements for grant of the permission for permanent residence in line with the history of staying in Japan (In general, the permission for permanent residence will be granted for about 5 years of stay.)
4. Preferential processing of immigration and stay procedures
5. Permission for a spouse of a highly skilled foreign professional to work
6. Permission for bringing a parent of a highly skilled foreign professional under certain conditions
7. Permission for a domestic servant employed by a highly skilled person under certain conditions

(Note) The "5 years period of stay" will be implemented after the implementation date of the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (July 9, 2012), which was approved and established in 2009.

For more information:
Points-based preferential immigration treatment for highly skilled foreign professionals