Obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence from the Highly Skilled Professional Visa

The hurdle for obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence (Permanent Resident status) is high, but for holders of the Highly Skilled Professional visa, it can be obtained relatively easily.

This article explains what Highly Skilled Professional status is, why obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence is easier from this status, and the actual process for obtaining it.

What Is the Highly Skilled Professional Visa?

The Highly Skilled Professional visa refers to the “Highly Skilled Professional” Status of Residence.

It is a Status of Residence created to accept, with various preferential measures, foreign nationals with advanced knowledge and skills who significantly contribute to creating new vitality in the Japanese economy and to strengthening Japan’s international competitiveness.

The specific preferential measures are the following 7 items.

Among these, the relaxation of the residence history requirement for Permission for Permanent Residence is a major point.

To obtain the Permanent Resident Status of Residence, as a general rule, one must have resided in Japan for 10 years.

When residing in Japan on the Highly Skilled Professional Status of Residence, the Permanent Resident Status of Residence becomes obtainable with a period of stay of either 1 year or 3 years.

Three Activity Categories of the Highly Skilled Professional Status of Residence

The Highly Skilled Professional Status of Residence is divided into the following 3 activity categories.

It has not been publicly disclosed what specific kinds of organizations qualify as “Japanese public or private organizations designated by the Minister of Justice.”
Many people likely picture national universities or major corporations, but it is not necessarily the case that the organization must be a major corporation or the like.

Note that the scope of activities for “Highly Skilled Professional” generally overlaps with other Statuses of Residence.
For example:

• Advanced Academic Research Activities, “Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a),” overlaps with “Professor,” “Researcher,” and “Instructor.”
• Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities, “Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b),” overlaps with “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.”
• Advanced Business Management Activities, “Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c),” overlaps with “Business Manager.”

For this reason, those holding these Statuses of Residence who can earn a certain level of points or more aim to obtain the “Highly Skilled Professional” Status of Residence.

The Difference Between “Highly Skilled Professional (i)” and “Highly Skilled Professional (ii)”

The Highly Skilled Professional status comes in two types: “Highly Skilled Professional (i)” and “Highly Skilled Professional (ii).”
When first applying for Highly Skilled Professional status, the application is made for “Highly Skilled Professional (i).”
After residing in Japan for 3 years or more on “Highly Skilled Professional (i)” and engaging in the corresponding activities, one becomes eligible to apply for “Highly Skilled Professional (ii).”

By obtaining “Highly Skilled Professional (ii)” Status of Residence, the period of stay becomes indefinite.

The Difference Between “Permanent Resident” and “Highly Skilled Professional (ii)”

Both the Permanent Resident Status of Residence and Highly Skilled Professional (ii) Status of Residence have no limit on the period of stay.
So how do these two differ?

First, Permanent Resident Status of Residence has no employment requirement and no restrictions on the types of work permitted. The status is not revoked even if you are not working, and you can change to any kind of job.

On the other hand, the Highly Skilled Professional (ii) Status of Residence is revoked if you are not working as a Highly Skilled Professional. The types of work permitted are also limited to one of the three activity categories.

That said, the Highly Skilled Professional (ii) Status of Residence permits bringing parents and domestic workers under certain conditions, while the Permanent Resident Status of Residence has no such preferential measures.

	Permanent Resident	Highly Skilled Professional (ii)
Employment	No employment requirement	Revoked if not working
Permitted occupations	No restrictions	Restricted
Bringing parents / domestic workers	Not permitted	Permitted

What Is the Point System (Highly Skilled Professional Points)?

For the Highly Skilled Professional Status of Residence to be granted, the foreign national applicant must possess advanced knowledge and skills (must be a Highly Skilled Foreign Professional).

Whether one can be said to possess advanced knowledge and skills is determined by calculation using the “Highly Skilled Professional Point Calculation Table,” and one is recognized as a Highly Skilled Foreign Professional when the score reaches 70 points or more. With a score of 80 points or more, additional preferential measures are available.

The items eligible for points under the Highly Skilled Professional Point Calculation Table are as follows.

Education	10 points are added for a bachelor’s degree or higher. A master’s degree adds 20 points; a doctorate adds 30 points.
Work History	Eligible for points from 3 years of experience or more.
Annual Income	For Advanced Academic Research Activities and Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities, eligible from 4 million yen or more; for Advanced Business Management Activities, eligible from 10 million yen or more.
Age	For Advanced Academic Research Activities and Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities, the younger the applicant, the more points are added. Eligible from age 39 or younger.

There are also bonus points in addition to the above.
For example, holding a degree from a Japanese higher education institution adds 10 points, while passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N1 or graduating from a foreign university with a major in Japanese adds 15 points.

[Video Explanation] Permanent Residence Applications by Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals

Requirements for Obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence from the Highly Skilled Professional Visa

When the Highly Skilled Professional visa has been obtained, the requirements for obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence are relaxed.
That is to say, while obtaining the Permanent Resident Status of Residence ordinarily requires 10 years of residence in Japan, it becomes obtainable with a period of stay of either 1 year or 3 years.

The conditions differ depending on whether the Highly Skilled Professional points are 80 or more, or 70 or more.

For 80 Points or More

With 80 or more Highly Skilled Professional points, satisfying either of the following allows obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence with a period of stay of 1 year.

For 70 Points or More

With 70 or more Highly Skilled Professional points, satisfying either of the following allows obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence with a period of stay of 3 years.

Documents Required for a Permission for Permanent Residence Application

To take advantage of the special provision on period of stay from the Highly Skilled Professional Status of Residence and obtain the Permanent Resident Status of Residence with a period of stay of either 1 year or 3 years, documents proving 80 or 70 or more Highly Skilled Professional points are required.

For 80 Points or More

With 80 or more Highly Skilled Professional points, tax payment certificates and similar documents for the most recent 1 year are sufficient.
In return, the following documents related to Highly Skilled Professional points are required.

For 70 Points or More

With 70 or more Highly Skilled Professional points, resident tax payment certificates and similar documents for the most recent 3 years are required. Pension and health insurance premium payment certificates for the most recent 2 years are also required.
For the Highly Skilled Professional point documents, the following two items must be prepared:

Please Consult Our Office Regarding Permission for Permanent Residence Applications

We have explained the method for obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence from the Highly Skilled Professional visa.
Compared with other work visas, obtaining Permission for Permanent Residence is easier, but it still requires a specialist’s check on whether the requirements are met, and a large number of required documents must be prepared.

Our office provides full support for Permission for Permanent Residence applications.
If you meet the requirements for the Permanent Resident Status of Residence, we will carry out the procedures swiftly; if you do not meet them, we will provide precise advice on what is lacking.

If you are considering a Permission for Permanent Residence application, please consult “Administrative Scrivener Corporation Touch.”