Differences between highly skilled professionals and business managers and how to change

For those who are thinking about the difference between highly skilled professionals and business management visas:

This article is useful for people like the above. I will explain it in an easy-to-understand way below. Please read to the end.

What you can learn from this article about the difference between highly skilled professionals and business management visas

In this article you’ll find out:

What is a Highly Specialized Profession?

(1) Overview, purpose and means of the system

Overview and purpose of the system

Simply put, “highly skilled professionals” is a system that gives preferential treatment to highly skilled foreign workers in terms of immigration and residence management.

The purpose of such a system is to promote the acceptance of highly skilled foreign talent.
　

means

Even if preferential treatment is given to highly skilled foreign talent, how exactly will this be done?

First, the activities of highly skilled foreign human resources are classified into three categories. Specifically, they are “Advanced Academic Research Activities,” “Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities,” and “Advanced Business/Administrative Activities.” For example, it is easier to understand if you imagine a proven university professor, researcher, or business owner. These are called “Highly Skilled Professionals (1-i),” “Highly Skilled Professionals (1-ii),” and “Highly Skilled Professionals (1-iii).”

In addition, points are set for certain items, and if the total points reach a certain number (70 points), preferential treatment will be given. Examples of items here include educational background, work history, annual income, etc.

(2) Definition of highly-skilled foreign professionals

According to one official report, highly skilled foreign talent is defined as “high-quality human resources who are in a complementary relationship with domestic capital and labor and cannot be substituted” and “human resources who are expected to bring innovation to our country’s industries, promote the development of the specialized and technical labor market through friendly competition with Japanese people, and increase the efficiency of our country’s labor market.”

To put it more simply, they are “unique, high-level individuals who have the potential to revolutionize Japanese industry, who can help Japanese people improve each other and make Japan’s working environment even better.”

You may wonder whether such a superman really exists. In fact, there are only a few hundred people in Japan who have the status of residence of Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 Ha.

(3) Details of preferential treatment for highly skilled professionals

So, what kind of preferential immigration treatment is given to highly skilled professionals? Below is an explanation of Highly Skilled Professional No. 1.

Multiple activities possible

Unlike regular visas, which only allow you to do one permitted activity, highly skilled professionals are allowed to do multiple activities, for example, doing research at a university and running a related business.

Maximum period of stay

The period of stay for highly-skilled foreign professionals is five years. This is the longest term allowed by law, and can be renewed.

Easier to live permanently

Normally, to obtain permanent residence in Japan, one must have resided in Japan for more than 10 years. On the other hand, in the case of highly skilled professionals, if certain requirements are met,

If you have been working as a highly-skilled foreign professional for more than one year, you will be eligible for permanent residence.

Spouse employment

Generally, if you have a spouse visa, you must meet certain requirements regarding your educational and work history when you are trying to engage in activities that fall under the category of a “study” visa. In contrast, if you are the spouse of a highly-skilled foreign professional, you do not need to meet such requirements. However, in some cases, you may need to apply for permission to change your status.

Parental acceptance

Under the current system, in principle, parents are not allowed to enter the country. On the other hand, in the case of highly skilled foreign professionals, parents may be allowed to enter and reside in the country if certain conditions are met.

Accompanying a domestic servant

Regarding the employment of foreign domestic workers, whereas approval is usually limited in normal circumstances, it is more widely permitted in the case of highly skilled foreign workers.

Speedier entry and residence procedures

The immigration and residence examination for highly-skilled foreign professionals will be processed more quickly and with priority compared to others. Specifically,

Requirements for Highly Skilled Professionals (No. 1 Ha)

(1) What is a highly skilled professional (No. 1-Ha)?

Now, let’s focus on Type 1 Ha, which is similar to the Business Manager visa described below among highly skilled professionals. This type of residence status is typically expected to be given to managers of a considerable sized company who are engaged in the management and administrative activities of that company (high-level business management).

(2) Screening criteria

point system

The screening method for highly skilled professionals (No. 1 Ha) is characterized by the requirement that the total of points set for certain items must be 70 points or more. Specific items include educational background, work history, annual income, and age. In addition, for highly skilled professionals (No. 1 Ha),

Total annual remuneration must be 3 million yen or more.

What kind of documents are necessary? (explanatory documents)

To demonstrate that you meet the above points, you will need to prepare the following documents:

Difference between highly skilled professional visa and business manager visa

As you learn more about the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (No. 1 Ha), you may have noticed that it is similar to the Business Manager Visa. Here is a brief explanation of the differences between them.

(1) Preferential treatment is different

First of all, the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (No. 1 Ha) can be said to be an upgraded version of the Business Manager Visa. The Highly Skilled Professional Visa is more favorable than the Business Manager Visa in terms of the period of stay and review period, the employment of spouses, the accompaniment of parents, and the relaxation of the application for permanent residence permission. For specific preferential treatment, please see 3 (3).

(2) Available activities are different

In the case of a Business Manager Visa, there are some activities that are excluded from the activities covered by the status of residence. These are “activities to engage in the management or management of a business that cannot be conducted by law without the qualifications listed in the lower column of the legal and accounting business section.” It may be easier to understand if you think of it as the activity of running a law firm.

In contrast, there are no such exclusions for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (1-Ha). Therefore, for example, the activity of running a foreign law office as a sole proprietor is also covered by the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (1-Ha).

How to change from a Business Manager Visa to an Advanced Professional Visa (No. 1 Ha)

(1) What is needed to make the change?

As mentioned in (3), there are various benefits to the Highly Skilled Professional visa. Therefore, if you have 70 or more points, we recommend that you change your status of residence to “Highly Skilled Professional” (No. 1 Ha).

In this case, you need to have at least 70 points on the Highly Skilled Professional Points Calculation Table and your expected annual salary must be at least 3 million yen. This is as stated in 4(2).

(2) Documents to be submitted

If you change your status of residence to a “Highly Skilled Professional” visa, you will need to submit a points calculation sheet with 70 or more points. In addition, you will need to prepare and submit documents to substantiate each point mentioned in 4 (2).

Summary of the differences between highly skilled professionals and business managers and how to change

Here is the essence of this article: