Highly Skilled Professional

Eligibility requirements

• Select the correct category: advanced academic research, advanced specialised/technical work, or advanced business management. The intended Japanese activity must genuinely fall within that category.
• Calculate points using the current category table. Education, relevant experience, prospective remuneration, age and specified achievements or bonuses can contribute; the same item cannot simply be counted twice.
• The specialist/technical and management categories require annual remuneration of at least JPY3 million even if other factors produce 70 points. Research-category treatment differs.
• Have an identified Japanese host or organisation and a credible contractual/activity basis. Management applicants must also examine the current underlying Business Manager standards applicable to their activities.
• Meet general admission requirements and support every material assertion. A self-assessment score is not an immigration decision.

Legal framework

Build the evidence

Prepare records that substantiate the relevant criteria. The final checklist depends on the applicant, route and filing authority.

• A dated points worksheet identifying each category and the evidence supporting it.
• Degree certificates, transcripts, employment certificates describing relevant duties and dates, and any qualifying research outputs or professional credentials.
• Employment or appointment documents explaining Japanese duties, remuneration and the host organisation; business evidence where the applicant will manage an enterprise.
• Evidence for claimed university, Japanese-language, innovation or other bonuses, and consistent passport and civil-status documents.

How to apply

1. 01

   Assess the role before calculating points

   WG begins with the actual Japanese activity and organisation, then builds a score supported by documents. This avoids choosing an impressive score for the wrong activity category.

2. 02

   Prepare the Japanese immigration application

   An eligible representative or authorised local professional assembles the Certificate of Eligibility application, points sheet and supporting exhibits. An applicant already in Japan may instead require permission to change status.

3. 03

   Complete the consular stage

   For overseas entry, obtain the COE and follow the Japanese mission’s visa checklist. A COE is required for this visa category and does not itself guarantee visa issuance or admission.

4. 04

   Create a residence and evidence calendar

   After entry, record the permission, host organisation, reporting duties, renewal date and potential permanent-residence evidence periods. Preserve salary, tax, pension and insurance records as they arise.

After approval & family planning

• Eligible spouses and children can seek the relevant family status; special spouse-work and other family concessions have their own conditions.
• A change of the designated organisation can require a new immigration application. Review the effect before beginning the new role.
• Permanent residence is separately assessed. The shortened residence period does not waive good conduct, livelihood, tax/social-insurance compliance or other applicable criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Points to consider

• Do not describe points, a COE or a five-year permission as a guarantee of permanent residence.
• The precise business-management activity rules and qualifying bonuses should be rechecked before filing.