In order to attract highly skilled foreign professionals to Japan, the Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip) scheme was introduced in April 2023. Individuals with certain levels of education or work experience and annual income will be granted “Special Highly Skilled Professional” status, which offers even greater preferential treatment than the original Highly Skilled Professional scheme.

 

The Japanese version of this article: 特別高度人材制度（J-Skip）

 

 

Original types of highly skilled professionals

 

Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (a)

Engage in activities such as research, research guidance, or education based on contracts with public and private institutions in Japan (e.g., professors or researchers at universities).

 

Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (b)

Engage in activities that require knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on contracts with public and private institutions in Japan (e.g., people who develop new products at companies, international lawyers).

 

Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (c)

Engage in activities of managing or conducting business operations at public or private institutions in Japan (e.g., managers of companies conducting global business operations).

 

 

Requirements for Special Highly Skilled Professionals

 

Those who fall under Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (a) or (b) and:

1. Have an annual income of 20 million yen or moreAND
2. Have a master’s degree or higherOR
3. Have 10 years or more of practical experience related to the business they wish to engage in.

 

Those who fall under Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (c) and:

1. Have 5 or more years of practical experience in managing or conducting business operations
2. Have an annual income of 40 million yen or more

 

The major difference between the original Highly Skilled Professional visa and the new Special Highly Skilled Professional visa is that point calculation is not required to obtain certification. If recognized as a Special Highly Skilled Professional, a “Special Highly Skilled Professional certificate” will be issued and “Special Highly Skilled Professional” will be indicated on the back of the residence card.

 

 

Preferential treatment:

 

“Highly Skilled Professional Type 1” visa holders:

 

1. Permission to engage in multiple residency activities
2. A five-year period of stay
3. Relaxation of requirements for permanent residency related to residence history
4. Employment for spouses
5. Accompaniment of parents under certain conditions
6. Employment of domestic servants under certain conditions
7. Use of priority lanes at large airports, etc.
8. Priority processing of immigration and residency procedures

 

 

 “Highly Skilled Professional Type 2” visa holders:

 

※ This is a residency status that can be transitioned to by those who have been engaged in activities for one year or more as a “Highly Skilled Professional Type 1” (Special Highly Skilled Professional).

• Allowed to perform almost all kinds of work while engaged in activities as a “Highly Skilled Professional Type 1
• Unlimited period of stay
• Eligible for preferential treatment from 3 to 7 above as Highly Skilled Professional Type 1

 

 

Relaxation of requirements for permanent residency related to residence history

 

One of the requirements for permanent residency application is to “have been residing in Japan for 10 years or more.” As a preferential measure, for current highly skilled professionals, if they score 70 points or more on the points calculation, the period can be reduced to 3 years, and if they have 80 points or more, it can be reduced to 1 year.

 

For special highly skilled professionals, the residency period is one year.
One of the following requirements must be met:
A. Have been continuously residing in Japan for one year or more as a “special highly skilled professional.”
B. Have been continuously residing in Japan for one year or more and meet the criteria specified in the special highly skilled professional ministerial ordinance based on the point in time one year before the application for permanent residency.

 

• 70 points or more -> 3 years
• 80 points or more -> 1 year
• Special Highly Skilled Professional -> 1 year

 

Privileged measures for Highly Skilled Professionals for PR application

 

 

Documents required for application for Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

 

• Application form
• Photo (4cm x 3cm) taken within 6 months before the application
• Documents required for the intended activities depending on the nature of the activities: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/?hl=en
• Explanation of the criteria for special highly skilled professionals
  Educational background: Certificate of graduation and degree certificate for the relevant qualifications
  Work experience: Documents clarifying the period and content of the work to be engaged in (created by the organization they belonged to)
  Annual income: Document proving the annual income (the annual income received or planned to be received by engaging in activities as a highly skilled foreign professional in Japan, not the annual income received in past stays in Japan).

 

 

We, Amie Immigration Law Office, are pleased to offer assistance with applications using the Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 visa (J-Skip). If you are considering an application, please contact us via the inquiry form.

 

 

 

Profile

Ami Ito

– Spent high school years in the U.K. and graduated from a local school.
– Studied mainly intercultural communication at Sophia University’s Faculty of Foreign Languages, English Department.
– Worked in the overseas department of SEIKO for 11 years after graduation.
– Over 10 years of experience teaching English to high school students, with a TOEIC score of 970 and a Class A level in the United Nations Associations Test of English.
– Serves as a director in charge of international affairs at the Chiba Administrative Scrivener Association.
– Officially registered on the Financial Services Agency’s “List of Professionals (Administrative Scriveners) in Chiba Prefecture capable of providing services in foreign languages.”