Points-based System for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals.
1. Overview and purpose of the system
In order to promote entry of highly skilled foreign professionals, a points-based system that provides highly skilled foreign professionals with preferential immigration treatment was introduced on May 7, 2012.
The activities of the highly skilled foreign professionals are classified into three categories:
The advanced academic research activities.
The advanced specialized/technical activities.
The advanced business management activities.
According to characteristic features of each category of the activities, points are set to each item, such as “academic background,” “professional career,” “annual salary,” and the like. If the total points reach a certain number (70 points), preferential immigration treatment will be granted to the relevant person, with the aim of promoting the acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals in Japan.
2. Concept of “Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals”
Who are the highly skilled professionals that Japan should actively accept?
“The quality, unsubstitutable human resources who have a complementary relationship with domestic capital and labor”, and “the human resources who are expected to bring innovation to the Japanese industries, to promote development of specialized/technical labor markets through friendly competition with Japanese people and to increase efficiency of the Japanese labor markets” (Report of the Council for the Promotion of Acceptance of Highly Skilled Professionals dated May 29, 2009)
The Three Categories of Activities of Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals
Advanced academic research activities
Activities of engaging in research, research guidance or education based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.
Advanced specialized/technical activities
Activities of engaging in work requiring specialized knowledge or skills in the field of natural sciences or humanities based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.
Advanced business management activities
Activities of engaging in the operation or management of a business organization in Japan.
3. Details of preferential immigration treatment
1.Permission for multiple activities
2.Grant of the “5 years”period of stay
3.Easing of requirements for permanent residence
4.Preferential processing of entry and residence procedures
5.Permission for the spouse of the highly skilled foreign professional to work
6.Permission for bringing a parent(s) to accompany the highly-skilled foreign professional to Japan under certain conditions
7.Permission for a domestic worker to accompany the highly-skilled professional to Japan under certain conditions
4. Laws and regulations
1.Highly skilled foreign professionals must satisfy the current requirements of residence status and are granted the status of residence “Designated Activities”.