What is the difference between Highly-Skilled talent and Highly-Skilled Professional Visas?
If you search for the keyword "Highly-Skilled talent," you might encounter "Highly-Skilled talent" and "Highly-Skilled Professional Visas." What is the difference between these two?
"Highly-Skilled talent" specifically refers to foreigners with highly specialized abilities who have achieved a point of 70 or higher in designated categories. The points established in each category are called "Highly-Skilled talent points."
"Highly-Skilled Professional Visas" is a status of residence. It refers to obtaining this status of residence after calculating your Highly-Skilled talent point, achieving a point of approximately 70 or higher, and being successfully recognized by the Immigration Services Agency as Highly-Skilled. When you obtain this status of residence for the first time, it will be Type 1 Highly-Skilled Professional Visa.
＊For convenience, this article will refer to it as the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa.
Highly-Skilled Professional Points
Before introducing the Highly-Skilled Talent point, you can first understand that Highly-Skilled Talent mainly has three different categories.
- Advanced Academic Research Activities
- Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities
- Advanced business management Activities
These three categories roughly correspond to different residence qualifications.
- Advanced Academic Research Activities
- Education
- Research
- Other
- Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities
- Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services
- Intra-company Transferee
- Other
- Advanced business management Activities
- Business/Managing
- Other
According to the official data published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, foreigners who hold Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 1 (Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities) accounted for over 80% of all Highly-Skilled Professional Visas as of the end of 2021. Therefore, this article will focus on Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities and introduce the points.
If you have any questions about the other two types, please feel free to contact us.
The point calculation for Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 1
Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 1, or Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities's point, roughly has the following items.
- Academic background
- Professional career
- Annual salary
- Age
- Other points
The total of the above points, if it is 70 or higher, you can be called a Highly Skilled Talent and have the opportunity to successfully apply for a Highly Specialized/Technical Visa. Even if you do not apply for a change in the visa status, as long as you maintain the conditions of having achieved the point, you can apply for a permanent residence permit after 3 or 1 year.
| Item | Points | Criteria | Select |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic background | |||
| Professional career | |||
| Age | |||
| Annual salary | |||
| Research achievements | |||
| Licenses | |||
| Special addition | |||
| Item | Criteria | Points |
|---|
The above calculation may not be entirely accurate and may not be the latest, so please refer to and follow the official Immigration Services Agency website.
For any questions regarding the Highly-Skilled Talent points, please feel free to contact us anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I am not sure if my university is ranked within the top 300, how can I check?
The Immigration Services Agency website periodically publishes a list of universities that are eligible for ranking points on its website. If you would like, please check the following link.
I have entered the third year of the company, can I get 5 points for work experience?
To get points for work experience, you need to have at least 3 years of work experience. Therefore, you can only be considered to have 3 years of work experience when you enter the fourth year of the company.
I would like to ask about work history. I worked for 5 years on a working visa, then changed to a student visa, and then worked for another 2 years on a working visa. Can this be counted as 7 years of work history?
In this case, if the job content of the previous job is related to the current job, it may be recognized.
If the annual income is exactly 5 million yen, can I get 10 points or 15 points?
If you are under 35 years old and your annual income is 5 million yen, you will be classified as earning 5 million yen or more, so you can get 15 points.
In addition to the salary received from the company, can rental income be included in the annual income?
Annual income is generally calculated only based on the salary received from the company, so rental income from an apartment cannot be included in the annual income.
Please tell me whether the annual income is calculated based on past income or future income.
Annual income is generally calculated based on future income. However, when applying for the renewal of residence status, it is calculated based on past income.
What specific business does "engaging in investment management business" refer to?
Engaging in investment management business refers to situations where the company holds a registration for Type II Financial Instruments Business, Investment Advisory and Agency Business, or Investment Management Business, and you are engaged in one of these businesses. Whether you can receive points for this depends on the company, so it is necessary to confirm with them.
There is a point addition for the Innovation Promotion Measure, how can I receive it?
Receiving points for the Innovation Promotion Measure is the responsibility of the company, so you need to confirm with them whether you can receive these points.
Where can I check the specified foreign qualifications?
Foreign qualifications are eligible for points if they are related to the job you will be working on. In addition, they must be listed on the Immigration Services Agency website. If you would like, please check the following link.
I have received a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with a one-year residence period, when does the one-year period start?
If you have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with a one-year residence period, the one-year period starts from the day you entered Japan with the visa applied for based on that COE.
Regarding pre-entry tuberculosis screening（JPETS）
The following countries will be required to submit a TB Clearance Certificate when applying for an entry visa in the respective dates below, so please take note.
・Philippines (from June 23, 2025)
・Nepal (from June 23, 2025)
・Vietnam (from September 1, 2025)
When can I start the renewal application for my residence status?
The renewal application for residence status can be started three months before the expiration date. For example, if the expiration date is July 1st, you can start the renewal application after April 1st.
When can I know the result of my residence status renewal application?
First of all, the renewal application is not guaranteed to be approved. The government will examine whether you have had any negative factors during your stay in Japan.
Assuming you hold a Working visa and have submitted a renewal application, the normal processing time is three weeks, and according to recent data, the average number of days for renewal is around 25 days. Depending on individual circumstances, it may be faster or slower.
The benefits of Highly-Skilled talent
After obtaining a Highly-Skilled Talent score of 70 points or higher and successfully applying for the Highly Specialized/Technical Visa, you will have the following benefits.
- Allowing different activity types
- Obtaining a residence period of 5 years
- Preferential treatment for the application conditions of permanent residence (length of stay in Japan)
- Spouse can also work
- Inviting parents to Japan (with conditions)
- Bringing along domestic workers
- Priority processing of visa procedures
- Almost unlimited activity types (Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 2)
- Unlimited length of stay (Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 2)
Allowing different activity types
For example, if someone with a "Research" visa works at a university or similar institution and has achieved certain research results, they may want to use this as a foundation to start a company and scale it up. However, in terms of visa considerations, they would not be allowed to do so unless they give up continuing their research and focus solely on company management. However, if you obtain a Highly-Skilled Professional Visa, there is no such restriction.
Obtaining a residence period of 5 years
Generally, the duration of stay for other working visas is usually 1 or 3 years, with 5 years being rare. However, if you obtain a Highly-Skilled Professional Visa, you can immediately get a 5-year stay period.
Preferential treatment for the application conditions of permanent residence (length of stay in Japan)
Generally, you cannot apply for permanent residency if you have not lived in Japan for at least 10 years. However, if you are a Highly-Skilled Talent (without needing to change to the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa), you can apply for permanent residency after living in Japan for 3 years or more. If your Highly-Skilled Talent score is 80 points or higher, you can even apply for permanent residency after living in Japan for just 1 year.
Spouse can also work
Generally, those with a "Dependent" visa are not allowed to work. However, if you hold a Highly-Skilled Professional Visa, your spouse can apply for a specific activity visa to work in categories such as "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services."
Inviting parents to Japan (with conditions)
Generally, working visas allow you to invite your spouse or children to Japan under Dependent visa categories. However, parents are typically not eligible unless under special circumstances. However, with a Highly-Skilled Professional Visa, you can invite your parents to Japan if certain conditions are met. For example, if a child is born and needs care due to work reasons, the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa could be a good option.
Bringing along Domestic Workers
If you have been employing a domestic worker to manage household affairs before coming to Japan, you can bring that worker with you to Japan as long as certain conditions are met.
Priority processing of visa procedures
The application for changing the status of residence, which usually takes three weeks or more, can be processed with priority if it is related to the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa. It usually takes about one week to receive a notification.
Almost unlimited activity types (Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 2)
After obtaining the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 1, if you change to Type 2, you will be allowed more flexibility in the types of activities you can engage in, almost unlimitedly recognizing any activity.
Unlimited length of stay (Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 2)
In all residence qualifications, except for permanent residents, only the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa Type 2 has an unlimited period of stay.
Special Highly-Skilled Professional (J-Skip)
The Special Highly-Skilled Professional (J-Skip) is different from the regular Highly-Skilled Talent Points. If you meet the following conditions, you can apply for the "Highly-Skilled Professional Visa" as a Special Highly-Skilled Professional. Once approved, you can shorten the 10-year residence requirement for applying for permanent residency to just 1 year, meaning you can apply for permanent residency after being in Japan for only 1 year.
| Advanced Academic Research Advanced Specialized/Technical |
|
|---|---|
| Advanced business management |
|
Additional preferential measures
J-Skip not only has the general preferential policies for highly skilled talents, but also has the following policies.
- Can employ up to 2 foreign Domestic Workers.
- The spouse is also recognized for work types such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa categories.
- Can use the airport's priority channel.
Visa application process
The application process for the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa change is similar to general visa application procedures.
The following is the general application process.
1. Pre-consultation and Quotation
We will listen to the customer's current situation and provide necessary suggestions.
After the consultation, we will send a quotation based on the results.
2. Confirmation of Retainer Fee and Contract
We require half of the estimated fee as a retainer fee in the previous step. Once we confirm the retainer fee within the quotation validity period, we will proceed sequentially based on the quotation date.
If you wish to sign a contract, we can handle it through a meeting or by mail.
3. Provision of Required Document List
The list of required documents can usually be found on the websites of relevant departments or other sites. However, depending on the customer's current situation, there may be unique documents that are required. These documents are generally not requested at the time of submission but may be requested for additional submission during the examinations process.
We comprehensively assess the customer's current situation and ask them to prepare documents that are likely to be requested during the examinations process in advance, which can make the examinations smoother and help obtain the necessary permits within the scheduled time, reducing unnecessary waiting for the customer.
4. Second Meeting if Necessary
After receiving the request, a second meeting may be necessary to confirm individual circumstances in detail, prepare a statement of reasons, or for permanent residency applications. This can also be handled online if needed.
5. Preparation of Application Documents
The application documents are generally prepared by our office based on the information gathered from the customer's situation. The time required for preparation varies depending on the type of permit or license.
Additionally, some documents, such as floor plans, may require a site visit for actual measurements. In such cases, we will obtain the customer's consent before proceeding with the visit.
6. Submission of Application Documents
If all the required documents collected by the customer and those prepared by our office are ready, we will submit the application on behalf of the customer.
7. Examinations by Relevant Departments
In the case of permits and licenses, once the application is submitted, the relevant departments will begin their examinations. The time required for the examinations varies depending on the type of permit or license, but it generally takes about 30 days. During the examinations process, there may be requests for additional documents due to deficiencies, and if you have entrusted us with your application, our representative will handle these communications directly.
8. Notification of Results
Once the examinations is completed, you will receive a notification from the relevant department.
If the application is approved, we will go to collect the approval documents, and of course, you can accompany us. In this step, you may need to pay registration license tax or revenue stamps when receiving the permit. In this case, we may request you to pay the related taxes in advance based on the amount before we collect the permit.
However, if the application is not approved, we will listen to the reasons for the denial. Depending on the type of permit or license, it may be possible to reapply with a new situation once the conditions are met again.
Please note that if joining a travel industry association is required before applying for registration in industries such as travel agencies, you will need to loop back from the "Provision of Required Document List" step to the "Notification of Results" step again. In this case, if you entrust us with full responsibility, we will handle the application for joining free of charge.
9. Payment of Remaining Balance
Once the permit is successfully granted, we will send you an invoice for the remaining balance of the fee and any expenses we have advanced on your behalf.
Summary
This article briefly introduces the difference between Highly-Skilled Talent and the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa. Highly-Skilled Talent only requires sufficient points, while the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa needs to go through an application process and be recognized as a highly skilled person by the Immigration Services Agency. If you have time, you can try the Highly-Skilled Talent points calculator provided in this article to see how many points you can get now.
If you have any questions about Highly-Skilled Talent or the Highly-Skilled Professional Visa, please feel free to contact us anytime.