What is the point system for highly skilled personnel?
Are you looking to work and live in Japan as a highly skilled professional?
If so, the Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals system may be just what you need.
As a real estate agent targeting foreign nationals, it’s important to provide information
about this program to your clients.
This system was introduced in 2012 to provide preferential treatment for highly skilled professionals from overseas,
with the aim of promoting economic growth.
To qualify for the program, candidates must accumulate a certain number of points based on the criteria
such as academic achievements, work experience, and salary level.
There are three categories of eligible activities: advanced academic research,
advanced specialized/technical work, and advanced business/management work.
If a candidate accumulates at least 70 points, they can enjoy preferential immigration control
and residency management treatment.
This includes perks such as multiple residence activities, a five-year period of stay,
and priority processing for immigration and residence procedures.
Spouses, parents, and domestic servants may also be allowed to accompany the highly skilled professional under certain conditions.
Furthermore, after three years of being a Highly Skilled Professional No. 1,
individuals may become eligible for Highly Skilled Professional No. 2 status, which grants an indefinite period of stay and additional benefits.
As a foreign real estate agent, it’s important to communicate the benefits of this system to your clients.
This program offers a great opportunity for highly skilled professionals to work and live in Japan,
and you may be interested in finding a suitable property to live in during your stay.
How does point evaluation work?
The Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals system in Japan evaluates applicants based on three types of activities:
Advanced Academic Research Activities “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (a)”:
This category involves conducting research, research guidance,
or education based on a contract with a public or private institution in Japan.
Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (b)”:
This category involves engaging in work that requires knowledge or
skills in the fields of natural sciences or humanities based on contracts with public and private organizations in Japan.
Advanced management and management activities “Highly-skilled professional No. 1 (c)”:
This category involves managing or managing business in public or private organizations in Japan.
Each activity has its own set of evaluation criteria, including educational background,
work history, annual income, and research achievements.
The applicant’s desired activity will be evaluated by point calculation based on their qualifications.
To aid in the point calculation, reference materials are available,
such as the List of innovation promotion support measures,
List of Foreign Qualifications and Awards, Japanese Proficiency List, List of cutting-edge businesses
in fields expected to grow in the future, and List of universities specified by the Minister of Justice.
Applicants from specified universities may be eligible for additional points.
As a real estate agent targeting foreign nationals,
it’s important to understand the point calculation system of the Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals program.
What kind of incentives are available?
Japan offers preferential treatment for Immigration Control and Residency Management
to those certified as highly-skilled foreign professionals.
There are three types of activities evaluated: Advanced Academic Research Activities “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (a)”,
Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (b)”,
and Advanced management and management activities “Highly-skilled professional No. 1 (c)”.
Each activity has its own set of evaluation criteria, including educational background, work history,
annual income, and research achievements.
Reference materials such as lists of innovation promotion support measures, foreign qualifications and awards,
and universities specified by the Minister of Justice are available to aid in point calculation.
Preferential treatment for “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1” includes
multiple residence activities, a 5-year period of stay,
relaxation of requirements for permission for permanent residence related to the history of residence,
employment of a spouse,
allowing parents to accompany children under certain conditions,
permission to bring domestic servants under certain conditions,
and priority processing for immigration and residence procedures.
To qualify for “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1”, an annual household income of 8 million yen or more,
living with a highly-skilled foreign professional, and limited parent involvement is required.
In the case of “Highly Skilled Professional No. 2”,
individuals can engage in almost all activities permitted by their status of a residence related to work,
have an indefinite period of stay, and receive preferential treatment from “Highly Skilled Professional No. 1”.
If you are interested in living in Japan and applying for such visas,
it’s essential to understand the Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals system and its requirements.
This knowledge can help you guide you who may be interested in finding a suitable property to live in during their stay in Japan.
I want to provide my potential clients with accurate and helpful information and
build trust in serving the needs of foreign nationals in Japan.
Toshihiko Yamamoto
Real estate investing consultant and author.
Founder of Yamamoto Property Advisory in Tokyo.
International property Investment consultant and licensed
real estate broker (Japan).
He serves the foreign companies and individuals to buy and sell
the real estates in Japan as well as own homes.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from
Osaka Prefecture University in Japan
and an MBA from Bond University in Australia
Toshihiko’s book, “The Savvy Foreign Investor’s Guide to Japanese Properties: How to Expertly Buy, Manage and Sell Real Estate in Japan” is now out on Amazon, iBooks (iTunes, Apple) and Google Play.
About the book
Amazon.com Link
