Moving to Japan

Score at least 70 points in the Immigration Services Agency's points calculation, which awards points item by item for academic background, professional career and annual income, and for other items, among them age and research achievements. For advanced specialised/technical activities ((i)(b)) and advanced business management ((i)(c)) the annual salary must also reach JPY 3,000,000, whatever the points total. The three activity categories are (i)(a) advanced academic research, (i)(b) advanced specialised/technical activities and (i)(c) advanced business management. The 70 points are needed to be granted the status and again at each renewal of the period of stay, not at every moment in between. Preferential treatment under Highly Skilled Professional (i): activities spanning more than one residence status, a 5-year period of stay, priority processing (the Agency aims to decide a certificate of eligibility within 10 days and an extension or change of status within 5 days of receiving the application), work for a spouse in activities such as Instructor or Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services without that status's education or career requirements (the spouse must live with the professional and be paid at least what a Japanese national would be), bringing a parent to care for a child under 7 or to help during a pregnancy (household income of at least JPY 8,000,000, among other conditions), and bringing a domestic helper (household income of at least JPY 10,000,000, among other conditions). The headline benefit is the permanent residence fast track: the usual 10 years' residence falls to 3 years for someone who has held 70 points or more over those 3 years, and to 1 year for 80 points or more over 1 year. After 3 years under Highly Skilled Professional (i) a holder can move to (ii), whose period of stay is indefinite. Naturalisation is governed separately by the Nationality Act, which asks five years' domicile and, under art. 5(1)(v), that the applicant have no nationality or give it up on becoming Japanese.

No points calculation. For advanced academic research or advanced specialised/technical activities (Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a) or (i)(b)): a master's degree or higher plus annual income of at least JPY 20,000,000 (approx. EUR 121,000), or 10 or more years of relevant professional experience plus the same JPY 20,000,000 income. For advanced business management ((i)(c)): at least 5 years of business management experience plus annual income of at least JPY 40,000,000 (approx. EUR 242,000). Holders receive the Highly Skilled Professional (i) status with preferential treatment beyond the points-based HSP: multiple concurrent activities, a 5-year period of stay, relaxed permanent-residence requirements, work for a spouse, bringing a parent and employing a domestic helper under certain conditions, airport priority lanes and priority processing. After a year of activity a holder may move to Highly Skilled Professional (ii), with an indefinite period of stay, and the residence period required before permanent residence is one year. Naturalisation is governed separately by the Nationality Act, which asks five years' domicile and, under art. 5(1)(v), that the applicant have no nationality or give it up on becoming Japanese.

Applicant must have graduated from, or completed a graduate course and been awarded a degree at, a university ranked within the top 100 in at least two of three world university rankings — the QS World University Rankings, the THE World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The Immigration Services Agency publishes the list of eligible universities and asks applicants to check the latest rankings as well. The degree must have been awarded within the preceding 5 years. For initial living costs, the applicant's savings must be equivalent to at least JPY 200,000 at the time of application. Grants the Designated Activities (Future Creation Individual) status for job-hunting or start-up preparation, for a stay of up to 2 years. A spouse and children may accompany: the Agency lists the documents they file. Naturalisation is governed separately by the Nationality Act, which asks five years' domicile and, under art. 5(1)(v), that the applicant have no nationality or give it up on becoming Japanese.

Requires a job offer from a Japanese employer in a role matching the applicant's field, plus either a relevant bachelor's degree or higher, or (for the international-services strand) at least 3 years of relevant practical experience — 10 years for some categories. The employer applies for a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency before the visa is issued. Pay must be at least equivalent to what a Japanese national would receive for the same work. Periods of stay of 3 months, 1, 3 or 5 years, renewable indefinitely while employment continues; changing employer within the same field requires a notification, not a new visa. Spouse and children may accompany on Dependent status, though a dependent spouse needs separate permission to work and is capped at 28 hours per week. Standard permanent residence requires 10 years of continuous residence, at least 5 of them on a working status — versus 3 years or 1 year via the HSP/J-Skip fast tracks. Naturalisation nominally requires 5 years' residence but screening now commonly examines around 10 years, and Japan does not permit dual nationality: applicants must pledge to renounce their existing citizenship.

The Immigration Services Agency amended the landing criteria for this status in 2025, sharply raising the bar. The capitalisation requirement was increased from JPY 5,000,000 to JPY 30,000,000 (approx. EUR 182,000), and applicants must now also employ at least one full-time employee resident in Japan, hold a relevant master's degree or at least three years of management experience, and demonstrate Japanese-language ability or engage someone who has it. A physical business premises in Japan and a credible business plan remain required. Because the amendment is recent, the exact transitional treatment of existing holders at renewal should be confirmed against the current ordinance before relying on it. Periods of stay of 3 months to 5 years, renewable while the business remains viable. Standard permanent residence needs 10 years of residence; a high-performing manager may qualify under the HSP (i)(c) points route and reach PR in 3 years, or 1 year at 80 points. Naturalisation is not a realistic adjunct — Japan does not permit dual nationality.

Requires acceptance by a recognised institution, which applies for a Certificate of Eligibility on the student's behalf, plus documented ability to cover tuition and living costs — typically bank evidence of several million yen or a sponsor's affidavit. Periods of stay from 3 months up to 4 years 3 months, renewable for the length of the programme. Part-time work is permitted at up to 28 hours per week with a separate permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status previously granted. Graduates may switch to a job-hunting Designated Activities status for up to a year, or convert directly to a working status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities. Student years count only partially toward permanent residence, which requires 10 years of residence including at least 5 on a working or residence status. Naturalisation is not a practical adjunct: Japan does not permit dual nationality and requires a pledge to renounce the existing citizenship.