Switching to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (高度人材ビザ) offers you numerous benefits and conveniences for life in Japan. In particular, it's a shortcut to permanent residency after just 1 or 3 years, instead of the usual 10-year wait.
I recently tried switching to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa. Actually, this visa renewal wasn't necessary because my old visa is still valid until 2028. But I wanted to switch to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa so I can apply for permanent residency after just 1 year for added convenience.
What is the Highly Skilled Professional Visa?
The Highly Skilled Professional Visa in Japan, also known as 高度専門職 or 高度人材ビザ, is a visa category for foreigners with outstanding professional skills, education, work experience, or research capabilities. To qualify for this visa, you need to score at least 70 points (or 80 points for some special privileges) based on criteria set by the Japanese Immigration Bureau, such as:
Benefits of Holding a Highly Skilled Professional Visa
Ability to take on more jobs than a regular visa: The Highly Skilled Professional Visa allows you to engage in various jobs related to your main field. For example, if you're in IT, you can legally teach IT or conduct IT research at universities.
Granted a 5-year residence status: You'll receive a 5-year residence permit, which is the maximum for work visas in Japan. This helps you stabilize your career and long-term plans.
Relaxed requirements for permanent residency: Instead of needing 10 years of continuous residence (including 5 years in a work status) to apply for permanent residency, with the Highly Skilled Professional Visa, you only need:
1 year if you score 80 points
3 years if you score 70 points
Spouse can work full-time without restrictions: Normally, dependents (家族滞在) are limited to 28 hours of work per week. However, with the Highly Skilled Professional Visa, your spouse can work full-time or without hour limits, significantly improving family income and stability.
Ability to bring parents to live with you: You can sponsor your parents to come to Japan if you meet the conditions, facilitating family reunions and making your life in Japan more comfortable and supportive.
Other perks: Beyond the main benefits listed above, you may also enjoy various other advantages.
How to Calculate Points for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa
How to Prepare Documents for Switching to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa
The procedure for preparing documents to apply for a switch to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa requires the following papers:
Point calculation table: Refer to the point calculation method I mentioned above, and fill in the point calculation file.
Application form for visa change: I'll guide you in detail below.
Certificates of employment from previous companies: Contact all the companies you've worked for and ask them to issue a 退職証明証 (retirement certificate).
Certificate of current employment: Ask your current company to issue a 在職証明証 (employment certificate).
Projected income statement for the next year: Ask your current company to issue a 給与支払（見込み）証明証 (projected salary payment certificate).
Photocopy of residence card
Photocopy of passport
3x4 cm photo
JLPT certificates and related diplomas if applicable
How to Fill Out the Highly Skilled Professional Visa Application Form
First, you can download the Excel or PDF file from the links below. Based on my experience, it's better to download the Excel file for easier filling on your computer.
1. 国籍・地域（こくせき・ちいき）：Nationality, ベトナム 2. 生年月日（せいねんがっぴ）：Date of birth 3. 氏名（しめい）：Full name, in uppercase without accents, e.g., LE MINH THIEN TOAN 4. 性別（せいべつ）：Gender 5. 出生地（しゅっせいち）：Place of birth, write the province name without accents, e.g., Lam Dong 6. 配属社の有無（はいぞくしゃのうむ）：Marital status 7. 職業（しょくぎょう）：Occupation, e.g., IT Engineer 8. 本国における居住地（ほんごくにおけるきょじゅうち）：Residence in home country, write the province without accents, e.g., Lam Dong 9.
住居地（じゅうきょち）：Address in Japan, detailed to the room number
携帯電話番号（けいたいでんわばんごう）：Mobile phone number
10. 旅券（りょけん）：Passport
番号（ばんごう）：Passport number
有効期限（ゆうこうきげん）：Expiration date
11. 現に有する在留資格（げんにゆうするざいりゅうしかく）：Current visa type, e.g., 技術・人文知識・国際業務
在留期間（ざいりゅうきかん）：Residence period
在留期間の満了日（ざいりゅうきかんのまんりょうび）：Expiration date
12. 在留カード番号（ざいりゅうカードばんごう）：Residence card number 13. 希望する在留資格（きぼうするざいりゅうしかく）：Desired visa type, in my case, it's 高度専門職１号ロ 14. 変更の理由（へんこうのりゆう）：Reason for change, you can write the same as mine: この先も日本で仕事をして暮らしていくため (I want to continue living and working in Japan from now on) 15. 犯罪を理由とする処分を受けたことの有無：Of course, circle the option for no criminal record 😁 16. 在日親族及び同居者（ざいにちしんぞくおよびどうきょしゃ）：Information on relatives/spouse in Japan.
How to Fill Out Section 申請人等作成用２
Refer to how I filled out the sample as follows
17. 勤務先（きんむさき）：Current company information
名称（めいしょう）：Company name
支店・事務所名（してん・じむしょめい）：Branch or office name
所在地（しょざいち）：Company address
電話番号（でんわばんごう）：Company phone number
18. 最終学歴（さいしゅうがくれき）：Highest educational level
Place of study
本邦（ほんぽう）：Japan
外国（がいこく）：Foreign country
Type of school
大学院（博士）：Doctorate
大学院（修士）：Master's
大学：University
短期大学：Junior college
専門学校：Vocational school
高等学校：High school
中学校：Junior high school
その他：Other, specify
学校名（がっこうめい）：School name
卒業年月日（そつぎょうねんがっぴ）：Graduation date
19. 専攻・専門分野（せんこう・せんもんぶんや）：Major field of study, for those who selected from doctorate to junior college in section 18 20. 情報処理技術者資格又は試験合格の有無：Information on holding or passing information processing technician exams, e.g., FE certification 21. 職歴（しょくれき）：Work history, including time worked abroad 22. 代理人（だいりじん）：Agent information. If you're handling the application yourself, you don't need to fill this out. In my case, the company hired a lawyer to handle everything, so the lawyer filled in this section
Submitting Documents to the Immigration Bureau
If you're doing it yourself, after preparing all the documents, go to the Immigration Bureau (Nyukan) to submit. Remember to bring your passport and residence card.
If any documents are missing, the Immigration Bureau will contact you to request them. Depending on your industry, job, or educational background, they might ask for additional papers. If needed, you can contact the Immigration Bureau directly for detailed guidance.
Results:
高度専門職１号ロ
My company hired a lawyer to handle it for me, but it still took over 2 months for the visa to be mailed to my home. Wishing you all a smooth process in getting your Highly Skilled Professional Visa soon!
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