How to Calculate Points for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa

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How to Calculate Highly Skilled Professional Points

Academic Background

• Doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees): 30 points.
• Professional degree in Business Management (e.g., MBA or MOT): 25 points.
• Master's degree or other professional degree: 20 points.
• University Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 10 points.
• Doctorates in 2 or more fields, or holding both a Master's and a professional degree: 5 points.

Work Experience

• Over 10 years: 20 points.
• 7 to under 10 years: 15 points.
• 5 to under 7 years: 10 points.
• 3 to under 5 years: 5 points.

Annual Income

• If under 30 years old
  • Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
  • 9 ~ 10 million yen: 35 points.
  • 8 ~ 9 million yen: 30 points.
  • 7 ~ 8 million yen: 25 points.
  • 6 ~ 7 million yen: 20 points.
  • 5 ~ 6 million yen: 15 points.
  • 4 ~ 5 million yen: 10 points.
• If aged 30 to 34
  • Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
  • 9 ~ 10 million yen: 35 points.
  • 8 ~ 9 million yen: 30 points.
  • 7 ~ 8 million yen: 25 points.
  • 6 ~ 7 million yen: 20 points.
  • 5 ~ 6 million yen: 15 points.
• If aged 35 to 39
  • Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
  • 9 ~ 10 million yen: 35 points.
  • 8 ~ 9 million yen: 30 points.
  • 7 ~ 8 million yen: 25 points.
  • 6 ~ 7 million yen: 20 points.
• If aged 40 or older
  • Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
  • 9 ~ 10 million yen: 35 points.
  • 8 ~ 9 million yen: 30 points.

Age

• Under 30 years old: 15 points.
• From 30 to under 35 years old: 10 points.
• From 35 to under 40 years old: 5 points.

Research Achievements

• Hold at least 1 invention that has been patented as an inventor.
• Participated in at least 3 research projects funded by foreign government grants or competitive funds.
• Published at least 3 research papers in academic journals listed in academic databases. Only counts if the paper is recognized and you are the main author.
• Other research achievements recognized by the Minister of Justice.

Certifications / Licenses

• 1 qualification: 5 points.
• Multiple qualifications: 10 points.

Special Bonus Points

Contracting Organization (Your Employer)

• Receiving support measures for promoting innovation: 10 points.
• The company falls under category I and is also a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) as defined by the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Basic Act: 10 points.
• The company is supported as a target in a project promoting the acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals in National Strategic Special Zones: 10 points.
• The company is an SME as defined in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Basic Act, with total experimental research and development expenses exceeding 3% of sales revenue (after deducting revenue from the transfer of fixed assets or securities): 5 points.

Degrees / Qualifications

• Holder of an international degree or award related to the intended work, recognized by the Minister of Justice: 5 points.
• Graduated from a university or completed a graduate program in Japan: 10 points.
• Graduated with a major in Japanese from a foreign university or achieved JLPT N1 level (or equivalent): 15 points.
• Achieved JLPT N2 level (or equivalent). Does not apply to those who graduated from a university/graduate school in Japan or already met the criteria in the item above: 10 points.

Other Bonus Points

• Participating in advanced projects in growth fields conducted by relevant ministries and agencies: 10 points.
• Graduated from at least 2 universities in the top 300 of the following rankings, or graduated from a Japanese university listed in the following rankings: 10 points.
  • QS World University Rankings
  • THE World University Rankings
  • Academic Ranking of World Universities
• Graduated from a university funded by the Top Global University Project: 10 points.
• Graduated from a university designated as a partner in the Innovative Asia Project by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 10 points.
• Participated in training conducted by JICA under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Innovative Asia" project: 5 points.
  • Only applies to those who have completed JICA training lasting 1 year or more under the "Innovative Asia" project.
  • When submitting the JICA training completion certificate, you do not need to provide documents proving education or work experience. However, if you want to claim points for Work Experience, you must submit additional documentation.
  • If you participated in training courses using curricula from Japanese universities or graduate schools, points cannot be duplicated with the "Graduated from a university or graduate school in Japan" category.
• Engaged in work related to investment management: 10 points.

Above, I have explained the details of the Highly Skilled Professional Visa point calculation system. I hope this article provided the useful information you were looking for.