Detailed Guide to Calculating Points for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa

In this post, I'm sharing the details on how to calculate points when switching to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (高度人材ビザ).

If you're looking into switching to the Highly Skilled Professional Visa, you can check out this article of mine:
Sharing My Experience Switching to the Highly Skilled Professional VISA

How to Calculate Points for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa

Links to Download the Points Calculation Table

You can download the points calculation file in XLS or PDF format from the official links below, or click on the file to download it.

高度専門職ポイント計算表 (EXCEL)

How to Calculate Points for Highly Skilled Professionals

Education

Only the highest degree is counted.

PhD (excluding professional degrees): 30 points.
Professional degree in business management, such as MBA or MOT: 25 points.
Master's degree or other professional degree: 20 points
Bachelor's degree or equivalent: 10 points.
PhD in 2 or more fields, or master's degree and professional degree: 5 points.

Work Experience

This includes work experience abroad if you have proof of employment. The experience must be directly related to the field of work you'll be doing in Japan.

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 your annual income is below 3 million yen, even if you reach 70 points, you won't qualify.

If under 30 years old

Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
9 to 10 million yen: 35 points.
8 to 9 million yen: 30 points.
7 to 8 million yen: 25 points.
6 to 7 million yen: 20 points.
5 to 6 million yen: 15 points.
4 to 5 million yen: 10 points.

If 30 to 34 years old

Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
9 to 10 million yen: 35 points.
8 to 9 million yen: 30 points.
7 to 8 million yen: 25 points.
6 to 7 million yen: 20 points.
5 to 6 million yen: 15 points.

If 35 to 39 years old

Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
9 to 10 million yen: 35 points.
8 to 9 million yen: 30 points.
7 to 8 million yen: 25 points.
6 to 7 million yen: 20 points.

If 40 years old or above

Over 10 million yen: 40 points.
9 to 10 million yen: 35 points.
8 to 9 million yen: 30 points.

Age

Calculated based on your age at the time of application. The younger you are, the better.

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

Research Achievements

Each category gives 15 points.

Have at least 1 invention patented as the inventor.
Participated in at least 3 research projects funded or competitively granted by a foreign government.
Published at least 3 research papers in academic journals listed in academic databases. Only counts if the paper is recognized and you are the primary author.
Other research achievements recognized by the Minister of Justice.

Certifications

Possessing a Japanese national certification related to the intended job, or having passed exams or holding certifications specified in the IT notification.

1 certification: 5 points.
Multiple certifications: 10 points.

Special Bonus Categories

Your Current Company

Receiving support measures for promoting innovation: 10 points.
Companies under category I that are also small or medium-sized enterprises as defined by the Small and Medium Enterprise Act: 10 points.
Companies supported as part of projects promoting the acceptance of highly skilled foreign professionals in national strategic zones: 10 points.
Small or medium-sized enterprises as defined by the Small and Medium Enterprise Act, with total R&D expenses exceeding 3% of revenue (after deducting revenue from fixed asset or securities transfers): 5 points.

Qualifications

Possessing an international qualification or award related to the intended job, recognized by the Japanese 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 equivalent: 15 points.
Achieved JLPT N2 equivalent. Does not apply to those who graduated from university or completed graduate programs in Japan, or met the above criteria: 10 points.

Other Bonus Points

Participating in advanced projects in growth sectors implemented by relevant ministries: 10 points.
Graduated from 2 universities in the top 30 of the following rankings, or from a Japanese university in the rankings: 10 points.
- QS World University Rankings
- THE World University Rankings
- Academic Ranking of World Universities
Graduated from universities receiving funding from the Top Global University Project: 10 points.
Graduated from universities designated as partners in the Asia Innovation 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 completed JICA training lasting 1 year or more under the "Innovative Asia" project.
- When submitting JICA's training completion certificate, no need to provide documents proving education or work experience. However, if you want to count points for Work Experience, additional documents are required.
- If participating in training using curricula from Japanese universities or graduate schools, points will not be duplicated with the category for graduating from university or graduate school in Japan.
Engaged in work related to investment operations: 10 points.

That's my detailed explanation on how to calculate points for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa. I hope this article provides the useful information you need.