In order to ensure that Japanese companies and research institutions attract foreign senior professionals, the Japanese government plans to raise the income threshold for foreign talent as early as this fiscal year, while tightening overall standards and placing more emphasis on individual skills.
According to a report by Nikkei Asian Review on August 14, the Japanese Immigration Bureau also plans to introduce new requirements for permanent residency permits, including the principle that applicants must at least reach the average annual income level of Japanese households.
The Immigration Bureau announced on August 4 that revisions to relevant guidelines will be made as early as October. The revisions will also include clarifying standards related to national interests, tightening approvals for permanent residency, and more.
Foreign high-skilled talents will enjoy more favorable treatment, including longer stays in Japan, and spouses having the qualification to work. The Japanese Ministry of Justice adopts a points-based system, assessing applicants based on criteria such as education level, annual income, age, work experience, as well as considering “bonus points” for Japanese language proficiency.
According to the assessment, foreign nationals who score at least 70 points can obtain the status of “Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1)” with a residence right of five years. After working for a certain period under this status, they can apply for the status of “Highly Skilled Professional (Type 2)” with an “unlimited period” of residence. Applicants with at least 80 points can enjoy priority treatment in applying for permanent residency, including shortening the requirement of staying in Japan for ten years to one year.
The Japanese government introduced the points-based system in 2012, but major adjustments have not been made since then. During this period, the prices and wage levels in Japan have been continuously rising, making it necessary to revise the old scoring system to more accurately reflect the current economic situation. For example, under the current system, applicants aged 29 or younger with an annual income of 4 million yen (25,100 US dollars) can receive an additional 10 points.
Currently, the Japanese government is considering raising the income threshold, reducing certain specific bonus points, and reviewing the bonus point criteria. Over the past years, at the request of various government departments, the number of scoring review items has been increasing annually. In order to expedite the approval process, the government is considering removing less commonly used items from this revision. Immigration officials have indicated that some foreign professional qualifications and research results related to applicants’ work are difficult to review, leading to excessive review times.
The Japanese government stated that the purpose of this reform is to improve the efficiency of assessments. The Japanese government views foreign talent as a source of innovation for companies and research institutions and has been working to attract foreign high-skilled professionals. Currently, there are nearly 30,000 foreign citizens in Japan holding the status of highly skilled professional (Type 1).