4. About procedures: Q&A (Highly-Skilled Professional)
This page provides a Q&A on procedures for Highly-Skilled Professionals, excerpted from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.
(Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan website, February 2025)
Q42: What is the procedure for entering Japan as a Highly-Skilled Professional?
To enter Japan as a Highly-Skilled Professional, you must first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for one of the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b), or (i)(c)” statuses of residence. When applying for the COE, you need to submit a self-calculated “Points Calculation Sheet.” Based on the public points table, you should perform your own calculation, and if you meet the passing score (70 points or more), you submit the points calculation sheet with supporting documents.
If the review confirms that your entry is possible under a work visa and your points meet or exceed the passing score, you will be issued a COE for the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b), or (i)(c)” status of residence.
With the issued COE, you apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad. If the visa is issued, you will then make an application for landing in Japan with both the COE and the visa.
Q43: If a person seeking to enter Japan as a Highly-Skilled Professional applies for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate without a Certificate of Eligibility, will the visa be issued?
Even if you are recognized as a Highly-Skilled Professional and a COE is issued, a visa for a Highly-Skilled Professional will not be issued if you apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate without possessing that COE.
Q44: What documents are required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to enter Japan as a Highly-Skilled Professional?
When applying for a COE, in addition to the application form for the relevant status of residence for the activity you intend to perform, please submit the following documents:
(1) Documents listed in the lower column of Appended Table 3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act (documents proving the content, period, position, and remuneration of the activity; documents proving your educational and professional background; materials clarifying the business content of the inviting organization, etc.).
(2) A Points Calculation Sheet.
(3) Supporting documents for each item on the points calculation. This includes documents proving your academic degree, documents clarifying your annual income, documents clarifying research achievements (patent certificates, documents proving engagement in research that received competitive funding from a foreign government three or more times, materials clarifying that you have three or more papers published in academic journals registered in an academic paper database, etc.), and certificates of national qualifications in Japan related to your work, etc.
(Note 1) It is sufficient to submit documents that confirm your total points are 70 or more. You do not need to submit supporting documents for every single item you have points for.
(Note 2) Regarding research achievements, the Immigration Services Agency uses the academic paper databases “SciVerse Scopus” by Elsevier and “PubMed” operated by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) to verify papers.
Q45: What documents are required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for a family member of a Highly-Skilled Professional to enter Japan?
The requirements are as follows:
(1) In the case of a spouse or child who is financially dependent on the Highly-Skilled Professional:
- An application form for a COE for the “Dependent” status of residence.
- Documents listed in the lower column for the “Dependent” status of residence in Appended Table 3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act (documents proving your relationship with the Highly-Skilled Professional, a copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s residence card or passport, and documents proving the Highly-Skilled Professional’s occupation and income).
(2) In the case of a working spouse of a Highly-Skilled Professional:
- An application form for a COE for the status of residence corresponding to the activity they intend to perform (“Instructor,” “Researcher,” “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” or “Entertainer”).
- Documents listed in the lower column of Appended Table 3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act (documents proving the content, period, position, and remuneration of the activity; materials clarifying the business content of the inviting organization, etc.).
- Documents proving your relationship with the Highly-Skilled Professional, and a copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s residence card or passport.
(3) In the case of a parent of a Highly-Skilled Professional or their spouse who is raising a child under 7 or assisting a pregnant spouse or the pregnant Highly-Skilled Professional themselves:
- An application form for a COE for the “Designated Activities” status of residence.
- Documents proving your relationship with the Highly-Skilled Professional or their spouse.
- Documents proving the household annual income of the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- (For childcare purposes) Documents proving that the child to be raised is the child of the Highly-Skilled Professional or their spouse, and a copy of the residence card or passport of the Highly-Skilled Professional and the child to be raised.
- (For assisting a pregnant person) A copy of the residence card or passport of the pregnant spouse or the pregnant Highly-Skilled Professional themselves, and documents proving that the person requiring assistance is pregnant.
Q46: What documents are required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for a domestic servant of a Highly-Skilled Professional to enter Japan?
The requirements are as follows:
(1) For a domestic servant under “Designated Activities Public Notice No. 2-2” (a domestic servant accompanying a Highly-Skilled Professional, continuously employed in their home country, etc.):
- An application form for a COE for the “Designated Activities” status of residence.
- Documents proving the content, period, position, and remuneration of the activity.
- A copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s COE or a copy of the receipt for the COE application (not required if applying at the same time as the Highly-Skilled Professional).
- Documents proving the household annual income of the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A document stating that the Highly-Skilled Professional does not employ any other domestic servants besides the applicant.
- Documents clarifying that the applicant can have daily conversations in the language used by the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A copy of the employment contract (Note) and a document proving the applicant understands the working conditions. (Note) Please use the model employment contract created by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- A document pledging that the servant is expected to leave Japan with the Highly-Skilled Professional if they depart (not required if this clause is in the employment contract).
- Documents proving continuous employment with the Highly-Skilled Professional for one year or more up to the time of the landing application (e.g., a copy of the employment contract).
(2) For a domestic servant under “Designated Activities Public Notice No. 2” (for Highly-Skilled Professionals who entered Japan on or before March 31, 2015, this is “Highly-Skilled Professional Landing Notice No. 2(g)”) (a domestic servant employed by a Highly-Skilled Professional due to circumstances such as having a child under 13):
- An application form for a COE for the “Designated Activities” status of residence.
- Documents proving the content, period, position, and remuneration of the activity.
- A copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s COE or a copy of the receipt for the COE application if entering at the same time as the Highly-Skilled Professional (not required if applying at the same time as the Highly-Skilled Professional).
- A copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s residence card or passport if being called to Japan by the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- Documents proving the household annual income of the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A document stating that the Highly-Skilled Professional does not employ any other domestic servants besides the applicant.
- Documents clarifying that the applicant can have daily conversations in the language used by the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A copy of the employment contract (Note) and a document proving the applicant understands the working conditions. (Note) Please use the model employment contract created by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- Documents proving that the Highly-Skilled Professional has a child under 13 or a spouse who cannot perform daily household chores due to illness, etc.
(3) For a domestic servant under “Designated Activities Public Notice No. 2-3” (a domestic servant employed by a Highly-Skilled Professional engaged in investment management business, etc.):
- An application form for a COE for the “Designated Activities” status of residence.
- Documents proving the content, period, position, and remuneration of the activity.
- A copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s COE or a copy of the receipt for the COE application if entering at the same time as the Highly-Skilled Professional (not required if applying at the same time as the Highly-Skilled Professional).
- A copy of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s residence card or passport if being called to Japan by the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- Documents proving the household annual income of the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A document stating that the Highly-Skilled Professional does not employ any other domestic servants besides the applicant, or in cases where the Highly-Skilled Professional’s household annual income is ¥30 million or more, a document stating that the number of other domestic servants employed is one.
- Documents clarifying that the applicant can have daily conversations in the language used by the Highly-Skilled Professional.
- A copy of the employment contract (Note) and a document proving the applicant understands the working conditions. (Note) Please use the model employment contract created by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- A copy of the registration notification, etc., related to the financial instruments business (Type II Financial Instruments Business, Investment Advisory and Agency Business, or Investment Management Business as defined in Article 28, Paragraph 2, 3, or 4 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act) of the Highly-Skilled Professional’s affiliated organization.
- Materials explaining that the Highly-Skilled Professional employer is engaged in one of the businesses mentioned in (i) above (reference format).
Q47: I am currently residing in Japan with a status of residence other than “Highly-Skilled Professional.” Can I change my status to a Highly-Skilled Professional status?
If you are currently residing in Japan with a status of residence other than “Highly-Skilled Professional,” you can apply for permission to change your status to one of the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b), or (i)(c)” statuses. After a review of the required conditions, such as whether your work falls under the activities of a Highly-Skilled Professional, whether your points calculation result is a passing score (70 points), and whether there are any issues with your previous period of stay, you may be granted permission to change your status of residence if all conditions are met.
Q48: I am a Highly-Skilled Professional currently residing in Japan with a “Designated Activities” status. If I want the “Highly-Skilled Professional (ii)” status, do I need to first change to the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)” status and reside for three or more years?
A person who has been engaged in activities as a Highly-Skilled Professional for three or more years under the “Designated Activities” status of residence can apply directly to change to the “Highly-Skilled Professional (ii)” status.
Q49: I am currently residing in Japan with the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)” status and am changing jobs. Do I need to complete any procedures when I change jobs?
Since the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)” status of residence specifies a particular public or private organization in Japan where you can perform your activities, if you change organizations due to a job change, you need to apply for a change of status of residence, even if you intend to continue residing as a Highly-Skilled Professional (i). Additionally, you are also required to submit a notification regarding your affiliated organization, as stipulated in Article 19-16 of the Immigration Control Act.
Q50: I am currently residing in Japan with the “Highly-Skilled Professional (i)” status using the Highly-Skilled Professional Points System. Can I receive preferential treatment as a person eligible for the “Special Highly-Skilled Professional System”?
If it is time for a renewal of your period of stay, you can receive preferential treatment as a person eligible for the “Special Highly-Skilled Professional System” by submitting supporting documents(*) for being a Special Highly-Skilled Professional with your application for renewal of your period of stay. If it is not time for renewal, you can receive preferential treatment by submitting supporting documents for being a Special Highly-Skilled Professional with your application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment.
(*) Please see the following for the requirements of the Special Highly-Skilled Professional System: Special Highly-Skilled Professional System here.
Please see below for previous articles. ↓
- Q&A on the Highly Skilled Professional Point System – Yokoyama Daisuke Administrative Scrivener Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
- Q&A on General Matters for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals – Yokoyama Daisuke Administrative Scrivener Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
- Q&A on Accompaniment (Bringing in) of Family/Domestic Helpers for Highly Skilled Professionals – Yokoyama Daisuke Administrative Scrivener Office (Tokyo/Shinjuku)
Please feel free to contact us. (Free consultation ↓↓)
お問い合わせ（無料） – 横山大輔行政書士事務所 （東京・新宿）
横山大輔行政書士事務所 （東京・新宿） – 東京・新宿 横山大輔行政書士事務所 ビザ 外国人雇用 登録支援機関の申請・更新 外部監査人