According to the Immigration Services Agency, Japan will introduce a new, streamlined system for issuing highly skilled professional visas to foreign workers starting on April 21.
The aim is to attract more international talent to the country by providing preferential treatment to applicants who meet specific conditions, such as holding a master's degree and earning an annual income of at least 20 million yen (approximately 150,000 U.S. dollars).
Local experts have criticised Japan's current points-based system for being too complicated, especially given the global competition for skilled workers. Under the current system, applicants earn points based on factors such as their academic and employment backgrounds, as well as their income. Those with a sufficient number of points are granted a highly skilled professional visa that is valid for five years and can be extended indefinitely after three years.
The new system will grant five-year visas to applicants engaged in advanced academic research, specialised or technical activities, provided they have a master's degree or higher and an annual income of at least 20 million yen (150,000 U.S. dollars), or a work history of 10 years or more with an annual income of at least 20 million yen. For those involved in advanced business and management activities, five-year visas will be awarded if they have worked for at least five years and earn an annual income of at least 40 million yen (300,000 U.S. dollars).
Applicants who meet the simplified requirements and receive five-year visas will be eligible for permanent residency after residing in Japan for just one year, compared to the current three-year requirement for existing visa holders.
According to Kyodo News, the new measures were introduced after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed relevant ministries to consider reforms that would attract highly skilled human resources to Japan and create a system that "ranks among the best in the world."