Hello, this is Kou of IMS.
There's just a few more days left until this year is over. I think the same every year, but this year went by so quickly! Let's celebrate the New Year and look back fondly on the old.
Today, I would like to talk about the Highly-Skilled Professional visa. Yesterday, I was at a local university for visa consultation and spoke with someone who was currently on a "Professor" visa but was looking to change to a Highly-Skilled Professional visa. This person currently has one year of employment at their current job, with half a year left. After that, however, they wanted to work for a general company.
Things to Consider
As you might know, someone with a Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa must apply again when changing jobs. In other words, the Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa is tied to the company where you work. Therefore, even if this person received a Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa now, if they transferred to another job, their new company would have to sponsor a new Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa application.
The Ministry of Justice's official information lists some incentives for this visa status, but also has the disadvantages described above.
Advantages of the Highly-Skilled Professional(i) Visa
For a Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa holder and their spouse, if they have a child under 7 years of age, they are able to bring their parents (the child's grandparents) to Japan on a medium- or long-term Designated Activities visa to help with child-rearing.
Also, the spouse on a Dependent visa can change to a Designated Activities visa without educational requirements or a time limit, and they will be able to work full-time.
The biggest advantage, of course, is that Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa holders can apply for Permanent Residency sooner than usual. (This means, however, that a short length of stay in Japan may not be of help.)
Like with anything, the Highly-Skilled Professional(i) visa has both advantages and disadvantages depending on individual situations. Some people may want to apply simply for the prestige of having this visa, but please be sure to check whether it fits your situation and lifestyle.
We at IMS are currently accepting applications and consultations regarding the Highly-Skilled Professional visa and Permanent Resident status. If you are facing indecision or are unsure what to do, please contact us. We will propose the best visa options that work for you from a professional perspective, taking into account your current and future plans.
・Highly-Skilled Professional Visa: Details
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
