None
Passed JLPT N1
Passed JLPT N2
Graduated from Japanese University
Graduated from a Top University (QS/THE rankings)
Working for a small/medium enterprise (SME) with R&D
Research achievements (patents, papers, etc.)
Foreign Professional Qualification (IT/Law/etc.)
0
Understanding the Japan PR Point System
Japan's "Highly Skilled Foreign Professional" (HSFP) point system is a fast-track route to Permanent Residency. While the traditional residency requirement is 10 consecutive years in Japan, the point-based system allows qualified individuals to apply in as little as 1 to 3 years.
The 70/80 Rule:
70 Points: Eligible for PR after 3 years of residency.
80 Points: Eligible for PR after 1 year of residency.
Key Scoring Categories
The points are calculated based on several criteria defined by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Most applicants fall under the "Technical/Specialized Work" category.
Category
Max Points
Notes
Academic Background
30
PhDs get the highest points. Dual degrees add 5.
Work Experience
20
Must be relevant to your current field of work.
Annual Salary
40
Increases with age brackets (younger needs less for more points).
Age
15
Younger applicants are prioritized. Over 40 gets 0.
Japanese Level
15
N1 is highly rewarded. N2 or JP Uni gives 10.
Real-World Example
Consider a 29-year-old software engineer (15 points) with a Master's degree (20 points), 5 years of experience (10 points), earning 7 million JPY (25 points), and having passed JLPT N1 (15 points). Their total would be 85 points, making them eligible for Permanent Residency after only 1 year of living in Japan.
Important Documents Needed
When applying for PR via points, you must provide:
Certificate of Employment and Tax Records.
Copy of Degree/Diploma.
JLPT passing certificate.
The official Point Calculation Sheet signed by your employer.
function calculatePRPoints() {
var academic = parseInt(document.getElementById('pr-academic').value) || 0;
var experience = parseInt(document.getElementById('pr-experience').value) || 0;
var age = parseInt(document.getElementById('pr-age').value) || 0;
var salary = parseInt(document.getElementById('pr-salary').value) || 0;
var language = parseInt(document.getElementById('pr-language').value) || 0;
// Salary adjustment check: If age is 40+ and salary is under 3M (not possible in options here), 0 points.
// If age is 35-39, salary must be at least 3M to get points.
// Our options start at 4M which is safe for points.
var bonus = 0;
if (document.getElementById('bonus1').checked) bonus += parseInt(document.getElementById('bonus1').value);
if (document.getElementById('bonus2').checked) bonus += parseInt(document.getElementById('bonus2').value);
if (document.getElementById('bonus3').checked) bonus += parseInt(document.getElementById('bonus3').value);
if (document.getElementById('bonus4').checked) bonus += parseInt(document.getElementById('bonus4').value);
var totalScore = academic + experience + age + salary + language + bonus;
var resultBox = document.getElementById('pr-result-box');
var scoreValue = document.getElementById('pr-score-value');
var statusText = document.getElementById('pr-status-text');
var adviceText = document.getElementById('pr-advice');
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
scoreValue.innerHTML = totalScore + " Points";
if (totalScore >= 80) {
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#e6fffa";
resultBox.style.border = "2px solid #38a169";
statusText.style.color = "#2f855a";
statusText.innerHTML = "High Eligibility (Fast Track)";
adviceText.innerHTML = "Excellent! You qualify for the 1-year fast track to Permanent Residency.";
} else if (totalScore >= 70) {
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#ebf8ff";
resultBox.style.border = "2px solid #3182ce";
statusText.style.color = "#2b6cb0";
statusText.innerHTML = "Standard Eligibility";
adviceText.innerHTML = "Great! You qualify for the 3-year fast track to Permanent Residency.";
} else {
resultBox.style.backgroundColor = "#fff5f5";
resultBox.style.border = "2px solid #e53e3e";
statusText.style.color = "#c53030";
statusText.innerHTML = "Not Yet Eligible";
adviceText.innerHTML = "You need at least 70 points for the fast track. Try to improve your Japanese level or gain more experience.";
}
}