I’ve written about the requirements for Japanese permanent residency umpteen times, and it was only recently that I found out my interpretation of it was lacking in detail, probably resulting in some misunderstandings.
To recollect, the Japanese government had made requirements of attaining permanent residency much easier for highly skilled foreigners. For everyone else, 10 years of continuous residency and among which, at least 5 years was spent working is still the standard requirement for eligibility. For highly skilled workers with 70 points and above under the point evaluation system, only 3 years of continuous work and residency is required, while for outstanding highly skilled workers with at least 80 points, only 1 year of work and residency is required.
Now, if you are a regular work visa holder missing out on the 70 points by a little. 3 years later, you check your points again and find that you do have 70 points now. Can you then apply for permanent residency? The answer is no.
The requirement states that one has to work under the highly skilled worker visa for the stipulated number of years before becoming eligible for permanent residency. This means, if you have 70 points, you have to apply for the highly skilled worker visa first. Once approved, you have to work for the next 3 years under that visa before you are eligible to apply for permanent residence.
This means, for someone like me who’s been here 7 years now, it makes no difference whether I apply for the highly skilled worker visa or not if I only have 70 points, because either case, I’ll still have to wait 3 years and either case, I’ll be eligible to apply for permanent residence after 3 years since I would’ve been here for 10 years by then. The only more attractive option for me would be the 80 point outstanding highly skilled worker visa. Unfortunately, I’m not that outstanding, so that is a no go.
The only up side to the highly skilled worker visa for me is that my 3 year visa would be extended to 5 years. To check your points, you can download this excel sheet here.
More thinking to be done.
UPDATE 20/06: If you can read Japanese, I suggest you use this form instead as I realized the English version is not updated to include points given to those with N2, and those who graduated from universities that rank in the top 300 colleges around the world in at least 2 recognized rankings.
woah! means you would be eligible if you have applied for the ‘highly skilled 70-point’ visa earlier. I kinda get their rationale, cos without using the visa official start date a a reference, you wouldn’t be able to verify exactly when this person became a ’70-point’ person on a ‘regular’ visa.
So now how? Hahaa. I guess you still have a bit of time since you are just 3 years short of 10, and the new arrangement allows you to stay in JP for a while more.
And hey, what about the after?? Do you have to stay in JP to maintain the PR status?
That’s if I had 70 points then. In any case, 3 years suddenly feel a little long. It still depends on whether I get to continue working at the Korean firm next year, and that would depend on how I perform this year. If I don’t then all discussion may be pointless. But it’s always good to have information on hand in case I need them.
As for the after, I haven’t managed to find official documents of it yet, although a certain website suggests that you need to have a Japanese address for at least 6 of the 7 years before you are required to renew your residence card.