Japan to reduce path to permanent residency from 5 to 1 year

The government rolled out an economic growth strategy in June that calls for Japan to issue green cards to top-level personnel at time frames on a par with the speediest issuing nations.

Published

4 years ago

November 15, 2016

Fujiko Takahashi

A narrow class of foreign-born professionals working in Japan will be able to obtain permanent-resident status after just one year as the government seeks to inject fresh blood into the economy and boost productivity.

The government rolled out an economic growth strategy in June that calls for Japan to issue green cards to top-level personnel at time frames on a par with the speediest issuing nations.

The ruling bloc will help formulate new ordinances and guidelines that will be put in place by the end of March 2017.The changes will affect foreign workers designated as highly skilled professionals.

Academic history, work experience and annual income must add up to 70 or more under a points-based system used by the immigration bureau. This yardstick has been in place since April 2015, with 2,688 foreigners deemed highly skilled as of the end of June this year. Chinese nationals make up 65% of that group.

Source: Japan to offer 1-year path to permanent residency- Nikkei Asian Review

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National News Bureau of Thailand

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Headline Editor

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