One of the biggest misconceptions about working in Japan is that permanent residency always takes ten years.

That used to be the typical path. But today, there is another route that can dramatically shorten that timeline.

Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) points system allows qualified professionals to apply for permanent residency much faster, sometimes in as little as one year.

This week we’ll break down how the points system works, what increases your score, and what recent political and economic developments could mean for foreign professionals in Japan.

Japan introduced the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa to attract global talent in fields like technology, finance, and research.

Instead of simply counting years of residence, the system awards points based on factors such as:

If your total reaches 70 points, you qualify as a Highly Skilled Professional and receive immigration benefits.

The key advantage of the HSP system is that it can shorten the path to permanent residency:

This is dramatically faster than the traditional route, which usually requires around 10 years of residence.

Some of the biggest factors include:

Education

Salary

Higher salaries significantly increase your score.

Professional experience

10+ years of experience can add substantial points.

Japanese ability

JLPT certification can also contribute to your score.

If you’re considering a long-term career in Japan, it’s worth calculating your potential HSP points early. Many professionals qualify without realizing it.

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If you apply to Japanese companies, especially large domestic firms, you may encounter something called SPI testing.

SPI stands for Synthetic Personality Inventory, and it is one of the most common aptitude tests used in Japanese recruitment.

Companies use it to evaluate:

You’ll often see SPI tests used by large Japanese corporations before final interviews.

Typical sections include:

Language reasoning

Short passages followed by logic questions.

Math problems

Basic calculations and pattern recognition.

Personality questions

Statements designed to measure teamwork, reliability, and communication style.

Japanese hiring culture tends to prioritize predictability and team compatibility.

SPI tests help companies filter candidates before interviews and ensure they meet a baseline standard.

Many foreign candidates underestimate these tests.

Even though the math is not advanced, the time pressure and format can be challenging if you haven’t practiced.

Preparing with sample tests can significantly improve performance.

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Japan’s shrinking workforce has pushed companies to accelerate investments in automation and robotics.

Manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse operations are increasingly relying on automated systems to maintain productivity.

Several factors are driving this shift:

As automation expands, companies are hiring engineers and software developers who can build and maintain these systems.

For foreign professionals with experience in software, robotics, or automation, this trend could create significant opportunities in the coming years.

Japan’s government recently approved a new policy framework for managing foreign residents, aiming to balance attracting talent with stronger oversight.

The policy focuses on two major goals:

• Better systems for managing immigration and residency
• Increased support for integration and Japanese language education

At the same time, some measures may tighten oversight of foreign residents, including stronger screening and enforcement policies.

There are also discussions around stricter permanent residency requirements, including closer checks on tax and social insurance compliance.

Japan still needs foreign workers due to demographic pressures, but the policy direction suggests the government wants greater emphasis on long-term integration and compliance rather than simply increasing immigration numbers.

For professionals considering a long-term career in Japan, maintaining clean tax and insurance records and investing in language ability will likely become increasingly important.

Headquarters: Tokyo
Industry: Robotics and industrial automation

Mujin is one of Japan’s leading robotics companies focused on automation for warehouses and manufacturing operations.

The company develops intelligent robot control systems that allow machines to perform complex tasks such as picking, packing, and palletizing without manual programming.

Why Mujin stands out:

• Global engineering teams
• Advanced robotics software development
• Strong demand for warehouse automation technology

Typical roles include:

• Robotics engineers
• Computer vision engineers
• Automation software developers
• Systems engineers

Careers page

✏️ Application tip
For robotics companies like Mujin, practical experience matters. Include technical projects, GitHub repositories, and measurable engineering achievements in your application.

If your goal is to actually start applying (or apply more efficiently), Japan Job List is the most practical next step.

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