This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
If you meet the points requirement (70 points or more) and you intend to settle in Japan for the long term, we would recommend changing to 「高度専門職1号（ハ）」. The time it takes to reach permanent residence is shortened considerably, and the period of stay becomes a uniform 5 years. Note, however, that a change application calls for more precise evidence than an ordinary renewal.
A business owner whose company is doing well asks whether to renew or to change.
高度専門職 is a preferential status for people whose education, career and income are also highly rated, on top of their management ability.
「経営・管理」 is the basic status, which allows you to act as a business owner. 「高度専門職1号（ハ）」, by contrast, is a preferential status for people whose education, career history and annual income are highly rated in addition to their management ability. If you meet the points requirement, there is little reason not to choose the side that gives you the favourable treatment.
The time to permanent residence and the period of stay both become clearly more favourable.
The greatest benefit is the shorter time to permanent residence. With ordinary 「経営・管理」 you in principle need 10 years of residence, but with 高度専門職 you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years at 70 points or more, and after only 1 year at 80 points or more.
With 「経営・管理」, screening gives you 1 year, 3 years or 5 years. With 高度専門職 the law fixes the period at a uniform 5 years. That frees you from the stress of frequent renewals.
With 「経営・管理」, what is mainly checked is whether the business will continue. With 高度専門職, the focus falls on your own ability (your points).
Treatment differs in 3 ways: bringing parents, bringing a domestic worker, and the spouse's ability to work.
You need documents to back up 3 points: your points, your expected annual income, and the continuity of the business.
A change to 高度専門職 calls for more precise evidence than an ordinary renewal.
Ideally 3 months before your period of stay expires, allowing for documents to arrive from abroad.
Start with an accurate points calculation and a stocktake of the documents you need. Allowing time for documents to be obtained from abroad, it is ideal to start preparing 3 months before your period of stay expires.
If you keep renewing 「経営・管理」 as it is, the road to permanent residence stays a long one. There are also plenty of cases where the status of 高度専門職 improves how business partners and banks see you.
With 「経営・管理」 you in principle need 10 years of residence, but with 高度専門職 you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years at 70 points or more, and after 1 year at 80 points or more.
By law you are given a uniform 5 years. With 「経営・管理」 screening gives you 1 year, 3 years or 5 years, so the frequency of renewals becomes easier to predict.
You can, subject to conditions. You need to meet conditions such as a household income of at least 8 million yen (800万円) a year and raising a child under 7 years old, or needing assistance during pregnancy.
Ideally 3 months before your period of stay expires. Allowing time for documents to be obtained from abroad, start with an accurate points calculation and a stocktake of the documents you need.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.