Can I change to 高度専門職 with exactly 70 points?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 16 February 2026　／　Last updated 21 August 2026

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）

Answer

If your first priority is to have the person start work on 1 April (4月1日) without fail, then the lowest-risk course in practice is to deal first with keeping the current 在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) in place. Exactly 70 points is a figure where a deduction of even 5 points means denial. Once he has joined and has some margin in his points, he can take on 高度専門職 calmly.

What is this enquiry about?

An HR manager is unsure whether a joiner with exactly 70 points should change straight to 高度専門職.

Subject: visas and recruitment practice
Application type: 在留資格変更許可申請 (Application for Change of Status of Residence) (from 技術・人文知識・国際業務 to 高度専門職)
Situation: the enquirer handles HR at the Tokyo office of a foreign-affiliated company. A Canadian joiner is due to start on 1 April. He is keen to change to 「高度専門職」, but his period of stay expires in July this year (今年7月). On the company's own calculation his points come to 70 points, right on the borderline.
Question: there is concern about the risk of denial at exactly 70 points. Would it be safer to deal with the current 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 first, secure the period of stay, and only then change to 「高度専門職」?

What is the risk of applying directly at exactly 70 points?

If your reading of the points differs from the screening officer's, a deduction of 5 points takes you to 65 points and the application is denied on the spot.

Where the points calculation comes to exactly 70 points, a difference of view with the screening officer over how the points are read means immediate denial.

A difference in how the points are read: this can arise over how closely the university major relates to the work, over what a certificate of employment from a previous employer says, or over whether expected annual income including bonuses may be counted. A deduction of even 5 points takes you to 65 points, and permission will not be granted.
The damage if it is denied: with the period of stay expiring in July (7月), a denial brings the risk of overstaying while the fresh application is being prepared, and it is also a shock to the person concerned, both emotionally and financially.

What are the advantages of dealing with 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 first?

There is no strict points screening, so permission is more certain. You secure the period of stay, and can take on 高度専門職 calmly at a later date.

Staying on the current 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」 and carrying out the procedure with the new employer as the accepting organisation (either 在留期間更新許可申請 (Application for Extension of Period of Stay) or obtaining a 就労資格証明書 (Certificate of Authorized Employment)) has the following advantages.

Certainty in screening
There is no strict points screening as there is for 高度専門職, so if there is nothing problematic about the work itself, permission is granted smoothly.
Securing the period of stay
Once you have secured a period of 1 year to 5 years on 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」, you can take on 「高度専門職」 calmly at any time afterwards — for example a few months after joining, once his actual annual income is settled.

How should we go about it in practice?

You cannot file both at once, so build the base with 技術・人文知識・国際業務 first, obtain the person's agreement, and switch to 高度専門職 once there is a track record.

You cannot file a "double application"
Under the system, you cannot file a renewal of 技術・人文知識・国際業務 and a change to 高度専門職 at the same time. The first step is to build a base that keeps the status of residence securely in place, under 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」.
Explaining it to the person concerned
高度専門職 has real benefits for him, such as a guaranteed period of stay of 5 years. But tell him that if it is denied there is a risk of his not being able to stay in Japan, and obtain his agreement to start safely on 「技術・人文知識・国際業務」.
Applying once there is a track record
It is far easier to get through screening if you switch to 高度専門職 after he has had a pay rise or gained a qualification and has some margin in his points (say 75 points to 80 points).

The first thing, we would suggest, is to avoid a situation where a denial forces you to cancel the hire. A borderline figure of 70 points may, depending on how the points are evidenced and how precise the submitted material is, be affected by such things as the screening officer's discretion. It carries a risk that screening drags on, through requests for additional material and the like. We would strongly recommend proceeding in the spirit of "more haste, less speed".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for 高度専門職 with exactly 70 points?

You can make the application, but if your reading of the points differs from the screening officer's and 5 points are deducted, you are at 65 points and the application is denied on the spot. Particular care is needed if your period of stay is close to expiring.

Can I apply for a renewal of 技術・人文知識・国際業務 and a change to 高度専門職 at the same time?

No. Under the system they cannot be filed at the same time, so the first step is to build a base that keeps the status of residence in place under 技術・人文知識・国際業務.

When is the best time to take on 高度専門職?

It is far easier to get through screening if you switch after a pay rise or a new qualification has given you some margin, of around 75 points to 80 points.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.