Japan hopes to attract highly skilled professionals with new residency program

TOKYO, Feb 18 (NHK) - The Japanese government will launch a new residency program in a bid to attract talented professionals from other countries. Qualified foreign nationals would be given preferential immigration treatment.

The plan was decided at a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers on Friday.

A new special category for highly skilled professionals would include foreign researchers and engineers with an annual income of at least 20 million yen, or around 150,000 dollars, and a master's degree or more than 10 years of work experience.

It would also cover corporate managers who earn more than 40 million yen, or about 300,000 dollars, and have at least five years of work experience.

Foreign nationals who qualify for this category would be able to obtain the right of permanent residence in Japan after living in the country for only one year. ...continue reading

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