Japan Updates October 2026 University Lists for Highly Skilled Professional Points and J-Find

A clear guide to the November 4 update, separating university-based points, J-Find eligibility and Japanese-language points such as BJT.

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency’s official update directory lists two updates dated November 4, 2026: the university list used for world-university-ranking-based Highly Skilled Professional points and the university list for J-Find. Both are lists marked ‘as of October 2026’.

• Under the Highly Skilled Professional points system, graduates meeting designated-university or related criteria may receive 10 additional points. This update concerns the university list based on world university rankings; it does not mean that all university-related point categories or the points system as a whole have changed.
• J-Find is a separate program. The university must rank in the global top 100 in at least two of the three specified rankings. Applicants must also have graduated or completed graduate school, obtained the corresponding degree or professional degree, be within five years of obtaining that qualification, and meet the other requirements.
• BJT-based points are part of the Highly Skilled Professional points system: a score of 480 or above corresponds to 15 points for N1-equivalent ability, and 400 or above corresponds to 10 points for N2-equivalent ability. These are not J-Find application requirements or proof of automatic eligibility for a residence status. The figures are not presented as additive; the applicable categories and points must be checked against the official points table and individual circumstances at the time of application.
• Inclusion on a list does not guarantee approval. Highly Skilled Professional applicants must check applicable points, activities, income and other conditions. J-Find applicants must check their university, academic qualification, date of obtaining it, planned activities and other conditions. Required documents must be checked separately for each program.

Graduating from a listed university does not automatically secure a residence status, and a BJT score alone does not make someone eligible for J-Find. This article provides information about the programs only; it is not an assessment of individual immigration eligibility or application representation.

Sources and verification scope

ISA update directory: official search-index evidence; announcement and university-list PDF full texts have not been read.

JETRO and MOFA: institutional page bodies. BJT organizer: scores and Highly Skilled Professional points.

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/newslist/

https://www.jetro.go.jp/invest/setting_up/section2/page11.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_001037.html

https://www.kanken.or.jp/bjt/about/feature_merit.html