Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa
Japan JPN
The Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa is a points-based visa for advanced academic professionals, specialized technical workers, and business managers who score 70 or more points on Japan's official points table. It offers the fastest route to permanent residency in Japan — just one year for those scoring 80+ points or three years for 70+ points — along with expanded work rights and privileges for family members. The program is designed to attract top global talent in fields such as research, engineering, business management, and law.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $40
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Spouse and dependent children included; domestic helpers may also qualify under certain HSP categories.
- Path to PR
- Yes — 1 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Must reside in Japan; no fixed minimum days per year but continuous residence is expected.
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Holders become Japanese tax residents and are subject to worldwide income tax after five years of residency.
- Renewal Cost
- $40
No fixed income minimum; applicants must score 70+ points on the METI/MHLW points table, which factors in salary, age, academic qualifications, and job role.
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 1 year
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Score 70 or more points on the official HSP points table (salary, age, education, career, Japanese language ability, etc.)
- ✓Hold a qualifying job offer or contract in Japan in one of three HSP categories: advanced academic research, advanced specialized/technical work, or advanced business management
- ✓Submit academic certificates, employment contract, and proof of qualifications
- ✓No criminal record or immigration violations
- ✓Valid passport and current residence status if already in Japan
Am I eligible for Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Calculate HSP points score (minimum 70 points)
home countryUse the METI/MOJ points calculator at isa.go.jp. Points accrue from academic background, professional career, annual salary, age, research achievements, and bonus items (Japanese language ability, prior Japan study, etc.). Three activity categories: HSP-i (advanced academic research), HSP-ii (advanced specialised/technical activities), HSP-iii (advanced management/executive). Confirm which category your activity falls under before applying.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 02
Secure job offer or existing work/study status in Japan
home countryHSP is an employment-linked visa — you must have a specific employer or research institution as sponsor. J-Skip (launched 2023) and J-Find (launched 2023) allow pre-employment entry for HSP-eligible top graduates, but standard HSP requires a qualifying employer. Employer files Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) application on your behalf at the regional Immigration Bureau.
Typical duration: 1-3 monthssource ↗
- 03
Employer applies for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
destinationThe sponsoring employer (or representative) submits the CoE application to the relevant Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Japan, attaching the Points Calculation Table and supporting documents. Standard processing: 1-3 months. Premium processing (J-Skip): approved within a few weeks if 80+ points.
Typical duration: 4-12 weekssource ↗
- 04
Apply for HSP visa at Japanese Embassy/Consulate
home countryOnce CoE issued, apply for a "Highly Skilled Professional" visa (or "Professor"/"Engineer" depending on category) at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence. CoE typically valid for 3 months.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 05
Enter Japan and register address at municipal office
destinationWithin 14 days of arrival, register your address at the local municipal office (shiyakusho / kuyakusho). You will receive a Residence Card (Zairyu Card). Carry it at all times — legally required.
Typical duration: 1 weeksource ↗
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 365 |
| Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) — filed by employer | Japan Regional Immigration Services Bureau | No | — | 90 |
| HSP Points Calculation Table | Self / employer | No | ja | — |
| Academic qualification certificates (degrees) | University / awarding body | No | ja | — |
| Employment contract with salary details | Employer in Japan | No | — | 90 |
| Research publications / patent list (if claiming research points) | Self / institution | No | ja | — |
| Photograph (4cm x 3cm, within 3 months) | Self | No | — | 90 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Japan visa fee is modest (~JPY 3,000 single entry). Translation of documents from English to Japanese is the main cost. Employer typically handles CoE filing at no charge to applicant. Health insurance is via Japan's mandatory public health system (NHI / employer health insurance); ~JPY 20,000-50,000/month deducted from salary.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait1–3 weeks
- Decision → arrival2 weeks
- Residence card issuance0 weeks
- Total to residence card8–20 weeks
CoE processing is the bottleneck: 1-3 months for standard. J-Skip (80+ points) offers fast-track CoE. Visa stamp at consulate is typically 5-10 business days once CoE in hand.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 60 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 60 months
- Renewal fee
- $30
- Requirements
- HSP residence status is granted for 5 years initially. Renewal requires maintaining sponsoring employer and re-confirming activity aligns with HSP category. Points re-calculation not required at renewal — status is tied to activity type, not score.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 1
- Max days absent / year
- 100
- Integration test
- Not required
- Application fee
- $80
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Not required
- Oath
- Not required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Application fee
- $300
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- Yes
Special regimes
- Non-Permanent Resident StatusNo Japan tax on foreign-source income NOT remitted to Japan
Foreign nationals resident in Japan for less than 5 years cumulative in the past 10 years. Foreign-source income remitted to Japan is taxable; foreign-source income not remitted is exempt.
Duration: 5 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Public system access
- After 0 months
Examples: Japan National Health Insurance (NHI), Shakai Hoken (employer-based)
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- HSP dependent spouse receives "Dependent" status which includes open work rights — unlike most other Japan categories where dependents cannot work. This is a major HSP privilege.
- Child school enrolment
- Children on Dependent visa enroll in local public schools free of charge. International schools available in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya at JPY 1.5M-3M/yr.
- Parent inclusion
- Eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Japan does NOT allow dual citizenship — naturalisation requires renouncing your existing passport
- ⚠Non-Permanent Resident status (first 5 years) exempts unremitted foreign income from Japan tax — plan remittances carefully
- ⚠Pension enrollment is mandatory and non-negotiable; contributions are partially refundable (lump-sum withdrawal) on departure if enrolled less than 10 years
- ⚠J-Skip (2023) allows 80+ point holders to enter without a job offer for up to 6 months to find work — significant policy improvement
- ⚠J-Find (2023) allows top-ranked university graduates (within 5 years of graduation) to enter Japan for up to 2 years to job-hunt — distinct from J-Skip
- ⚠90-day address change reporting and Residence Card carry requirements strictly enforced
- ⚠Points are assessed at visa application time; salary changes after entry do not retroactively affect HSP status validity
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Points total falls below 70 — applicants often overestimate salary or degree points
- •Salary figure in contract lower than expected by category minimum (HSP-ii typically requires JPY 3M+/yr)
- •Degree not from an officially recognised QS/Times/Shanghai-ranked institution (needed for university ranking bonus points)
- •Research publications not peer-reviewed or not in recognised journals
- •Activity type mismatch — employer activity does not align with chosen HSP sub-category
- •Points documentation incomplete or translations substandard
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-04-01
J-Skip pathway launched: HSP applicants scoring 80+ points may enter Japan without a pre-arranged employer for up to 6 months (Activity Status: "Highly Skilled Professional (predefined activities)"). Replaces older "Job Seeker" concept for HSP-tier applicants.source ↗
2023-04-01
J-Find pathway launched: graduates of top-ranked universities (QS/Times top 100) within 5 years of graduation may enter Japan on a dedicated job-hunting status for up to 2 years without a specific employer.source ↗
2023-04-01
HSP point bonus added for graduates of Japanese universities and for candidates with N1/N2 Japanese language certification, raising bonus points and making the 70-point threshold easier to clear.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary to qualify for HSP?+
There is no single national minimum salary, but salary contributes points. For HSP-ii (engineering/technology), a typical target salary is JPY 3M+/yr to score meaningful salary points. Some categories have age-salary interaction bonuses. Very high salaries (JPY 10M+) can push applicants to 70 points even without strong academic credentials.
How does J-Skip differ from standard HSP?+
Standard HSP requires a sponsoring employer before you can apply. J-Skip (launched April 2023) allows candidates scoring 80+ points to enter Japan first and search for an HSP-qualifying employer for up to 6 months. It is designed for highly credentialed candidates who want to explore the Japanese job market in person.
Can I switch to HSP from a different visa category inside Japan?+
Yes. You can apply for a change of status to HSP if you are already in Japan on a qualifying work visa (e.g., Engineer/Specialist in Humanities) and your current activity meets HSP criteria. The employer submits the change-of-status application at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Related Guides
Comparable Programs
Japan Business Manager Visa
japan · entrepreneur
Compare Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa vs Japan Business Manager Visa →Japan Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa
japan · skilled worker
Compare Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa vs Japan Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Visa →