Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa: How the Points System Works
Última actualización: 26 de mayo de 2026
Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa uses a points-based scoring system in which applicants need at least 70 points across academic background, professional career, annual income, age, and bonus categories to qualify. This guide explains how the calculator works, what counts, and how to use your score to shorten the road to permanent residence.
Last updated: May 26, 2026
What the Highly Skilled Professional visa is
The HSP visa, administered by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) of Japan, is a preferential residence status designed to attract foreign professionals whose skills, income, and background score above a defined threshold on an official Points Calculation Table. Holders receive benefits that ordinary work visas do not, including a default five-year period of stay, permission for the spouse to work, the ability to bring parents or a domestic helper under specific conditions, and a much shorter wait for permanent residence.
HSP activities are sorted into three classes:
- Class 1(a): Advanced academic research activities (university researchers, principal investigators, R&D leads).
- Class 1(b): Advanced specialized or technical activities (engineers, IT professionals, finance specialists, medical professionals working in technical roles).
- Class 1(c): Advanced business and management activities (executives, company directors, founders running a Japanese entity).
After holding HSP (i) status for at least one year in Japan, you may apply to upgrade to HSP (ii), which has no time limit on the period of stay and does not require renewal. HSP (i) itself is renewed every five years, and points are recalculated at each renewal, so you must continue to score 70 or higher to keep the status.
The popularity of this route has grown sharply. According to ISA-linked figures, HSP visa holders went from 592 to over 12,227 in five years, a roughly 1,965% increase, as of figures cited in early 2026.
How the points calculator works
The ISA's Points Calculation Table assigns points across the following categories for HSP (i) applicants:
- Academic background (degree level).
- Professional career (years of relevant experience).
- Annual income in Japan.
- Age (younger applicants score more).
- Japanese language proficiency.
- National licenses or qualifications.
- Graduation from a designated educational institution.
- Engagement in a designated industry or research field.
- Bonus items (J-Startup company employment, investment promotion, government-endorsed projects, etc.).
You need 70 points to be designated a Highly Skilled Foreign Professional. The benefits scale further if you exceed certain thresholds:
Total points | Main benefit |
|---|---|
70+ | HSP (i) status granted; five-year period of stay; PR eligibility after three years |
80+ | PR eligibility after only one year of residence in Japan |
There is also an income floor: for HSP (i)(b) and (i)(c), if your annual income is below ¥3 million, you will not be recognized as a Highly Skilled Professional even if your raw point total exceeds 70.
Example point values
The complete matrix is published by the ISA, but representative values include:
- Academic background: doctorate = 30 points; master's = 20 points.
- Age: 15 points if you are 29 or younger (points decline with age).
- Annual income: an income above ¥10,000,000 earns the maximum 40 income points regardless of age.
- Japanese language: JLPT N1 = 15 points; JLPT N2 = 10 points.
- J-Startup bonus: +10 points for working at a J-Startup company, or +20 if the company is also classified as an SME under J-Startup.
Because the exact age × salary matrix is granular and is updated periodically, you should always cross-check your total against the official Points Calculation Table PDF published by the Immigration Services Agency before submitting.
Building your score: a practical walkthrough
Most successful applicants stack points from at least four categories. A typical Class 1(b) software engineer in Tokyo might score something like:
- Master's degree: 20
- 7 years of professional experience: roughly 15
- Annual income ¥9,000,000 at age 32: roughly 20
- Age 30-34: 10
- JLPT N2: 10
That reaches about 75 points, enough to qualify and put the applicant on the three-year track to permanent residence.
If the same person learned enough Japanese to pass JLPT N1 (15 points instead of 10) and joined a J-Startup company (+10 bonus), they could realistically clear 90 points and reach the one-year PR track.
This is why many candidates think hard about three levers they can actually move: salary negotiation, JLPT level, and choice of employer (designated industries, J-Startup firms, and government-endorsed research institutions all carry bonus points). For a closer look at the career path most engineers take before stepping up to HSP, see our companion guide to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities Visa.
J-Skip: the salary-based shortcut
In 2023 Japan launched J-Skip (the Japan System for Special Highly Skilled Professionals), which bypasses the points calculator entirely for very high earners. As of mid-2025 figures still in force in 2026:
- HSP i(a) or i(b): master's degree or higher AND annual income of at least ¥20 million, OR at least 10 years of work experience AND annual income of at least ¥20 million.
- HSP i(c) business management: at least 5 years of business management experience AND annual income of at least ¥40 million.
J-Skip holders receive the strongest package of preferential treatment available, including spouse work rights and accelerated PR eligibility. If your salary sits comfortably above these thresholds, J-Skip is faster and less paperwork-intensive than completing the full points table.
Document checklist
For a change of status or certificate of eligibility application as HSP (i), the ISA typically requires:
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility or Change of Status of Residence.
- Passport and current residence card (if already in Japan).
- A completed Points Calculation Table with the applicant's self-assessed score.
- Supporting evidence for every claimed point category, for example:
- Degree certificates and transcripts (originals or notarized copies).
- Employment contract stating job title, duties, and annual salary.
- Tax withholding slip (源泉徴収票, gensen-chōshū-hyō) or tax certificate proving income.
- JLPT certificate for language points.
- Documentation of national licenses, patents, or awards.
- Letter from the employer confirming J-Startup designation, if claimed.
- Company documents: certified copy of registration (履歴事項全部証明書), financial statements, and a description of business activities.
- For dependents: marriage certificate, birth certificates, and proof of household income if bringing parents or a domestic helper.
- Photographs meeting ISA specifications.
Keep originals of everything you submit. Points awarded at the first application will be re-examined at renewal, and the ISA can request re-verification.
Application steps, fees, and processing time
- Self-assess your points using the ISA's official Points Calculation Table.
- Gather evidence for every point category you claim.
- Decide your route: change of status (if already in Japan on another visa), Certificate of Eligibility (if applying from abroad through a sponsoring employer), or J-Skip (if you meet the salary threshold).
- Submit at the regional Immigration Bureau or via the online residence application system.
- Pay the revenue stamp fee upon approval.
- Receive the new residence card designating you as a Highly Skilled Foreign Professional.
Fees and timing
Item | Amount / duration |
|---|---|
Revenue stamp (change of status to HSP) at the office | JPY 6,000 |
Revenue stamp (online submission) | JPY 5,500 |
HSP processing time | About 5 to 10 days (priority handling) |
Ordinary work visa processing time (for comparison) | Around 30 to 60 days |
HSP (i) period of stay | 5 years (renewable) |
HSP (ii) period of stay | Indefinite, no renewal required |
The priority processing is one of the underrated advantages of the HSP route, especially for candidates who are already negotiating a start date with a Japanese employer.
Family benefits and household requirements
The HSP visa allows you to bring more family members than a standard work visa, but each privilege has its own income test:
- Spouse work permission: the spouse may engage in full-time work in fields normally requiring an Engineer/Specialist or Instructor visa, without needing their own qualifying degree.
- Bringing parents: combined household income (HSP holder + spouse) must be at least ¥8 million, and the parents must help care for a child under seven years old or a pregnant spouse.
- Domestic helper: household income must be at least ¥10 million, only one helper is permitted, and the helper must be paid at least ¥200,000 per month.
These rules are strictly enforced, and the household income threshold is checked against tax records.
Common pitfalls
- Tax and social insurance compliance. In February 2026 the ISA updated PR application guidelines with a zero-tolerance policy: any history of unpaid or late pension, health insurance, or resident tax payments is now leading to immediate PR denials. Even a few late payments before you applied for HSP can derail the three-year or one-year PR shortcut, so set up automatic transfers from day one.
- Job changes invalidate HSP (i). HSP (i) is tied to the specific organization designated at the time of application. If you change employers, your current HSP visa becomes invalid for the new role, and you must file a Change of Status of Residence and re-prove the 70-point threshold with the new employer's documents.
- Income drops at renewal. Points are recalculated every five years. If your salary fell, your age points dropped, or you moved out of a designated industry, you may no longer hit 70.
- Counting points you cannot prove. The ISA wants documentary evidence for every line. Self-declared experience without a contract, payslip, or HR letter is usually rejected.
- The ¥3 million floor. It's the most commonly overlooked rule for HSP (i)(b) and (i)(c). Below that income, no point total saves the application.
- Outdated point values. The matrix has been updated several times. Always download the current Points Calculation Table from the ISA before submitting.
If the HSP route looks out of reach right now, a more conventional work visa or a working-holiday route can be a sensible first step. See our overviews of Japan Working Holiday Visa alternatives and the standard Engineer/Specialist in Humanities Visa.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official points calculator?
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan publishes the official Points Calculation Table at https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/newimmiact_3_index.html. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also directs HSP applicants there. Several private firms publish English Excel versions, but only the ISA's figures are authoritative.
Can I switch from an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa to HSP?
Yes. You file a Change of Status of Residence in Japan with a completed points table and supporting evidence. If approved, your new residence card will list "Highly Skilled Professional (i)" as your status.
Do I need Japanese to qualify?
No, but JLPT N2 adds 10 points and N1 adds 15 points, which often makes the difference between 65 and 75 on the score sheet. Functional Japanese also helps you navigate the workplace and tax office, especially given Japan's particular work culture.
How is HSP (ii) different from permanent residence?
HSP (ii) gives you an unlimited period of stay tied to highly skilled professional activities, with no renewal. Permanent residence removes the activity restriction entirely and is more secure if you change careers or stop working. Many people use HSP (i) to qualify for PR after one or three years and then switch.
What happens if I lose my job?
You have a limited grace period to find new qualifying employment and file a Change of Status. If you cannot, you must leave Japan or switch to a different residence status before your current period of stay ends.
Does the J-Skip income threshold include bonuses?
The ¥20 million and ¥40 million thresholds refer to annual gross compensation as documented on tax and employment records. Confirm the exact treatment of stock-based pay with your Immigration Bureau or a licensed administrative scrivener.
If you're planning a move to Japan, even a working knowledge of Japanese makes everything easier, from reading your tax slip to talking to your landlord. Migaku is built to help you learn from the Japanese shows, news, and books you actually use day to day. Try Migaku if that fits how you want to study.