Japan · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Points-based visa for highly skilled foreign professionals — the fastest route to Japanese permanent residence (1–3 years).
- Processing time
- 2–4 weeks for Certificate of Eligibility (COE); 1–2 weeks for visa at consulate.
- Government fees
- COE: free; visa fee varies by nationality (typically ¥3,000–¥6,000).
- Typical duration
- 5 years; with fast-track PR after 1–3 years.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa for Japan is a sponsor-led Japan immigration route. Sources: official Japan government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/japan/highly-skilled-professional#answer
What is the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa in Japan?
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa is a sponsor-led Japan route. Indicative government fees are COE: free; visa fee varies by nationality (typically ¥3,000–¥6,000); indicative processing time is 2–4 weeks for Certificate of Eligibility (COE); 1–2 weeks for visa at consulate; typical duration is 5 years; with fast-track PR after 1–3 years. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Immigration Services Agency (ISA) on 18 April 2026.
Overview
The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa uses a points-based system scoring academic background, professional career, annual salary, age, and bonus criteria (Japanese language, Japanese university degree, research achievements). 70 points qualifies for HSP status; 80+ points qualifies for accelerated permanent residence after 1 year (vs. 3 years at 70 points). HSP is divided into three categories: (i) advanced academic research, (ii) advanced specialised/technical activities, and (iii) advanced business management. HSP holders enjoy preferential treatment including concurrent activities, preferential PR processing, longer stay periods, and spouse work rights.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian HSP holders concentrate in IT (particularly in Tokyo's tech corridor). Indian degrees from IITs and top-50 NIRF i…
Chinese applicants
Chinese nationals are the largest HSP cohort in Japan. Chinese 985/211 university degrees score well. Many Chinese HSP h…
American applicants
American HSP holders concentrate in finance, tech, and academia. US degrees are well-recognised. The salary component is…
South Korean applicants
South Korean nationals benefit from geographic proximity and strong educational ties with Japan. Korean university degre…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Score 70+ points on the HSP points calculation table (academic background, career, salary, age, bonus items).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
- ✓Job offer or current employment with a Japanese entity in a qualifying activity (research, specialised work, or business management).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
- ✓Annual salary generally at or above ¥3,000,000 (but points are scored — higher salary = more points).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
Common blockers
- !Points score below 70 — particularly common for younger applicants with limited experience and no Japanese-language bonus.
- !No job offer from a Japanese employer (HSP requires a sponsoring entity).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Completed points calculation sheet (available on ISA website).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
- ·Employment contract or appointment letter.Immigration Services Agency (ISA) ↗
- ·Degree certificates (higher degrees score more points).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
- ·Evidence of annual salary.Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
- ·JLPT certificate (N1 or N2 scores bonus points).Immigration Services Agency (ISA), Ministry of Justice ↗
Application pathway
Calculate your points score
Use the ISA points table to calculate your score. 70 points = HSP qualification; 80+ = accelerated PR eligibility after 1 year.
Employer applies for Certificate of Eligibility
The Japanese employer applies to the regional immigration bureau for a COE designating you as "Highly Skilled Professional".
Apply for visa at consulate
With the COE, apply for an HSP visa at the Japanese consulate in your country.
Enter Japan and register
Enter Japan and register your address at the municipal office within 14 days.
Apply for permanent residence
After 1 year (80+ points) or 3 years (70+ points), apply for PR. This is the fastest PR route in Japan.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Japan. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorPrepare HSP residence application ↗
Applicant and Japanese host confirm HSP category, points evidence, and COE or status-change documents.
Immigration Services Agency (ISA) · verified
- Official guidanceApplicantApply for visa with COE ↗
Applicant uses the COE to file the entry visa application at the competent Japanese embassy or consulate.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get permanent residence in Japan on an HSP visa?+
If you score 80+ points: 1 year. If you score 70–79 points: 3 years. This is dramatically faster than the standard 10-year continuous-residence requirement. HSP holders also receive preferential PR processing times.
Does Japanese language ability help my HSP application?+
Yes, significantly. JLPT N1 (highest level) scores 15 bonus points. JLPT N2 scores 10 points. A Japanese university degree also scores bonus points. These bonuses can be the difference between 65 and 80 points, which determines whether you wait 1 year or 3 years for PR.
Can my spouse work on an HSP visa?+
Yes. HSP holders' spouses can work without the occupation-type restrictions that apply to standard "Dependent" status holders. This is one of the preferential benefits of HSP status.
What salary do I need for the HSP visa?+
There is no single salary threshold — salary is one component of the points system. Higher salary scores more points: ¥3M–¥4M scores 10 points, ¥5M–¥7M scores 15 points, ¥7M–¥10M scores 20 points, and ¥10M+ scores 25 points. A minimum of ¥3,000,000 annual is generally required to be classified as HSP, but you need enough total points from all categories to reach 70.
Can I apply for Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa without a Japanese job offer?+
No. The HSP visa requires a job offer or current employment with a Japanese entity in a qualifying activity, and the sponsoring employer is the one who applies for your Certificate of Eligibility. Having no job offer from a Japanese employer is listed as a common reason applications fall short. Confirm the current requirements with the Immigration Services Agency.
Which Japanese work visa gives the fastest path to permanent residence?+
The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is described as the fastest route to Japanese permanent residence: 1 year if you score 80+ points or 3 years if you score 70-79 points, versus the standard 10-year continuous-residence requirement. Confirm the current points table with the Immigration Services Agency.
How long does the whole HSP visa process take before I can enter Japan?+
Plan for roughly 2-4 weeks for your employer to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility, then about 1-2 weeks for the visa to be issued at the Japanese consulate; after arriving you must register your address at the municipal office within 14 days. Processing times are indicative — verify with the Immigration Services Agency.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in JapanHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration Services Agency (ISA)
Last checked: 18 April 2026