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Japan · skilled migration

J-Skip: special highly skilled professional

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Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

An alternative to HSP points scoring for highly qualified or experienced professionals meeting substantially higher annual remuneration thresholds. Successful applicants receive HSP(i) with special highly skilled recognition.

Qualifying HSP activity, specified postgraduate degree or relevant experience and JPY 20 million or 40 million annual remunerationConditional PR application pathwayFive-year HSP(i) permission with special highly skilled recognition; HSP(ii) is a separate later conversion.
Processing time
ISA targets ten days for a complete qualifying HSP COE case and five days for a qualifying status change or renewal. Further examination or missing evidence can extend this. Consular visa and travel arrangements are separate; these are not PR-processing guarantees.
Government fees
Certificate of Eligibility: no government application fee. For overseas visa applications accepted from 1 July 2026, MOFA gives approximate single-entry JPY 15,000 and multiple-entry JPY 30,000 fees, collected in local currency. Nationality, purpose and reciprocal exemptions can change the amount; no visa-issuance fee is collected if the visa is not issued. Agency, document and translation costs are separate. For a five-year change or renewal received from 1 October 2026, office JPY 75,000 or online JPY 65,550 including the processing charge; earlier receipts and concessions follow the current official rules.
Typical duration
Five-year HSP(i) permission with special highly skilled recognition; HSP(ii) is a separate later conversion.
Required support
Qualifying HSP activity, specified postgraduate degree or relevant experience and JPY 20 million or 40 million annual remuneration
Leads to permanent residency
Conditional — separate application
Reviewed Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

In short

An alternative to HSP points scoring for highly qualified or experienced professionals meeting substantially higher annual remuneration thresholds. Successful applicants receive HSP(i) with special highly skilled recognition. Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/japan/j-skip-special-highly-skilled#answer

What is the J-Skip: special highly skilled professional in Japan?

Qualifying HSP activity, specified postgraduate degree or relevant experience and JPY 20 million or 40 million annual remuneration. Follow the actual entry, status-change or renewal procedure and issued activity conditions. Indicative government fees are Certificate of Eligibility: no government application fee. For overseas visa applications accepted from 1 July 2026, MOFA gives approximate single-entry JPY 15,000 and multiple-entry JPY 30,000 fees, collected in local currency. Nationality, purpose and reciprocal exemptions can change the amount; no visa-issuance fee is collected if the visa is not issued. Agency, document and translation costs are separate. For a five-year change or renewal received from 1 October 2026, office JPY 75,000 or online JPY 65,550 including the processing charge; earlier receipts and concessions follow the current official rules; indicative processing time is ISA targets ten days for a complete qualifying HSP COE case and five days for a qualifying status change or renewal. Further examination or missing evidence can extend this. Consular visa and travel arrangements are separate; these are not PR-processing guarantees; typical duration is Five-year HSP(i) permission with special highly skilled recognition; HSP(ii) is a separate later conversion. Permanent residence requires a separate application and all applicable conditions. The points-based residence exception normally requires qualifying residence and evidence of 70 points over three years or 80 points over one year, including the required current and historical assessments; eligible residents can reconstruct points while on another work status. J-Skip has a separate qualifying one-year exception. Neither a new score nor a spouse's relationship automatically grants PR. Good conduct, timely taxes, pension, health insurance and notifications, livelihood and the applicable maximum-period condition still matter. The October 2026 household-income/public-burden assessment applies to applications pending on 1 October that were filed from 1 April 2026; most other new provisions start on 1 April 2027. HSP priority targets are not a guaranteed PR decision time.

Primary guidance checked with Japan Immigration Services Agency on 15 November 2026.

Overview

J-Skip began on 21 April 2023. It is an alternative eligibility scheme within HSP, not a new unrestricted visa or a passive investment route. Academic research and technical applicants need a master's or higher degree plus annual remuneration of at least JPY 20 million, or at least ten years' relevant experience plus that remuneration. Management applicants need at least five years' management experience and annual remuneration of at least JPY 40 million. The underlying activity, host or business and landing requirements still apply. A qualifying year under the special criteria can open a separate HSP(ii) conversion or PR residence exception, each with its own application and conditions.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓For academic research or specialised/technical activity, have a master's or higher degree AND prospective annual remuneration of at least JPY 20 million, or ten years' relevant experience AND that remuneration. A degree by itself or high personal assets do not meet this test.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ✓For business management, have at least five years' management experience AND prospective annual remuneration of at least JPY 40 million. A postgraduate degree does not substitute for that management-experience requirement.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ✓Meet the underlying HSP activity and landing criteria and evidence the host or genuine business and actual qualifying remuneration. Points calculation is waived for the special scheme, not the work-qualification or business requirements.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ✓For entry subject to JPETS, obtain the required TB clearance from a designated panel clinic for the COE or applicable direct visa application. Certificate submission began on 23 June 2025 for Philippine and Nepali nationals and 1 September 2025 for Vietnamese nationals. Indonesia screening is scheduled from 2 November 2026, but its certificate obligation is scheduled for 4 January 2027; China and Myanmar dates remain to be announced. Documented current residence outside the target countries and specified programme exemptions can change the requirement. Check the current official scope rather than assuming every national of the six listed countries already needs a certificate.Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗

Common blockers

  • !Past salary, net worth, investment capital or an unsigned expectation of income is not equivalent to the documented prospective annual remuneration for the qualifying activity. A new high-paying role alone does not establish the required qualifying year for an immediate HSP(ii) or PR application.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • !Renewal requires the applicable special highly skilled conditions. Falling below them during an existing permission does not itself instantly revoke it, but continued renewal or a different status must follow the actual criteria and procedure.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

Typical evidence

  • ·Prepare the current application form, passport, required photograph, host or business documents and evidence for the actual activity. For an in-country application include the current residence card and status evidence. Follow the category-specific checklist and any Japanese-translation requests; an agent's appointment or a COE alone does not grant residence.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ·Provide the degree or dated experience evidence, contract and prospective annual remuneration, the actual academic/technical or business-activity documents, host evidence and current category-specific application forms. A recognised special highly skilled professional receives the relevant recognition certificate with the passport documentation.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗
  • ·An existing points-based HSP holder can seek recognition through the renewal procedure near renewal, or the specified certificate-of-authorised-employment procedure otherwise. Qualifying family applications can also involve concurrent recognition assessment; the principal's actual special criteria still need evidence.Japan Immigration Services Agency ↗

Application pathway

  1. Confirm the correct special qualification branch

    Document the degree or relevant experience and prospective annual remuneration for research/technical work, or the five-year management and JPY 40 million branch. Establish the underlying host, work or business criteria.

  2. Request HSP(i) with special recognition

    For first entry, submit the appropriate HSP COE application and J-Skip evidence. An eligible resident uses the actual change procedure. Existing points-based HSP residents use the recognition procedure fitting their renewal timing rather than assuming a high salary automatically changes their recognition.

  3. Complete the visa or residence decision

    For overseas entry, take the COE through the competent consular procedure and landing examination. Retain the special recognition certificate and the issued activity conditions. A COE or pending recognition request does not grant the special family rights.

  4. Maintain the qualifying activity and family conditions

    Observe the designated HSP work and host conditions and the actual procedures for changes. A qualifying spouse can apply for the wider specified working-spouse activities; parents and domestic workers remain subject to their own conditions.

  5. Consider a separately evidenced later application

    After the required qualifying year of HSP(i) activity meeting J-Skip criteria, consider HSP(ii) conversion with conduct, national-interest and appropriateness checks, or a separate PR application under its current conditions. A year on points-based HSP(i) can count if the special criteria were actually met throughout the relevant period and are documented.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For J-Skip: special highly skilled professional, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Official J-Skip: special highly skilled professional instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Japan

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

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Check J-Skip qualifications and application branches ↗

    Compare the academic/technical and business criteria and the correct COE, change or recognition procedure.

    Japan Immigration Services Agency · verified

  2. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check the underlying HSP residence procedure ↗

    Prepare the actual activity and host evidence alongside the special criteria.

    Japan Immigration Services Agency · verified

  3. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check your competent mission's work-visa documents ↗

    Use the competent Japanese embassy or consulate for your actual residence jurisdiction, nationality and purpose. Check accepted COE format, documents, appointments and the current local visa fee.

    Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I also need 70 HSP points?+

J-Skip waives the points calculation when its higher qualification/experience and remuneration conditions are met. It does not waive the underlying eligible activity, host/business or landing requirements.

Does JPY 20 million salary qualify every manager?+

No. The management branch requires at least five years' management experience and JPY 40 million annual remuneration. The JPY 20 million branches are academic research and specialised/technical activity with the specified postgraduate degree or experience.

Is J-Skip the same as permanent residence?+

No. Initial permission is HSP(i), normally five years. A later HSP(ii) conversion gives indefinite work permission under its conditions; PR is another separate application. The qualifying-year exceptions require actual evidence and do not automatically cover family members.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How 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: Japan Immigration Services Agency

Last checked: 15 November 2026

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