Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) visa is the fastest path to permanent residency in Japan. If you qualify, you can get PR in 1–3 years instead of the standard 10 years.
What Is the HSP Visa?
The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is a points-based visa designed to attract top foreign talent to Japan.
Three categories:
- HSP Type 1-i: Advanced academic research activities
- HSP Type 1-ii: Advanced specialized/technical activities (most common — IT, engineering, finance)
- HSP Type 1-iii: Advanced business management activities
If you score 70+ points → HSP visa eligible
If you score 80+ points → PR in 1 year
If you score 70–79 points → PR in 3 years
How the Points System Works
Points are accumulated from multiple factors:
Academic Background
| Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30 |
| Master’s degree | 20 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10 |
| Professional degree (MBA, JD, etc.) | 5 (in addition to above) |
Work Experience
| Years of Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 10+ years | 20 |
| 7–9 years | 15 |
| 5–6 years | 10 |
| 3–4 years | 5 |
Annual Salary
| Salary | Points |
|---|---|
| ¥10M+ | 40 |
| ¥9M–10M | 35 |
| ¥8M–9M | 30 |
| ¥7M–8M | 25 |
| ¥6M–7M | 20 |
| ¥5M–6M | 15 |
| ¥4M–5M | 10 |
| ¥3M–4M | 5 |
Bonus Points
| Bonus Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Work for designated innovation company | +10 |
| JLPT N1 or BJT J1+ | +15 |
| JLPT N2 or BJT J1 | +10 |
| Graduated from Japanese university | +10 |
| R&D investment by company over 3% | +5 |
| Japanese government-designated innovation hub | +10 |
| Age under 30 | +15 |
| Age 30–34 | +10 |
| Age 35–39 | +5 |
Check Your Score
Use the official calculator:
Immigration HSP Points Calculator (English)
Benefits of HSP Visa
Beyond fast-track PR, HSP holders get:
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Multiple activities permitted | Can do side work and consulting |
| Spouse can work | Spouse gets permission to work without restrictions |
| Parents may stay | Under certain conditions, parents can reside in Japan |
| Live-in domestic helper | Can employ foreign domestic helper |
| 5-year residence period | Longest standard residence period |
| Preferential processing | Faster immigration processing |
HSP Type 1-ii (Most Common for Foreign Engineers/Professionals)
This is the category most relevant for:
- Software engineers
- IT professionals
- Finance/banking professionals
- Researchers
- Marketing/business professionals
Requirements:
- Score 70+ on the points system
- Have a job offer (or current employment) matching the HSP activities
- Salary must match your point calculation
Application Process
Step 1 — Calculate Your Points
Use the calculator above. Be conservative — you’ll need to prove everything with documents.
Step 2 — Gather Documents
- Points calculation declaration form
- Diploma(s) with certified translation
- Employment certificate
- Salary slips or tax returns
- JLPT certificate (if applicable)
- Passport, residence card
Step 3 — Apply at Immigration Bureau
Current residents: Apply at your regional Immigration Services Agency.
Applying from abroad: Your employer’s HR typically handles Certificate of Eligibility application.
Step 4 — Receive HSP Designation
Once approved, your residence card will show 高度専門職 (Highly Skilled Professional).
Path to Permanent Residency
With HSP visa:
| Score | PR Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 80+ points | After 1 year of HSP status |
| 70+ points | After 3 years of HSP status |
Compare to standard PR requirement: 10 years of continuous residence (or 5 years on work visa with good record).
This is the single biggest advantage of the HSP visa. See our Permanent Residency Guide for full PR application details.
Tips to Boost Your Score
- Get your JLPT N2 or N1 — Worth 10–15 points, potentially the difference between 70 and 85+
- Negotiate a higher salary — Each salary bracket jump adds 5–15 points
- Pursue an advanced degree — An MBA adds 5 extra points on top of the degree category
- Join an innovation company — Certain government-designated companies add +10 points