Highly Skilled Professional Visa (Points-Based System)

Year establishedPublished

2012

Governing lawPublished

Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, as amended: the points-based preferential system took effect 7 May 2012; the distinct 'Highly Skilled Professional' status of residence entry was added to the Act's status-of-residence table by a later amendment (effective April 2015); the Points Calculation Table is set by Ministry of Justice ordinance.

Responsible authorityPublished

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁), Ministry of Justice

What the program providesPublished

Japan's points-based work visa for top academics, specialists and executives, fast-tracking permanent residency to as little as 1 year instead of the usual 10

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Minimum ageUnknown

Unknown

Clean criminal record requiredUnknown

Unknown

Local health insurance requiredUnknown

Unknown

Nationality restrictionsPublished

No

Basic eligibilityPublished

Score at least 70 points on the official Points Calculation Table (education, career history, annual income, age, research achievements, Japanese-language ability, etc.) under one of three tracks -- advanced academic research, advanced specialized/technical work, or advanced business management -- while holding a genuine, matching job offer or business role in Japan.

Employment statusPublished

Full-time employee or self-employed

Generational limitPublished

Not applicable

Family sponsorshipPublished

Yes

Spouse includedPublished

Yes

Children includedPublished

Yes

Child age limitUnknown

Unknown

ChildrenPublished

Spouse and unmarried dependent children accompany on 'Dependent' status; unlike most other work-visa dependents, the spouse of an HSP holder may additionally work in specified professional activities (e.g. Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Skilled Labor) for more than 28 hours a week without a separate work permit. Under the higher-income J-Skip track within the same HSP status, up to two foreign domestic helpers and, under certain conditions, parents may also accompany.

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Processing timeUnknown

Unknown

Can apply without travelingPublished

Yes

How you applyPublished

Secure a sponsoring job/business role in Japan, then file a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application with a regional Immigration Services Agency office (filed by the applicant, the Japan-based sponsor, or a registered immigration agent on the applicant's behalf); in-Japan applicants instead file a change of status of residence, in person or online.

Required in-person stepPublished

Collecting the visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate abroad after COE issuance (new entrants), or picking up the residence card and completing biometrics/landing procedures in Japan.

What the processing time measuresPublished

No official ISA-published processing-time range was found for HSP/COE applications in this search; immigration practitioner sites commonly cite roughly 1-3 months for COE review, but that is not a published government figure.

Official application routePublished

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00004.html?lang=en

Minimum investmentPublished

None required

Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Processing feePublished

$41

Application feePublished

None required

Total cost to applyPublished

$41

Monthly income requiredUnknown

Unknown

Monthly pension income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly rental income requiredPublished

None required

Savings requiredUnknown

Unknown

Proof of sufficient fundsUnknown

Unknown

Local bank deposit requiredPublished

No

Minimum local bank depositPublished

None required

Fees paidPublished

After approval

Cost notesPublished

Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application itself is fee-free. Grant/change of status of residence currently (as of Sept 2026) carries a flat JPY 6,000 revenue-stamp fee filed in person, or JPY 5,500 filed online (about USD 41 / USD 37 at 0.0068). From 1 October 2026 Japan moves to a length-of-stay-tiered fee schedule; a 5-year grant (HSP's standard period) will cost JPY 75,000 in person or JPY 65,000 online (about USD 510 / USD 442); applications filed before 1 Oct 2026 keep the flat fee.

Stay required to keep statusPublished

None

Physical presence requiredPublished

Yes

In-country visit requiredUnknown

Unknown

Move-in windowUnknown

Unknown

Length of residencyPublished

60 months

Residency is lifetimePublished

No

RenewablePublished

Yes

Maximum durationUnknown

Unknown

Maximum duration is lifetimePublished

Yes

Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published

None: holding Highly Skilled Professional status requires no minimum day-count in Japan to keep or renew it. The underlying legal requirement is genuine, ongoing engagement in the sponsored research/technical/business activity, not a stay-days test; a Certificate of Eligibility that is never used to enter Japan simply expires (COEs are generally valid about 3 months from issue).

Tax residency rulePublished

Foreign individuals are considered resident taxpayers if they have a 'jusho' (residence) in Japan, or have maintained a 'kyosho' (temporary place of abode) in Japan for a period of one year or more.

Time to permanent residencyPublished

3 years

Time to citizenshipPublished

5 years

Work for a local employerPublished

Yes

Start a businessPublished

Yes

Remote or freelance workUnknown

Unknown

Local healthcare accessUnknown

Unknown

University accessUnknown

Unknown

Can buy landUnknown

Unknown

Local bankingUnknown

Unknown

Permanent residence timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Citizenship timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published

Temporary permission: nothing requires presence; it simply lapses if unused. Its value is the fast-track it grants once you do move: 70+ points cuts the wait for permanent residence from Japan's standard 10 years to 3 years, and 80+ points to just 1 year, alongside multi-activity permission, a uniform 5-year stay, and spouse work rights beyond the usual dependent restrictions. A related, non-point track called 'J-Skip' (Japan System for Special Highly-Skilled Professionals, introduced April 2023) grants the same HSP status and even broader preferential treatment -- including up to two foreign domestic helpers -- to applicants meeting a high income bar (about JPY 20,000,000/year with a master's degree or higher, or with 10+ years' relevant experience) instead of the points table; it is administered as part of the same status of residence, not a separate visa.

Official program websitePublished

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00004.html?lang=en

Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/designatedactivities02_00004.html?lang=en | https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/newimmiact_3_system_index.html | https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/newimmiact_3_index.html | https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/setting_up/section2/page11.html | https://www.denver.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/jskip-jfind.html | https://www.fragomen.com/insights/japan-new-residence-permit-fee-structure-from-october-1-2026.html | https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/individual/12006.htm | https://www.moj.go.jp/MINJI/minji78.html

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.