Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa: Points and 70/80 Benefits

The Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa (高度専門職) is a status of residence granted to foreign nationals who score a total of 70 points or more on a points system that assesses academic background, professional experience, annual salary and other factors. It comes with preferential treatment, including a five-year period of stay, work rights for a spouse and, under certain conditions, the option to bring a parent or a domestic worker, and it relaxes the requirements for permanent residence. With 80 points or more, the period of residence required for permanent residence is one year.

The three activity categories of the HSP visa

Every category requires a total of 70 points or more. Under (i)(b) and (i)(c), applicants whose annual salary is below ¥3 million will not qualify, even if their other criteria exceed 70 points.

HSP (i) is a status of residence premised on activities at a designated employer or host organization. On approval, a designation document (指定書) naming that organization is attached to your passport. If you change jobs, you must go through a change of status of residence.

How the points are calculated

Using the points calculation table published by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA, 出入国在留管理庁), you add up the points for each criterion that applies to you. The core criteria are academic background, professional experience, annual salary and age. Bonus points are added for Japanese-language ability, graduation from a Japanese university and other factors. Because the point allocation differs by category, use the table for your own category.

Main criteria and sample point allocation ((i)(b))

Annual salary is calculated on the annual remuneration you are expected to receive in Japan going forward, not on past earnings. It includes bonuses and allowances as well as base pay. Check the ISA Q&A for the reference date used to assess age and other criteria.

Worked example

Take a 28-year-old with a doctorate who has passed JLPT N1 and is hired on an annual salary of ¥10 million. That gives 30 points for academic background, 15 for age, 15 for Japanese and 40 for salary: 100 points in total even before professional experience is counted. Conversely, if your points for education or salary are low, check whether bonus points for Japanese ability, a Japanese degree or similar factors can take you to 70.

Documents to evidence your points

Your application must include the points calculation table together with documents that prove each criterion, such as degree certificates or graduation certificates, certificates of employment, an employment contract showing your remuneration, and JLPT certificates. Evidence showing a total of 70 points or more is sufficient; you do not need to document every criterion.

Points are assessed as of the date of application. If your score falls during your stay, you do not lose your status of residence immediately. However, if you have fewer than 70 points when you apply for renewal, the renewal will not be granted.

Preferential treatment at 70 and 80 points

Spousal employment and bringing a parent or a domestic worker are each subject to detailed conditions. For the usual way to bring family members to Japan, see also Dependent visa requirements.

Relaxed requirements for permanent residence

Permanent residence generally requires at least ten years of continuous residence in Japan. Highly skilled professionals with 70 points or more can apply after three years, and those with 80 points or more after one year. Even if you hold a status of residence other than HSP, you may be able to use this special rule if you can show with documents that you met the 70- or 80-point threshold. The full requirements are explained in Permanent residence in Japan: requirements and key review points.

Comparison with Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services

Most foreign nationals working as company employees in Japan hold the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status (技術・人文知識・国際業務). If you score 70 points or more, you can consider switching to HSP (i)(b).

HSP (ii) and the Special Highly Skilled Professional system (J-Skip)

HSP (ii)

After at least three years of activity under HSP (i), and subject to requirements including a score of 70 points or more, you can change to HSP (ii). HSP (ii) carries an unlimited period of stay. In addition to the activities permitted under (i), it allows a wide range of activities permitted under work-related statuses.

Special Highly Skilled Professional system (J-Skip)

Introduced in 2023, this system grants status on the basis of academic background, professional experience and annual salary, rather than the points calculation.

Special Highly Skilled Professionals receive more extensive preferential treatment than standard HSP holders and can move to HSP (ii) after one year or more of activity under (i). If they do not meet the criteria at the time of renewal, the renewal will not be granted.

Application process and points to note

1. Estimate your score for your category using the points calculation table
2. Gather documents that prove your points (degrees, professional experience, salary, Japanese-language ability, etc.)
3. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility if you are overseas, or for permission to change your status of residence if you are in Japan
4. After approval, collect your residence card (在留カード) and check the contents of the designation document

Review takes time. Check the standard processing period in ISA’s guidance and plan your application by working back from your start date or planned arrival date. HSP applications are processed on a priority basis, but no particular review period is guaranteed for individual cases.

If you run a company in Japan, compare (i)(c) with the general Business Manager visa to see which suits you better. If your salary or background does not yield enough points, you can apply for the Business Manager visa (経営・管理ビザ) first and consider switching to HSP once you have built a track record.

Ongoing policy review

Japan’s rules on accepting foreign nationals have been under continual review in recent years. Work on the Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control and Residence Management (第二次出入国在留管理基本計画) is under way in 2026, and the criteria and point allocations for highly skilled professionals may change. If the criteria are revised, check the new rules and their effective date in ISA announcements. If you are considering an application, we recommend confirming early how many points you would score under the current criteria.

Summary

The HSP visa is granted when your combined points for academic background, professional experience, annual salary, age and other criteria reach 70 or more, and it offers a five-year period of stay, family-related benefits and relaxed permanent residence requirements. Because points are checked both at application and at renewal, it is important to know precisely how many points you can evidence with documents.

Together with partner administrative scriveners (行政書士), TIMOA supports you from estimating your points and preparing evidence to choosing a status of residence and filing the application. For details, see our Visas, Talent & Living page.