Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP - 高度専門職)
Category: Work / Accelerated Residency · Processing time: 1–3 months (COE issuance).
Recently verified
Apply through official authority
Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Always submit applications through the official source. Last verified 2026-06-23.
Visa type
Work / Accelerated Residency
Processing time
1–3 months (COE issuance).
Fees
COE_Application: Free
Validity
5 years (standard grant).
Stay duration
Confirm on official source
Entry type
Confirm single/multiple entry rules
Insurance
Confirm if required
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Overview
Provides preferential immigration treatment to attract top global talent. Includes fast-track PR eligibility.
- Leads to permanent residency: No
- Requires job offer: Yes
- Language required: No
- Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or higher (or 10+ years professional experience).
- Financial requirement: Points awarded for salary (e.g., ¥10M+ = 40 pts).
- Accommodation proof: Yes (Registered address required within 14 days of arrival).
Estimated Costs
- - COE_Application: Free
- - VisaApplicationFee: Confirm via local embassy (Standard work visa fees apply)
Required Documents
- - Official Points Calculation Table (breakdown + evidence)
- - Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- - Signed employment contract
- - University degree / Academic transcripts
- - Evidence of all claimed points (Tax records, bonus letters, patent certificates)
- - Compliance proof (No record of tax/pension delinquency)
Application Steps
- Calculate score using the official [ISA Points Calculation Table](https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/guide/hsp.html).
- Secure a job offer and verify that the employer can support the HSP visa requirements.
- Employer submits the Points Calculation Table and supporting evidence (degrees, salary proof, etc.) for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- Receive the COE and apply for the HSP visa at the Japanese embassy/consulate.
- Enter Japan and receive your HSP residence card.
Always confirm the latest steps and forms on the official portal: Immigration Services Agency of Japan →
Travel Insurance Requirement
- Mandatory: Confirm with official source
- Minimum coverage: Confirm current coverage rules
- Valid regions: Confirm accepted regions
- Approved providers: Use providers accepted by the official authority
Embassy, Consulate & Appointments
Embassy, consulate, jurisdiction, and appointment details vary by applicant location. Confirm the correct office before booking travel or paying fees.
Open appointment or official portal →Browse foreign embassies in Japan (MigrantIQ directory) →
Directory listings are for planning only — not legal advice. Confirm jurisdiction and appointment rules on the official portal.
Application checklist
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Benefits & What This Visa Allows
- - Up to 5 years per permit
- - Multiple permitted activities
- - PR fast-track
- - Spousal work permission
Trust & safety
Before you pay or submit documents
Use the official portal for applications and payments. Be careful with agents who guarantee approval, ask for personal-account transfers, or pressure you to send originals before a written contract.
Relevant laws
- Immigration Status and Overstay Rules
Immigration · Severity: Critical
Your right to stay in Japan depends on the exact visa, residence permit, entry stamp, or visa-free allowance you hold. Do not assume a pending application, job offer, or school admission auto
- Work Authorisation Rules
Employment · Severity: Critical
In Japan, a visa that allows entry does not always allow work. Paid employment, freelancing, remote work, internships, and trial shifts may each have different permission rules.
- Tax Residency and Income Reporting
Tax · Severity: High
Living in Japan for long enough, working locally, or registering as a resident may trigger tax-residency or income-reporting duties even if your income is paid from abroad.
Active scam alerts
Some agents overcharge newcomers for translations, notarisation, apostilles, or courier services for Japan, and may produce documents that are not accepted by official authorities.
Scammers impersonate airport staff, immigration officers, or travel agents and claim you must pay a special fee to enter Japan, avoid questioning, release documents, or fast-track border chec
Fraudsters offer admission, scholarships, or student visa packages for Japan through unofficial agents. Victims may receive fake acceptance letters that fail verification during visa processi
Scammers advertise fake apartments in Japan, pressure newcomers to transfer a deposit before viewing, and disappear after sending a fake lease or copied property photos.
Quick Eligibility Check
Use this self-check for Highly Skilled Professional. It does not replace official legal assessment.
Common Rejection Reasons
- - Points calculated are not supported by verifiable documents.
- - Failure to meet the minimum 70-point threshold.
- - Tax or pension payment records show late payments or delinquency.
- - Inconsistency between claimed professional experience and job duties.
Application Tips
- - Prioritize getting all tax and pension records in order before applying; 2026 rules have zero tolerance for late payments.
- - The 1-year PR fast-track (for 80+ points) is highly competitive; ensure every point is backed by ironclad evidence.
- - Age points drop as you get older—calculate your score based on your age *at the time of submission*.
- - Consult a licensed [administrative scrivener (Gyoseishoshi)](https://english.visajapan.jp/koudo.html) if your point breakdown is near the 70-point borderline.
Sources & References
Use these references for verification. Official government and appointment portals override summary guidance on MigrantIQ.
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Official source for forms, appointments, fees, and final requirements.
- MigrantIQ visa record
Summary record maintained for planning and source verification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
This visa is designed for applicants matching Work / Accelerated Residency pathway criteria.
Typical processing time is 1–3 months (COE issuance)., subject to documentation quality and application volume.
Start with eligibility evidence, document checklists, and proof of funds before submitting.