Highly Skilled Professinal (HSP) Visa FAQ

The Highly Skilled Professional Point System was established from the viewpoint that it is important to attract and retain excellent human resources to Japan in order to further revitalise the Japanese economy and increase its competitiveness in the face of intensifying international competition for human resources. For the information on J-Skip visa, please refer to: What is the Japan’s new policy “J-Skip” Visa?

Can I be considered as “highly skilled professional”?: To be recognised as a Highly Skilled Professinal (HSP) you need to achieve the following in the Highly Qualified Points List 70 points or more. The Highly Qualified Persons points table is divided into various items such as [Education] points / [Career] points / [Annual Salary] points / [Age] points / [Special] points. For the detail, please see this page.

I scored over 70 points on the Point Calculation Table for Highly Skilled Professinal, but I am not in Japan can I apply?: Highly skilled professionals are required to be employed or sponsored by a company in Japan and applicants must be working in Japan to apply.

What are the benefits of “Highly Skilled Professinal (HSP)”?

The preferential policy represented is that you can get a 5-year residence visa at once; you can apply for permanent residency after 1 or 3 years of residence in Japan, and an open-ended residence visa (Highly Skilled Professinal (ii)) after 3 years; your spouse can get an employment visa (no 28-hour limit), and you can bring along your parents or a nanny under certain conditions (with minimum annual income, etc.).

Number of years required for permanent residence application (good for international students coming to Japan)

What kind of people can get a Highly Skilled Professinal (HSP) visa?

I’ve probably given more typical examples.

If you are employed, you have 70 points if you have graduated from a Japanese university (20 points), have more than 5 years of work experience (10 points), earn more than 5 million yen per year (15 points), are under 34 years of age (10 points), and have a Japanese language N1 qualification (15 points), which qualifies you for HSP visa.

If you are a business manager, you have a master’s degree from a Japanese university (30 points), at least 5 years of experience as a manager (15 points), an income of 3 million yen or more (minimum), the status of a representative director (president of a Japanese company) (10 points), and a Japanese language N1 qualification (15 points), you have 70 points and qualify HSP visa.

Can I apply for a “highly skilled professional” (HSP) visa before I come to Japan?: You can apply for a HSP visa by accepting your organization in Japan. In addition, there is a special offer called “VISA FAST TRACK for HSP foreigners”. This is an application for COE (Certificate of Eligibility) for HSP foreigners, and the principle is to complete the examination within 10 working days.

Can I apply for a “Highly Skilled Professional” visa if I have enough points?: As the “Highly Skilled Professional” visa is one of the sponsor-based employment visas, it is also subject to the requirements of each employment visa. The first thing to note is that if you do not have a sponsoring company, e.g. the Japanese company that employs you in Japan, you will not be able to apply at all.

I am a “highly skilled professionals” (HSP), when can I apply for permanent residence?

After being recognized as a HSP person, you can apply for permanent residence if you have continued your activities as a highly skilled professional (HSP) for one or three years (from 26 April 2017, the government will implement the new system of the “Japanese version of the green card for HSP foreigners”). Learn more about Permanent Residency in Japan, please refer to “Benefits of Permanent Residency in Japan“.

The specific requirements are as follows.
[If you have a points table 80 points or more]
If you already have a HSP visa, you can stay in Japan for at least 1 year as a HSP person continuously
OR
It is possible to apply for permanent residence (PR) directly even if you do not have a HSP visa. You need to prove that you had 80 points or more 1 year ago and still have 80 points or more at the time of PR application.

[If you have a points table 70 points or 75 points]
If you already have a HSP visa, you can stay in Japan for at least 3 years as a HSP person continuously
OR
It is possible to apply for permanent residence (PR) directly even if you do not have a HSP visa. You need to prove that you had 70 points or 75 points 3 years ago and still have 70 points or 75 points at the time of PR application.

How do I know if I was judged by the Immigration Bureau to be 70 or 80 or more score?

Since the introduction of the Japanese version of the “Green Card for Highly Skilled Professional” system, the number of score you have is a key item.
Now, when you are deemed to be a Highly Skilled Professional, you will receive a notification of the results of the calculation and you will know which of the following three items you are eligible for:
・70 points unmanifested (means not HSP)
・70 points to less than 80 points
・80 points or more

Notification of Calculation Results

Does income include bonuses?: Income (compensation) includes basic salary and bonus. However, it does not include the actual expenses such as accommodation allowance, support allowance and transportation allowance. In addition, if you are a expat sent to Japan from your home country, the income you receive in your home country can be added to your income.
Please note that the income mentioned here is the income you will receive in the future, so the overtime you received in the past year is not included. The minimum annual income limit is 3 million yen per year.

To prove annual income, is it sufficient to submit proof of taxation?: The Immigration Bureau will examine not the actual amount of past income, but the booked income for next year in which the application is submitted. Therefore, it is necessary to ask the company you belong to for “proof of income (provisional)”. However, if the past facts are too different from the reservation income, you need to prove how you can pay this amount of salary.

Can work experience in my home country count towards the number of years of work in point table for HSP?: If your job description of the work in your home country is approximately the same as the job of the HSP visa you are applying for, and you can prove it with documents, such as a certificate of leaving from your home country’s company, it can be counted. Without information, even if you are engaged in the same job description, it cannot be counted.

How do I prove my work experience?: The Immigration Bureau requires a certificate of resignation from the company that you need to submit in the past. It must show the period of employment and your job description of the work. A certificate of employment from a company not in Japan, but in a third country is also valid.

What should I do if I can’t get a certificate of resignation?: If you cannot prepare a working certificate because the company has closed down, etc., prepare documents such as certificate of cancellation of company, employment handbook instead of the certificate. However, being able to prove it depends on the specific documents.

Can I change my job after receiving a Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) (i)(b) visa?: Currently, you can only work for a company that is recognized as “Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) (i)(b)”, so please check the name of the company that is listed in the “Designation Letter” (Shiteisho) stapled on your passport. If you wish to change your company, you must first apply for a change of visa status.
In addition, if you have a “Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) (i)(b)” visa, you cannot be employed in a third company that is not listed in the “Designation Letter” whilest still working for the company to which the “Designation Letter” belongs. However, a person on a “Enginieer/Specialist in humanities/International Services” visa may enter into a business contract with both company A and company B at the same time. This is a big difference. Please note. (except for Highly Skilled Professional (ii) visa)

I didn’t know that I need to apply again for a “Highly Skilled Professional (i)” visa every time I change jobs as mentioned above. What should I do?: You need to do the reinstatement immigration procedure quickly. Specifically, you want to apply for the Immigration Bureau’s notification and status of residence. Please contact us for the specific procedures.

I don’t know which “Highly Skilled Professional” visa I should apply for. It seems that I can qualify for both (a),(b) and (c).: The HSP visa is not the same as the original employment visa category. Even if you are currently on a Business Manager visa, you do not have to apply for a HSP (i)(c) visa. You can apply for a HSP (i)(b) visa if you are a company manager but your job requires knowledge of the humanities. The current criteria of the Immigration Bureau are that if the applicant is the legal representative of the company and has no other manager, it is unlikely that you will be granted a HSP (i)(b) visa.

Can I get extra points for having an MBA certificate?: If you graduated from a Japanese university, check whether your MBA or MOT certificate is recognised by the Japanese Ministry of Education as a degree.

Do I only get credit for Level 1 of the Japanese language exam?: In addition to a certificate of passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 (N1), points can be awarded for a score of 480 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test. In the case of the revised point scale from April 26, 2017, points can also be awarded for N2 and BJT with a score of 400 or more. However, other Japanese language exams; for example, J.TEST, etc., are not eligible for points.

Can N1 and N2 be overlapped and added to by a point table for highly skilled professional’s scores?: No, you cannot.

How can I add an “organization which receives financial support measures for the promotion of inovation (イノベーション促進支援措置を受けている)” to the point calclation table?: Please check with your employer’s company in advance to see if it is an “financial support measures for the promotion of inovation company”. A common example is the “Management Innovation Plan” (Keiei Kakushin keikaku) recognized by prefecture govenment, under the “Small and Medium-sized Businesses and Other Management Enhancement Act” (many small and medium-sized businesses are recognized. If your employer has a valid “Notice of Recognition of Management Innovation Plan”, 10 points will be added. And if it is considered a “small or medium-sized enterprise”, 10 more points will be added to become the 20 points total. This should be a very significant bonus. And the recognition of research and development business plans under the “Act on the Promotion of Asian Bases” (Special Measures for the Promotion of Research and Development Businesses by Specified Multi-national Companies). In addition, points can be awarded to companies that are currently the target of the “National Strategic Special Zone for the Promotion of the Admission of Highly Qualified Foreign Manpower”.

I want to work in TWO companies as a highly skilled professional (HSP) visa, is that possible?: Being HSP, such as an IT person, can be achieved by working for two client companies. Some people are now working in IT business in two companies with the “Enginieer/Specialist in humanities/International Services” VISA. It is because they have heard that a highly skilled professional visa is tied to working for one company, so they cannot work for two companies and give up their application. There are ways to work for two companies on a HSP Visa. One way is to obtain a HSP Visa for the main company and a “Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence”, which called “Shikakugai Katsudo Kyoka“, for the secondary company. Another way is to ask the Immigration Bureau to endorse both companies for approval. For details of how to do this, please contact us.

Can I get extra points for having a published paper?: If you have published a paper with 3 or more papers registered in the academic paper database, you can add 15 points. However, please note that only papers that are listed in Elsevier’s SciVerse Scopus are recognized by the Admissions Authority, not CiNii, and only if you are a First Author on all 3 papers. Please contact us for details.

Can I study with a highly skilled professional visa?: It is possible for highly skilled professional people to go to work during the day and go to college at night for activities such as an MBA. There is no restriction. However, it is not possible to violate the scope of activities that are outside the scope of staying qualified if you go to school exclusively after leaving the company.

I already have a status of residence to live in Japan, can I change to a HSP visa?: If you have a so-called “working visa” (e.g., Enginieer/Specialist in humanities/International Services visa, Business manager visa, Intra-company Transferee visa, etc.) and your employment status has not changed, you only need to prove that you have a score of 70 or more. However, if you have a non-employment visa such as “Student”, “Dependent” or “Cultural Activities” visa, you must prove that you are eligible to change to a “working visa” before you can prove Get 70 or more copies of the score sheet. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare two steps.

My company is considered as a small business, can I change my visa to a highly skilled professional (HSP)?: Even small companies or even newly established companies that have not been around for long can hope to become HSP. However, it is necessary to prove that the stability and continuity of the company are not a problem, so the documents that need to be prepared are increased compared to large companies or listed companies. It can be said that it is difficult, but promising.

What are the requirements to be able to bring my parents?: When raising a child under the age of 7 in Japan, you may bring the parents of the HSP person or the spouse. (Both parents of the HSP person or both parents-in-law are not allowed to bring both parents at the same time.) When the child is not yet born, the HSP person or the spouse can bring both parents when they are pregnant. The requirements for applying for a visa are, firstly, that your family’s annual income must be at least 8 million yen, and secondly, that they must live with the HSP person and the dependent child.

My visa is for international services, can I change it to a HSP visa?: The HSP visa does not include work that is referred to as “international services”; for example, translator or designer. It is not clear from the visa whether you are holding a work visa for “international services” or “specialist in humanities”. Therefore, if you are working purely as a translator, you do not qualify for a HSP visa (there are exceptions to this rule). However, if you are doing something other than translation work, such as humanities or technical work, you can meet this requirement, and you can change to a HSP visa.

Can I run my own company without changing my visa after I get a HSP visa?: This is one of the benefits of the HSP visa, which allows you to run your own company whilest working for a company. (Please note that if you want to run your own business while being employed by a company, you must first obtain a “Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence (Shikakugai Katsudo Kyoka)” before you can start running your own business. However, you are limited to operating in a business related to your main business. You cannot do work that is different from your main business. For example, a person who received a visa mainly for IT engineer, cannot operate a restaurant business. (Except for HSP (ii) visa)

I got a 1-year visa only, is there any hope that I can change to a HSP visa?: It does not have to be completely hopeless. It is necessary to analyze the reason for the 1-year visa you currently have. If you have just arrived in Japan and got a 1-year visa, it is not a big problem. If you got a 3-year or 5-year visa before, but the last time you renewed your visa, the Immigration Bureau only gave you a 1-year visa, you need to be careful and explain your reasons for getting it.

I am a Freelancer in Japan, can I apply for “Highly Skilled Professional” (HSP) visa?: It is possible to apply for a HSP visa even if you have signed a “service contract” instead of an “employment contract” with your sponsor (client) company. However, there are a lot of details and tips needed before applying. We have a lot of successful experience, please ask us.

I am working as a chef in restaurant on a “skilled labour” visa, can I apply for a “highly skilled professional” visa?: The activities specified in the skilled labour visa are also counted in the scope of the HSP visa. You can apply for this visa if you meet the criteria of 70 points or more in the Highly Skilled Professional Points Table. Since you are already on a skilled labour visa, you have 10 years of work experience (20 points), so it is sufficient to add points for other items such as income amount, Japanese language ability or diploma.

Can students also apply for a highly skilled professional (HSP) visa?: You can apply if you have found a sponsor company to work for, etc. and are about to engage in employment.

Can students apply for submission before graduation?: If you are about to graduate, you need to prepare for the university to issue a “provisional graduation certificate”. However, before you graduate, you will not be able to add points for your current degree.