【For Employers】Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa Applications for Foreign Employees

Have you ever had a foreign employee suddenly say, “I’d like to switch to a Highly Skilled Professional visa,” and found yourself unsure how to respond?

The Highly Skilled Professional visa is not only important for the employee’s own career development, but also has a direct impact on your company’s talent acquisition and retention. However, for a busy HR team, researching the制度 from scratch can be a significant burden.

This page organizes only what HR really needs to know, in a structured way.
We explain, from an HR perspective and in practical terms, the differences from a standard work visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services), the benefits for the employer, key points when guiding employees internally, and the overall application flow.

Once you understand the system, it will greatly support long-term retention and talent management for your foreign employees. We hope this page will be useful for your company’s foreign talent strategy.

1. Why Foreign Employees Want to Obtain Highly Skilled Professional Status

The Highly Skilled Professional visa is often initiated by the employee, who approaches HR saying they would like to “change” or “apply” for this status. Behind this request are not just the desire to “upgrade” their visa, but several very concrete benefits that directly affect their life plans and career in Japan.

In short, behind a request for Highly Skilled Professional status is a positive intention to work and live in Japan in a stable, long-term way. If HR and General Affairs understand this perspective, it becomes much easier to communicate with employees when they raise this topic.

2. What Is the Highly Skilled Professional Visa? Overview of the Scheme

The Highly Skilled Professional visa is a status of residence created to attract foreign professionals with advanced knowledge and skills who can contribute to Japan’s economic, academic, and industrial development. Compared to standard work visas (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services), it is best understood as a “preferential” status that assumes a higher level of expertise and income.

A key feature is that applicants are evaluated using a points-based system that takes into account education, work experience, income, research achievements, and other factors. When the total score reaches a certain threshold (70 points or more), the applicant is recognized as a Highly Skilled Professional and receives the following types of benefits:

• Longer maximum period of stay (in principle, up to 5 years)
• Relaxed requirements for permanent residency (shortened required length of stay)
• Broader work authorization for spouses
• Possibility to bring parents or domestic helpers under certain conditions
• Greater flexibility to engage in multiple activities (for example, research and entrepreneurship in parallel)

From an employer’s perspective, this system allows foreign professionals with advanced skills to work in Japan in a more long-term and stable manner, making it a useful tool for talent strategy.

3. Three Categories of Highly Skilled Professional

The Highly Skilled Professional status is divided into three categories depending on the employee’s role and job content. For HR, it is essential to first identify which category (i, ii or iii) the employee falls into.

1. Highly Skilled Professional (i) (Advanced Academic Research Activities)

This category mainly covers research and education activities at universities and research institutions. Typical examples include university faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and researchers at corporate R&D centers.

2. Highly Skilled Professional (ii) (Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities)

Many professional employees working in private companies fall into this category. It covers work that requires specialized knowledge in the natural sciences or humanities, as well as related business activities.

3. Highly Skilled Professional (iii) (Advanced Business Management Activities)

This category is intended for individuals whose primary role is the management or administration of a business, such as executives and senior management.

When applying for Highly Skilled Professional status, the first step is to determine which of these three categories the employee’s role fits into, and then proceed to calculate the applicable points.

4. Types of Highly Skilled Professional Status (Category 1, Category 2, J-Skip)

There are three main frameworks within the Highly Skilled Professional制度: Category 1, Category 2, and the Special Highly Skilled Professional制度 known as “J-Skip.” From an HR standpoint, it is sufficient to understand their key features and how they affect the company.

1. Highly Skilled Professional (1)

This is the standard form of Highly Skilled Professional status. The individual must fall under one of the three activity types (i, ii, or iii) and obtain a score of 70 points or more.

• Period of stay: typically 1, 3, or 5 years
• Benefits: relaxed permanent residency requirements, broader work permission for spouses, possibility of bringing parents or domestic helpers, etc.
• Typical holders: researchers, specialized professionals, executives, and corporate officers

2. Highly Skilled Professional (2)

This status is available after a certain period of activity under Highly Skilled Professional (1) (in principle, three years or more). It provides effectively unlimited period of stay and allows a broader range of activities compared to Category 1.

• Period of stay: unlimited
• Scope of activities: in addition to activities permitted under Category 1, a wide range of activities corresponding to other work-related statuses of residence
• Benefit for employers: easier to plan long-term employment, promotion, and appointment to key positions

3. Special Highly Skilled Professional制度 (J-Skip)

J-Skip allows candidates to obtain Highly Skilled Professional (1) status without going through the standard points calculation, based on a combination of high academic background, relevant experience, and high income. It is designed as a fast-track route for top-tier talent who meet certain criteria.

• Master’s degree or higher + annual income of approx. JPY 20 million or more
• Long-term relevant work experience + annual income of approx. JPY 20 million or more
• Management/administrative experience + annual income of approx. JPY 40 million or more

Talent who qualify under J-Skip are highly competitive in the labor market. Understanding this制度 helps HR design stronger offer packages and more attractive hiring/relocation schemes for such candidates.

Preferential Measures for Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1)

1. Permission for Multiple Activities

Ordinarily, foreign nationals may only engage in activities permitted under a single approved status of residence. HSP holders, however, are permitted to engage in multiple activities across different categories — for example, conducting academic research at a university while also operating a related business.

2. Five-Year Period of Stay

HSP holders are granted a uniform five-year period of stay — the maximum allowed under current law.
※ This period is renewable.

3. Relaxed Permanent Residency Requirements

Normally, permanent residency requires at least 10 years of continuous residence in Japan. HSP holders become eligible after only 3 years, and those with 80 points or more may apply after just 1 year.

4. Spouse Employment

Typically, spouses of foreign nationals must meet academic or professional requirements to obtain statuses such as “Instructor” or “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.” Spouses of HSP holders are permitted to work in these activities even without fulfilling such requirements.

5. Permission for Parents to Accompany (Under Specific Conditions)

In principle, parents of foreign nationals with work-related visas are not permitted to accompany them. However, under specific conditions, parents (including adoptive parents) of an HSP holder or their spouse may be granted entry and residence in Japan.

1) When caring for a child under the age of 7 (including adopted children) of the HSP holder or spouse
2) When assisting a pregnant HSP holder or pregnant spouse

6. Permission to Employ a Domestic Helper (Under Specific Conditions)

Ordinarily, only certain visa holders (e.g., Business Manager, Legal/Accounting Services) may bring a foreign domestic helper. HSP holders may also employ a foreign domestic helper if the specified requirements are met.

2.Preferential Measures for Highly Skilled Professional (Type 2)

1. In addition to the benefits listed above, Type 2 holders may engage in almost all activities permitted under work-related statuses of residence.
2. The period of stay is unlimited.

3.Preferential Measures for Special Highly Skilled Professionals (J-Skip)

1. Households with an annual income of 30 million yen or more may employ up to two foreign domestic helpers (no household circumstance requirements apply — see note).
2. Spouses may engage in employment beyond the 28-hour weekly limit in categories such as “Research,” “Education,” “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” and “Entertainer,” as well as “Professor,” “Artist,” “Religious Activities,” “Journalist,” and “Skilled Labor,” without meeting academic or professional requirements.
3. Use of priority lanes at major airports upon entry and departure.

※ This removes conditions such as having a child under 13, a spouse unable to manage household duties due to illness, or prior continuous employment of the domestic helper overseas for at least one year.

The “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” (E/H/I) status is the most common among Japan’s 16 work-related visa categories.

This status covers a wide range of managerial, administrative, and professional positions, such as:

When the HSP visa is based on “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities” activities, the scope of work is generally similar. However, for “International Services” — such as interpretation/translation — there are important restrictions.

Interpreters and translators usually qualify under the E/H/I category. However, the review criteria for HSP Type 1 (ii) specifically exclude “International Services.” As a result, interpreters and translators are generally ineligible for HSP Type 1 (ii), making this a notable exception.

“International Services” refers to work requiring cultural knowledge or sensitivity. For example, interpretation or translation related to the foreign national’s native language usually qualifies as International Services, without academic or work experience requirements.

There is one exception: If an interpreter/translator has graduated from a university program in the relevant field, or completed a recognized Japanese vocational school program and earned the title of “Specialist,” then such work is classified under “Humanities” and may qualify for HSP Type 1 (ii).

Many foreign professionals considering the HSP visa also evaluate whether applying for Permanent Residency may be more advantageous. HSP Type 2 and Permanent Resident status share similarities, but there are key distinctions employers should understand.

	Highly Skilled Professional (Type 2)	Permanent Resident
1. Period of Stay	Unlimited	Unlimited
2. Authorized Activities	Almost all work-related activities permitted	No restrictions — all activities permitted
3. Accompanying Parents	Permitted As long as HSP status is maintained	Generally not permitted Possible under “Designated Activities,” but difficult to obtain
4. Accompanying Domestic Helper	Permitted As long as HSP status is maintained	Generally not permitted
5. Guarantor for Special Permission to Stay	Not permitted	Permitted
6. Guarantor for Permanent Residency Applications	Not permitted	Permitted
7. Eligibility for Mortgage Loans	Generally not permitted	Permitted

In summary, Permanent Resident status generally offers broader advantages than HSP Type 2. However, if the employee wishes to live with parents in Japan or employ a domestic helper, Type 2 may be the more suitable option. For most others seeking long-term stability, Permanent Residency is preferable.

Requests from foreign employees — particularly highly skilled engineers — to change their status to HSP are becoming increasingly common.

One major incentive is that HSP holders may apply for Permanent Residency after 5 years, instead of the standard 10 years, and in some cases after only 3 or 1 year. This makes HSP status highly attractive for those aiming for long-term residence in Japan.

Although the HSP visa was only introduced in 2015 and remains relatively new, ACROSEED has already supported numerous cases of status changes from E/H/I to HSP, as well as direct recruitment of overseas talent under HSP. We have also assisted employees in successfully obtaining Permanent Residency through HSP preferential measures. Employers can consult with us confidently, knowing we have extensive practical experience.

Normally, regular work visa holders must reside in Japan for 5 years before applying for Permanent Residency.

However, if the applicant scores 70 points or more under the HSP system, they may be eligible to apply after just 3 years — or even 1 year — without formally switching to HSP status.

1. Inviting Talent from Overseas (Certificate of Eligibility Application)

When hiring talent from overseas, the standard procedure begins with obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from the Immigration Services Agency, followed by a visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad.

The CoE application is submitted by the sponsoring company, a relative in Japan, or a licensed immigration professional (administrative scrivener) to the Immigration Services Agency with jurisdiction over the company’s office or the applicant’s intended place of residence.

Once issued, the CoE is sent to the applicant overseas. By presenting the CoE with other required documents at a Japanese embassy or consulate, the visa is typically issued smoothly.

Standard CoE processing usually takes 1–3 months. However, for Highly Skilled Professionals, priority processing is available, and reviews are typically completed within 10 days.

The visa application at the overseas mission generally takes around one week.

*1 A brief interview may be conducted, and in rare cases, the visa may be denied.
*2 The CoE is valid for 90 days. If entry is not made within this period, the CoE becomes invalid.

2. Changing Status of Residence (Within Japan)

For employees already in Japan, a Change of Status of Residence application is filed. Standard processing takes 1–2 months, but for Highly Skilled Professionals, priority review is available, typically completed within 5 business days.

1. For Certificate of Eligibility Applications

When inviting overseas talent eligible for HSP status, the following documents must be submitted, in addition to the points calculation table and supporting evidence:

Status of Residence	Main Corresponding Activities
HSP Type 1 (i)	Professor, Research, Education
HSP Type 1 (ii)	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Artist, Journalist, Legal/Accounting Services, etc.
HSP Type 1 (iii)	Business Manager

These are general examples; final eligibility is determined case by case.

2. For Change of Status Applications

1. Service Overview

ACROSEED provides end-to-end support for companies sponsoring Highly Skilled Professional visas with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Our goal is to maximize approval rates and ensure a smooth, stress-free process for HR teams and employees alike.

We handle:

With over 30 years of experience and a proven track record, ACROSEED reduces HR workload by preparing accurate documentation, ensuring compliance, and providing reliable communication with Immigration authorities.

Eligibility is difficult to determine

→ We provide a pre-assessment of eligibility based on role, salary, and industry.

Document preparation is burdensome

→ We offer templates for company documents (employment contracts, job descriptions) and assist with preparation.

No internal staff with visa expertise

→ We manage the entire process — preparation, submission, follow-up, and approval — ensuring smooth and compliant outcomes.

Start by sharing your hiring plans with us. Our specialists will assess your case and provide tailored solutions.

2. Services Included

1. Inviting Talent from Overseas

1. Advice on Employment Start Schedule

2. Guidance for Candidates

(Support with points calculation, document instructions, and scheduling)

3. Visa Application Procedures

(Application preparation, proxy submission, receipt of results, and residence card endorsement)

4. Post-Application Support

(Status checks, examiner communication, and additional documents)

5. International Document Shipping

Direct EMS shipment of the CoE to the applicant abroad.

2. Change of Status (Within Japan)

1. Preparation for Visa Application

(Support with points calculation and required documentation)

2. Proxy Application Submission

(No need for the employee or employer to visit Immigration directly)

3. Approval and Completion

(Progress monitoring, receipt of approval, and residence card endorsement)

We also handle tailored cases depending on your company’s needs. Please feel free to contact us for consultation.

3.Why Choose ACROSEED

See Our Track Record
Why ACROSEED is Trusted by Corporations
Explore Client Case Studies
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