Japan · Talent & extraordinary ability
Highly Skilled Professional visa (points-based)
The programme remains open, with its structure unchanged. The 70-point and 80-point fast tracks to permanent residency (3 years and 1 year respectively) are still in force as of July 2026.
The 80-point one-year track is the fastest route to permanent residency in any developed economy. For a wealthy family, though, it may be a trap rather than a prize. Japanese PR is a Table 2 status, and it exposes the worldwide estate to 55% inheritance tax from day one. For many HSP holders, the right advice is to keep renewing the HSP and never take PR.
Qualifying routes
Points are awarded across academic background, career, annual salary, age, research achievements, Japanese ability and bonus items. The threshold is 70 points.
This is the route most foreign professionals use. It requires 70 points.
This route requires 70 points, and salary points carry heavy weight.
The facts
- Minimum
- 70 JPY
- Total landed cost
- Only standard visa fees apply. No investment is required.
- Route type
- By qualification
- Timeline
- 1–3 months (HSP applications receive priority processing. In practice, the target is 10 days for a Certificate of Eligibility, though this can vary.)
- Physical presence
- This is a residence-based route. The PR fast track requires continuous residence at the relevant points level.
- Family
- Spouse, who may work full-time under relaxed rulesChildrenParents, in defined circumstances, for childcareA domestic helper, in defined circumstances
- Permanent residency
- 3 years at 70+ points. 1 year at 80+ points.
- Citizenship
- Generally 5 years of residence. This is discretionary, and it requires renouncing other citizenships.
- Language test
- There is no formal test, but functional Japanese is expected.
- Dual citizenship
- Not permitted. You would have to renounce.
- Requirements
- Score 70+ points on the applicable HSP points table.Hold employment or business activity in Japan in the relevant category.For the PR fast track, maintain 70 points for 3 years, or 80 points for 1 year.
- Points weigh heavily toward salary and age. High earners over 40 lose age points, and can fall short despite otherwise strong profiles.
- Japanese language ability (N1/N2) and a Japanese degree carry meaningful bonus points. Often, they make the difference between 70 and 80.
- The PR fast track is a tax event in disguise. Read the inheritance tax entry before you apply.
- Points are assessed twice, once at application and again at the PR application. A salary drop between the two can break the fast track.
- Japan does not permit dual citizenship for adults. Naturalisation requires renouncing your other passports.