Japan · Talent & extraordinary ability
J-Skip (Special Highly Skilled Professional)
Open
Last verified July 2026
Launched April 2023 and currently open. It bypasses the points table entirely, in favour of hard income and credential tests.
J-Skip solves a specific problem: the HSP points table punishes senior people who do not speak Japanese and are past 40. If you clear the income bar, none of that matters. The five-year status, two domestic helpers, and near-unrestricted spouse work rights make it the most generous package Japan offers.
Qualifying routes
20M JPY
Researchers and engineers
A master's degree or higher, with annual income of at least JPY 20m. Or 10+ years of relevant professional experience, with annual income of at least JPY 20m.
40M JPY
Business managers
5+ years of management experience and annual income of at least JPY 40m.
The facts
- Minimum
- 20M JPY
- Total landed cost
- Standard visa fees only. No investment required.
- Route type
- By qualification
- Timeline
- 1–3 months (Priority processing.)
- Physical presence
- Residence-based
- Family
- A spouse with broad work rights, including fields normally restrictedChildrenParents, in defined circumstancesUp to two domestic helpers
- Permanent residency
- 1 year. J-Skip holders are treated as equivalent to 80-point HSP.
- Citizenship
- Generally 5 years. It is discretionary, and renunciation is required.
- Language test
- No formal test.
- Dual citizenship
- Not permitted. You would have to renounce.
- Requirements
- Researchers/engineers: master's degree plus JPY 20m annual income, or 10+ years' experience plus JPY 20mBusiness managers: 5+ years' management experience plus JPY 40m annual incomeQualifying activity and sponsoring organisation in Japan
What can go wrong
- The income thresholds are the whole test, and they are high. JPY 40m is roughly USD 250k–270k for the management route.
- This one-year PR eligibility is exactly the trap flagged in the inheritance tax entry. J-Skip itself is a Table 1 status, and it protects the overseas estate. Taking PR at year one destroys that protection permanently.
- Income must be evidenced. Structuring compensation as dividends or carry rather than salary can put you below the line.
- As with all Japanese work statuses, exposure to the exit tax builds once you pass 5 years of residence in any 10-year window.