Attracting Top Global Talent to Japan: How Can the "Highly Skilled Professional" (HSP) Visa Benefit Your Company?

Japanese Attorney at Law - Bengoshi L.L.

• 8 min read

In an increasingly globalized economy, securing top-tier talent is a critical competitive advantage. Japan, recognizing the need to attract individuals with advanced expertise, has implemented the "Highly Skilled Professional" (高度専門職 - Kodo Senmon Shoku) visa system. This specialized pathway offers significant preferential immigration treatment to foreign nationals whose skills and knowledge are deemed to contribute to Japan's economic growth and innovation. For companies aiming to bring in or retain such high-caliber individuals, understanding the HSP visa is essential.

What is the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa?

The HSP visa is not a single visa but a system designed to identify and grant preferential treatment to talented foreign professionals. It aims to attract individuals who can play a leading role in Japan's academic research, specialized technical fields, or business management. The system operates primarily on a points-based evaluation.

There are two main tiers within this system:

  1. Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 (HSP No. 1 / 高度専門職1号): This is the initial status granted to individuals who meet a specific points threshold based on their qualifications, experience, and other factors. It comes with a range of benefits designed to make working and living in Japan more attractive.
  2. Highly Skilled Professional No. 2 (HSP No. 2 / 高度専門職2号): This advanced status is available to those who have maintained HSP No. 1 status for a specified period (typically three years) and continue to meet the eligibility criteria. HSP No. 2 offers even more significant advantages, including an indefinite period of stay and broader permissible activities.

Three Categories of Highly Skilled Professional No. 1

HSP No. 1 is further divided into three categories based on the primary activities the individual will undertake in Japan:

  • HSP No. 1 (イ) (Type 'a' - Advanced Academic Research Activities): This category is for professionals engaged in advanced academic research, research guidance, or education under a contract with a public or private Japanese institution. Their work often aligns with activities typically covered by the "Professor," "Researcher," or "Instructor" visas.
  • HSP No. 1 (ロ) (Type 'b' - Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities): This is for individuals performing work that requires specialized knowledge or skills in the natural sciences or humanities, based on a contract with a Japanese organization. Activities usually overlap with those under the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" visa. However, the "International Services" (国際業務) component of the standard GiHuman visa, which relies on foreign cultural sensitivity, is generally excluded from this HSP category due to the perceived difficulty in objectively assessing such attributes through a points system.
  • HSP No. 1 (ハ) (Type 'c' - Advanced Business Management Activities): This category is designed for individuals who will be involved in the operation or management of a public or private business in Japan. Their activities often correspond to those under the "Business Manager" visa.

The Cornerstone: The Points-Based System for HSP No. 1

Eligibility for HSP No. 1 is determined by a points-based system. Applicants must score 70 points or more on the official "Points Calculation Table" (高度専門職ポイント計算表) provided by the Ministry of Justice. This table evaluates various aspects of the applicant's profile:

  • Academic Background (学歴): Points are awarded for degrees (e.g., Ph.D., Master's, Bachelor's). Additional points can be gained for holding multiple Master's or Doctoral degrees, or for graduating from specific highly-ranked universities worldwide or Japanese universities participating in designated government initiatives like the "Super Global Universities Top Type" or the "Innovative Asia Project."
  • Professional Career (職歴): Points are allocated based on the number of years of relevant practical experience in the field of activity.
  • Annual Salary (年収): This is a significant factor. Higher expected annual salaries (from the Japanese host institution, and including remuneration from a foreign sending institution in case of transfer) generally yield more points. For HSP No. 1 (ロ) and (ハ), there's a minimum annual salary requirement of 3 million JPY, regardless of other points, for the HSP criteria to be met.
  • Age (年齢): Points can be awarded to younger applicants (e.g., under 30, 30-34), incentivizing the attraction of talent earlier in their careers.
  • Research Achievements (研究実績): Particularly relevant for HSP No. 1 (イ) and (ロ), points can be claimed for achievements such as holding patents as an inventor, involvement in government-funded research projects (foreign or domestic), publication of academic papers in recognized international databases (as the responsible author), and other significant research contributions recognized by the Minister of Justice.
  • Professional Qualifications (資格): Holding certain Japanese national qualifications that are either "exclusive practice" or "exclusive title" qualifications relevant to the intended profession, or passing specific advanced IT examinations designated by the Ministry of Justice, can earn points.
  • Special Additions/Bonuses (特別加算): Various bonus points are available:
    • Graduation from a Japanese university or completion of a Japanese graduate school program.
    • High proficiency in the Japanese language (e.g., achieving JLPT N1 or N2).
    • If the contracting Japanese organization is actively involved in innovation promotion (e.g., receiving certain types of R&D subsidies or support).
    • If the contracting organization is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that demonstrates a significant investment in research and development (e.g., R&D expenses exceeding 3% of revenue).
    • For HSP No. 1 (ハ), holding a position such as Representative Director.
    • Investment of a significant amount (e.g., 100 million JPY or more) in a Japanese business (relevant for HSP No. 1 (ハ)).

Each claim for points must be rigorously substantiated with official and verifiable documentation, such as diplomas, academic transcripts, employment certificates detailing roles and responsibilities, salary statements or contracts, patent certificates, language proficiency certificates, and relevant company financial data if claiming points based on the employer's R&D activities.

Key Preferential Immigration Treatments for HSP No. 1 Holders

Achieving HSP No. 1 status unlocks a suite of attractive benefits:

  1. Permission for Multiple Activities: Unlike standard work visas that strictly limit activities to a narrow scope, HSP No. 1 holders are granted more flexibility. They are generally permitted to engage in activities related to their primary HSP category and, concurrently, some activities that might otherwise fall under different work visa categories. For example, an HSP No. 1 (イ) researcher might also be able to manage a related start-up venture that commercializes their research, an activity that could otherwise require a "Business Manager" visa.
  2. Uniform Grant of a 5-Year Period of Stay: Upon approval, HSP No. 1 visa holders are consistently granted a 5-year period of stay. This is the longest duration currently available for an initial or renewed work-related status of residence, providing greater stability and reducing the frequency of renewal applications.
  3. Expedited Pathway to Permanent Residence: This is arguably one of the most compelling advantages. The standard requirement for permanent residence in Japan is 10 years of continuous residency. However, for HSPs:
    • Those who have continuously resided in Japan as an HSP with 70-79 points can apply for permanent residence after just three years.
    • Those who have continuously resided in Japan as an HSP with 80 points or more can apply for permanent residence after only one year.
      This significantly accelerated timeline is a major draw for highly skilled individuals seeking long-term stability in Japan.
  4. Preferential Processing of Immigration Applications: Applications for HSP status itself, as well as subsequent applications for extension of period of stay or change of status, are generally given priority processing by the immigration authorities. This can lead to considerably shorter waiting times compared to standard applications.
  5. Enhanced Work Permissions for Spouses: The spouse of an HSP No. 1 visa holder, who would typically enter Japan on a "Dependent" visa, may be able to engage in a wider range of employment activities or work more hours than dependents of standard work visa holders. If the spouse independently meets the criteria for a work visa like "Instructor" or "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," they can obtain that status. However, even as a dependent, the HSP framework can offer more lenient conditions for work permission (e.g., full-time work may be permitted if certain conditions are met, rather than being restricted to the typical 28-hour weekly limit under a general "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted").
  6. Permission to Bring Parents Under Specific Conditions: In a unique provision, HSP No. 1 visa holders may be allowed to bring their parents (or their spouse's parents) to Japan under a "Specified Activities" visa. This is generally permissible if the HSP's household annual income meets a high threshold (e.g., 8 million JPY or more – this threshold should be verified against current guidelines) and there is a need for parental support, such as caring for a child under the age of seven or assisting a pregnant HSP or their pregnant spouse.
  7. Permission to Employ a Foreign Domestic Helper: HSP No. 1 visa holders may also be permitted to hire a foreign domestic helper under a "Specified Activities" visa. This is subject to conditions, including a high household annual income (e.g., 10 million JPY or more – verify current threshold), and either bringing a domestic helper who was previously employed by the HSP overseas (entry-accompanying type) or demonstrating specific family circumstances necessitating such help (e.g., having a child under 13 years old or a spouse unable to perform daily household chores due to illness).

Advancing to Highly Skilled Professional No. 2 (HSP No. 2)

The HSP system offers a further tier for those who demonstrate a continued commitment and contribution to Japan.

  • Eligibility: Individuals who have been continuously active in Japan under an HSP No. 1 status for three years or more, and who continue to satisfy the 70-point threshold and other requirements (such as good conduct and their stay being deemed beneficial to Japan's interests), can apply to change their status to HSP No. 2.
  • Significant Benefits of HSP No. 2:
    • Indefinite Period of Stay (無期限): HSP No. 2 status is granted with an indefinite period of stay. This offers the same long-term residency security as permanent residence.
    • Greatly Expanded Scope of Permitted Activities: HSP No. 2 holders enjoy substantially more freedom in their professional activities. They can engage in almost all activities permitted under the various work-related statuses of residence (e.g., those covered by "Professor," "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services," "Business Manager," etc.) concurrently with their primary HSP activity, without needing separate permissions for each. Furthermore, for HSP No. 2, the requirement for the employing/contracting Japanese organization to be specifically "designated by the Minister of Justice" (which applies to HSP No. 1) is lifted, providing greater flexibility in choosing or changing employers or business engagements.
    • They generally also retain the ancillary benefits available to HSP No. 1 holders, such as the ability to bring parents or employ domestic helpers, subject to the relevant conditions.

Applying for HSP Status

The application route depends on the applicant's current location:

  • Applicants Outside Japan: The standard procedure is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for the relevant HSP No. 1 category (イ, ロ, or ハ) through the sponsoring Japanese organization.
  • Applicants Already in Japan on a Different Visa: If an individual is already residing in Japan under another valid work-related status of residence (e.g., "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services") and meets the HSP criteria, they can apply for a "Change of Status of Residence" to HSP No. 1. They must clearly demonstrate that they meet the 70-point threshold at the time of this application.

In all HSP applications, the meticulously completed Points Calculation Table, along with comprehensive and verifiable supporting documentation for every point claimed, is the most critical component.

Why the HSP Visa Matters to Employers

For companies in Japan, the HSP system is more than just another visa category; it's a strategic tool:

  • Attracting Elite Talent: The preferential treatments, especially the fast track to permanent residency and the 5-year period of stay, make Japan a more attractive destination for highly qualified professionals who might have other global options.
  • Retention Benefits: Once an employee obtains HSP status, particularly HSP No. 2, their long-term commitment to Japan is often solidified, improving retention rates for key personnel.
  • Enhanced Flexibility: The ability for HSP No. 1 holders to engage in multiple related activities, and for HSP No. 2 holders to have a very broad scope of work, can be highly beneficial for dynamic business needs and employee development.
  • Support for Employees' Families: The provisions for spouses' work, bringing parents, and employing domestic help can significantly ease the relocation burden for employees with families, making assignments to Japan more appealing.

Companies play a vital role in the HSP application process, primarily by providing necessary employment-related documentation, confirming salary levels, and, if applicable, providing evidence of their own R&D investments or innovative practices to support bonus point claims for their prospective employees.

Conclusion

Japan's Highly Skilled Professional visa system represents a proactive effort to attract the world's best and brightest. While the points-based qualification requires careful attention to detail and thorough documentation, the array of significant benefits offered to successful applicants—ranging from extended stays and broader work permissions to accelerated permanent residency and enhanced family support—makes it an exceptionally compelling proposition. For companies competing for top global talent, understanding and leveraging the HSP visa can be a decisive factor in building a world-class team in Japan.