Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) VISA
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) VISA
The Highly Skilled Professional VISA (henceforth ‘HSP’) is a visa for highly skilled foreign nationals.
HSP visa offers preferences such as permanent residency for a minimum one-year stay, no visa renewal for five years, running a company on the side, and bringing in parents from the home country to help raise children. The examination period is also shorter.
If applicants score at least 70 points in total, based on point criteria such as education (degree and school), professional experience, annual income and Japanese language skills, they will be granted HSP visas.
In recent years, the number of people eligible for HSP points has increased due to policies such as the expansion of universities eligible for HSP points (in favour of those studying in Japan) and the addition of points for investment, financial personnel.
Note that applicants may also meet the requirements of HSP VISAs by increasing their years of experience and annual income, improving their Japanese language skills during their stay in Japan.
This article explains the Highly Skilled Professional VISA and its benefits for applicants and HR officers.
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) VISA outline
There are four Highly Skilled Professional VISAs, Type 1a, 1b, 1c and type 2, each of which is a separate VISA.
Highly Skilled Professional Type 1（高度専門職1号） are divided into 3 areas: a) academic research and professions, b) specialists requiring specialised knowledge and skills, and c) business management. Highly Skilled Professional employees are permitted to manage their own business in conjunction with their main activity as well.
（１）HSP1-a（Professor, Resercher）
HSP 1-a is granted to researchers, university professors and others who meet certain criteria to research or teach.
The main activity is research, teaching or teaching under contract with a Japanese research institute, and the management of a business related to the research is also permitted.
Management of research-related businesses is to be carried out while continuing the research.
For example, a university professor in the field of biotechnology may participate in the management of a biotech venture as a director. This means that it is not possible to manage a restaurant or other business that is not related to the main activity (research field).
（２）HSP1-b（Officer, Engineer, Investment Banker etc）
Highly skilled professional 1 (b) is a visa for highly skilled people working as technicians and specialists. In principle, all persons other than academics and managers qualify for this HSP 1-b visa.
The main activity is to perform work requiring specialist knowledge on the basis of a contract with a specific Japanese company or other organisation. In conjunction with this, it is also permissible to manage a business related to the main activity on one’s own.
（３）HSP1-c（Business Manager, Senior Management）
Highly Skilled Professional 1-c is a visa granted to managers of large companies, senior management and other personnel of high social standing. It is also possible to set up a new business under Highly Skilled Professional 1-c if the conditions are met.
（４）HSP2 VISA：
Highly Skilled Professionals Type 2 is for highly skilled personnel who have stayed in Japan for more than three years under Highly Skilled Professional Type 1a, b or c. Highly Skilled Professionals Type 2 are additionally assessed on their conduct in Japan and whether or not they are compatible with the national interest.
Job change and Visa renewal
Highly Skilled Professional 1 a, b and c have designated organisations where they can work, so if they change jobs, they have to undergo re-assessment for a new Highly Skilled Professional visa.
Benefits for preferential treatment
Highly Skilled Professionals are granted a number of benefits.
The preferential measures are: i) management of businesses related to the main activity; ii) 5-year visas are granted; iii) easing of permanent residency requirements; iv) employment by his/her spouse; v) bringing in parents from the home country; vi) employment of domestic servants; vii) priority processing of immigration procedures.
In addition, Highly Skilled Professional IIs can continue to enjoy the preferential treatment of a) almost all employment status activities, b) indefinite period of stay, and c) Highly Skilled Professionals (ⅲ) to (ⅵ).
Requirements for HSP1b
When employing people on Highly Skilled Professional visas, most will apply for HSP 1b (a: researcher, academic professor, c: senior management). Therefore, Highly Skilled Professional 1b will be explained. *HSP1a (researcher, professor) is here.
HSP Requirement
①On the HSP point rule, more than 70 points
②More than 3 million JPY as expected annual income
①On the HSP point rule, more than 70 points
The Highly Skilled Professional visa is subject to the criteria for calculating HPS points, which are stipulated by law and require a total of at least 70 points from education (degree, school), professional experience, annual income, JLPT, etc.
Please note that these points do not have to be kept above 70 at all times during the period of stay, but they must be exceeded when the HSP visa is renewed.
②Minimum annual income
Highly skilled professional positions require a minimum expected annual income of at least 3 million JPY.
Annual income means ‘remuneration received from the employer over the next year’. It includes basic salary, bonuses and allowances. On the other hand, it does not include allowances for reimbursement of actual expenses such as commuting, support and housing allowances (except those that are taxable).
Case study : Who is eligible for HSP-1b？
【Case１】age 20s, master’s degree in Japan, 3years work, 6 mil JPY income
高度専門職1号ロでは、学歴（最大30点＋日本の大学等加算10点＋グローバルトップスクール加算10点）と年収（最大40点）、職歴（最大20点）の配点が合計点数にインパクトがあります。
一般的には、20代の方の場合は、実務経験（職歴）の長さや、高い年収の水準は見込みづらいと思われますので、大学院（博士・修士）を修了しており、かつ、それが日本の高等教育機関または法務大臣が認める世界のトップスクールに該当する、もしくは、職務に関係のある資格を保有しているなど学歴などで点数が獲得できる場合などが該当しやすいと思われます。
もちろん、個別には、研究実績や勤務先の状況なども加味されますので様々なケースが想定されますが、年収要件の影響が大きいため、IT技術者や金融専門職など20代でも給与水準の高い職種はもちろん該当しやすくなります。
【Case２】30s, Bachelor (not in Japan), 10years work experience, 7 mil JPY income
次に30代後半の人のケースを見ると、こちらは学部や大学院などの学校を卒業してから十分実務経験を積む年数があり職歴での点数が相応に見込めるほか、一般的にも年齢に応じて給料も高くなることも想定されます。また、学歴、日本語能力や資格その他勤務先の状況などの加算においても、人生経験が長い分、若い世代の人たちよりも多様な組み合わせが考えられます。
When your HSP VISA is cancelled
Highly Skilled Professional 1 a, b and c holders are subject to visa revocation if they are found to have been in residence without carrying out the relevant activities of the visa for more than three months, except in cases of illness or other justifiable reasons.
Examination Schedule
The Government gives priority in administrative processing to applications for Highly Skilled Professional. The processing takes significantly less time to complete than for general visas: a, b within one month; c depends on the applicant’s circumstances (from within one month).
Special Benefit？
If the employee has a master’s degree or higher, an estimated annual income of at least 10 million JPY, or holds JLPT N1, he/she may be eligible for Highly Skilled Professional visa (HSP).
HSP holders are entitled to preferential treatment, including the granting of a 5-year visa, the ability to bring in a parent to look after a child, and permanent residency for a minimum of one year. Besides, do not forget to follow the various legal procedures after employment.
They may be an attractive Benefit for employees. HR managers in companies should feel free to contact us for further information.
Learn more: How to Calculation, HSP1-a, HSP1-b
Learn more: If the employee(applicant) is a Transferee from your overseas office?
Professional
Masakazu Murai
Immigration consultant, Financial advisor
He has 18 years experience in Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley. He had provided financial advisory more than 500 entrepreneurs and senior management.
He currently supports many foreign entrepreneurs in Japan, taking advantage of the experience of an investment banker. He is the best expert of Business VISA in Japan.
Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
CMA(Japanese financial analyst license)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
MBA in Entrepreneurship
