HSP Points Calculator
Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) visa uses a points system. Score 70+ for permanent residence in 3 years, or 80+ for PR in just 1 year. Enter your profile below to see where you stand.
HSP Category
Core Criteria
= ¥5,000,000($33,333 USD)
Bonus Points
Your HSP Points
45 points
You need 25 more points to qualify for HSP visa.
Point Breakdown
How to Increase Your Points
- -You need 25 more points to qualify for HSP visa (PR in 3 years).
- -Getting JLPT N2 would add 10 points. JLPT N1 would add 15 points.
- -A master's degree would add 10 more points (20 vs 10).
- -Working in a designated growth field (IT, AI, fintech, biotech) adds 10 points.
- -Passing a Japanese national qualification exam adds 5 points.
70+ Points
HSP visa with PR eligibility after 3 years. Preferential immigration processing, spouse can work, parents can accompany you.
80+ Points
Fast-track HSP visa with PR eligibility after just 1 year. The fastest path to permanent residence in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa?
Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa, known as 高度専門職 (kodo senmonshoku), is a points-based immigration status that grants preferential treatment to highly skilled foreign workers. If you score 70+ points, you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years. If you score 80+ points, you can get PR in just 1 year — the fastest path to permanent residence in Japan. Benefits also include permission for your spouse to work, ability to bring parents, and faster immigration processing.
How are HSP points calculated?
HSP points are calculated based on several criteria: education level (10-30 points), work experience (5-20 points), annual salary (0-40 points), age (0-15 points for those under 40 with salary below ¥10M), and bonus items. Bonus points include Japanese language ability (JLPT N1: 15 pts, N2: 10 pts), graduating from a Japanese university (+10), working in a growth field like IT or AI (+10), research achievements (+20), and more. You need 70 points minimum to qualify.
What is the minimum salary for Japan's HSP visa?
The minimum annual salary to qualify for Japan's HSP visa is ¥3,000,000 (300万円). However, this base salary only earns 0 salary points. To gain meaningful salary points, you need at least ¥4,000,000 (10 points). Most successful HSP applicants earn ¥5,000,000+ (15+ salary points). Top earners at ¥10,000,000+ get the maximum 40 salary points.
Can tech workers and engineers qualify for HSP visa?
Yes — the 'Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities' (高度専門・技術活動) category is specifically designed for tech workers, engineers, and IT professionals. A typical software engineer with a master's degree (20 pts), 5 years experience (10 pts), ¥6M salary (20 pts), age under 30 (15 pts), and JLPT N2 (10 pts) would score 75 points — qualifying for PR in 3 years. Working in IT or AI adds another 10 bonus points as a designated growth field.
Does JLPT help with HSP points?
Yes, Japanese language proficiency significantly boosts your HSP points. JLPT N1 adds 15 points and JLPT N2 adds 10 points. For many applicants, these language points make the difference between qualifying and not. Note: if you graduated from a Japanese university, you may already have the necessary language skills. JLPT N2 is considered the most time-efficient point boost, as it's achievable in 1-2 years of study.
What are the benefits of HSP visa compared to a regular work visa?
HSP visa holders enjoy several advantages over regular work visa holders: (1) Fast-track to permanent residence (1-3 years vs. 10 years for regular visa), (2) No restriction to a single employer — you can change jobs freely within your HSP category, (3) Your spouse can work without a separate work permit, (4) You can bring your parents to live in Japan (normally not allowed), (5) You can bring a domestic worker under certain conditions, (6) Longer visa period (5 years initially). These benefits make HSP the most attractive visa status for skilled workers.