2025 Guide to Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa
Why the HSP Visa Matters
If you’ve ever thought, “Can I really move to Japan in my 40s, 50s, or 60s?” — you’re not alone. Many assume opportunities to start a new life abroad disappear with age. But the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan proves otherwise. This visa rewards career experience, income, and stability, making it one of the best options for midlife movers who want to settle in Japan.
Unlike other visas, the HSP visa is designed to recognize your career achievements and professional value. That’s why midlife professionals often qualify more easily than they expect — sometimes even faster than younger applicants.
My Perspective: From Grandfather’s Hotel to Supporting Expats
From the hotel my grandfather built on Sado Island to the English school I’ve run in Niigata, I’ve lived a life surrounded by hospitality and cross-cultural exchange.
I’ve met foreigners of all ages who made Japan home — some in their 20s, others in their 50s. They inspired me with their courage. Now, I share what I’ve learned so your path here feels less overwhelming.
What Is the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan (HSP Visa)?
The Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan is based on a points system that evaluates education, salary, and work experience.
- 70 points → Apply for HSP visa
- 80 points → Apply for permanent residency after just 1 year
Why Midlife Movers Are Strong Candidates
- Work Experience: Decades = maximum points
- Income: Mid-career salaries add big points
- Stability: Employers value steady careers
- Family-Friendly: Expanded rights for spouses, kids, and parents
How the HSP Points System Works
- Education: Bachelor’s (10), Master’s (20), Doctorate (30)
- Career: Up to 15 points for work history
- Income: Higher salaries = more points
- Research Achievements: Publications, patents, awards
- Extras: JLPT Japanese, Japanese university degrees, priority industries
Example: How Points Add Up
Maria, 50
- Bachelor’s degree → 10 points
- 25 years in finance → 15 points
- Salary ¥12M (~$80k) → 40 points
- Publications → 10 points
👉 Total = 75 points → Eligible
Even without age bonuses, her career history tips the balance.
Quick Reference: HSP Visa Points System (2025)
| Category | Points Available | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 10–30 | Bachelor’s (10), Master’s (20), Doctorate (30). Extra points for multiple advanced degrees. |
| Professional Career | 5–15 | 3+ years = 5, 5+ years = 10, 7+ years = 15 (must match your intended job field). |
| Annual Salary | 5–40+ | Min. requirement: ¥3 million (~$20k). Higher brackets (¥10–15M) = max points. |
| Research Achievements | 5–20 | Patents, 3+ peer-reviewed papers, or government-funded research projects. |
| Age | Up to 15 | More points for younger applicants (<35). Over 40 = usually no points here. |
| Bonus Points | 5–25 each | JLPT N1/N2 (Japanese language), working in innovation/growth fields, MBA/MOT, working for an SME, investment of ¥100M+, graduation from Japanese university, etc. |
Benefits of the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan
One reason so many midlife movers choose the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan is its fast track to permanent residency.
- Fast-track PR: 1 year (80 pts) or 3 years (70 pts)
- Spouse Work Rights: Partner can work full-time
- Children’s Education: Public schools/universities at local rates
- Bring Parents: For childcare or health support (unique to HSP)
- Work Flexibility: Broader activities than standard visas
Digital Nomad Visa vs. Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan: What Fits Best?
Japan’s new Digital Nomad Visa (2024) lets you live here while working for overseas employers — but only short-term.
| Feature | HSP Visa | Digital Nomad Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1–5 years (renewable) | 6 months (non-renewable) |
| Work Allowed | For Japanese employer/sponsor | For foreign employer only |
| Family Support | ✅ Strong | ❌ Minimal |
| Path to PR | ✅ Yes (1–3 yrs) | ❌ None |
👉 If you want to test life in Japan: Digital Nomad Visa.
👉 If you want to settle here: HSP Visa.
Can the HSP Visa Cover Remote Work for a Foreign Company?
One of the most common questions I hear is: “Can I move to Japan on the HSP visa and keep working online for my U.S. (or other foreign) employer?”
The short answer: not usually.
The HSP visa requires a Japanese employer, university, or organization to sponsor you. Immigration expects your points to connect directly to a job or research role inside Japan.
That means:
- If you only work remotely for a foreign company with no Japanese branch or contract, the HSP visa usually won’t apply.
- You’ll need a Japanese-based sponsor to qualify.
Dependent Visa & Remote Work: A Grey Area
If your spouse has a working visa (including HSP), you may qualify for a Dependent Visa.
- Work rights: By default, dependents can’t work full-time. You can apply for a special permit (資格外活動許可) that allows part-time work up to 28 hours per week.
- Remote work: Officially, remote work for a foreign company doesn’t fit neatly under the rules. But in practice, many dependents do it if the income is paid from abroad.
- Important:
- Immigration could see remote work as “employment in Japan,” so applying for the part-time work permit is safest.
- If you live in Japan more than 183 days a year, you’re a tax resident, so Japan expects you to declare worldwide income — even if it’s paid overseas.
👉 The Dependent Visa can work for remote workers, but it’s less straightforward than the HSP or Digital Nomad Visa.
See also: Visa Options for Midlife Movers in Japan
Family Support Under the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan
For families, the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan offers unique benefits — from spouse work rights to bringing parents for childcare.
- John (52) & Maria (49) – John’s HSP visa allowed Maria to work full-time at a school.
- Sophie (46) – Researcher in Kyoto; her husband works full-time, children attend local schools.
- David & Anna (50s) – Anna’s HSP visa let them bring her mother from the UK to help raise their daughter.
From the Highly Skilled Professional visa Japan to Permanent Residency
- Year 0 – Enter Japan on HSP visa (1, 3, or 5 years granted)
- Year 1 – Eligible for PR if 80+ points
- Year 3 – Eligible for PR if 70+ points
- Year 4–5 – PR approval (processing ~6–12 months)
👉 Remember: the visa length (1, 3, or 5 years) doesn’t delay PR eligibility — your points do.
For full details, see: Permanent Residency and Citizenship in Japan.
Aya’s Note: The Beauty of Everyday Life in Japan
At 52, what I treasure most isn’t just visa opportunities — it’s the beauty of daily life.
In Niigata, I can drink fresh spring water for free (unlike in Tokyo). I feel the four seasons deeply: cherry blossoms in spring, rice fields in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snowy winters.
These everyday joys remind me: moving to Japan isn’t only about paperwork. It’s about savoring a life where nature, tradition, and community surround you.
Final Thoughts
The HSP visa is more than paperwork — it’s a realistic, family-friendly path to a new chapter in Japan.
But beyond the points and checklists, Japan offers something deeper: the comfort of the seasons, the taste of fresh spring water in the countryside, the joy of walking through rice fields turning golden in autumn. At this stage of life, it’s not only about where you work — it’s about where you feel at home.
If Japan has been calling your name, know this: it’s not too late. Whether you’re 40, 50, or 60+, your career and life experience are exactly what Japan values.
I’ve seen others make the leap, and I’ve built my own life here surrounded by both tradition and community. Now, I’d love for you to experience it too.
✨ Here’s my warm invitation: if Japan has been on your heart, maybe this is your season to finally say yes.
✨Recommended Resources
💸 Wise ーThe best way to send money abroad at low cost
🏛 Immigration Bureau HSP Points PDF ーOfficial Immigration calculation table
