How much income do you need for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP)?

The Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) requires a minimum income of about $20,000 per year, per the program's current published rules.

How long is the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) valid for?

The Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) for Japan is issued for 5 years and is renewable under the published renewal rules.

Does the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) lead to permanent residency?

Yes — the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) can lead to permanent residency after approximately 3 years on the visa, subject to the program's published conditions.

Can family members join the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP)?

Yes — eligible dependents can apply to join the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) per the program's family-clause rules. Verify per-dependent fees and documentation requirements against the official source.

Where can I read the official rules for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP)?

The official source for the Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP) (digital nomad visa for Japan) is published at https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/visa16.html. CountryLens only renders facts; the authority is the source.

JapanDigital Nomad Visa

Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP)

A digital nomad pathway for Japan. Below are the requirements, fees, and the deep-linked official government source. Verify against the source before applying — visa rules change without notice.

Minimum income

¥3,000,000/yr~$20,000/yr USD

Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Tax-residency trigger

183 days / yr

Last verified

2026-05-25

Eligibility

Qualification readout

Family allowed
Yes
Path to permanent residency
Yes · after 3yr
Health insurance required
Yes
Launched
2012

Notes

Points-based visa: 70-point threshold for HSP recognition, 80+ points fast-tracks PR to 1 year (vs 5-year standard). Three sub-categories: (i)(a) Research/Education, (i)(b) Specialized/Technical, (i)(c) Business Management. Income floor JPY 3M/yr applies to (i)(b) + (i)(c) only. Points awarded for education, work history, income, age, research output, Japanese language. October 2025 tightening: Advanced Business Management subcategory now requires JPY 30M capital + 1 full-time employee + JLPT N2 Japanese. Sister to JP DN visa (Designated Activities) + JP Business Manager.

Official sources

Verify the latest details on the issuing government’s own page. Rules and fees change without notice.

Sourcemofa.go.jp

Country data · Open full Japan profile