Talent and high skill Japan
Highly Skilled Professional
Run by Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Ministry of Justice)
Researchers, engineers, specialists and managers who score 70 points or more for degree, career, salary and other items. Holders get a 5 year stay and can apply for permanent residence after 3 years with 70 points, or 1 year with 80 points.
- Job offer
- Required. The status is based on a contract with an organisation in Japan.
- Language
- Not required. Japanese ability earns extra points.
- Education
- No fixed minimum. A bachelor's degree gives 10 points, a master's 20 and a doctorate 30.
- Work experience
- No fixed minimum. Work experience earns points.
- Government fee
- About JPY 15,000 for a single-entry visa or about JPY 30,000 for a multiple-entry visa, for applications at overseas missions from June 24, 2026. The page gives these as approximate yen amounts; the fee is paid in local currency and may differ by nationality.
- Processing time
- Target of 10 days from acceptance for a Certificate of Eligibility, and 5 days for residence procedures in Japan.
- Money you must show
- Not stated as savings. Specialist and management types need annual pay of at least JPY 3 million.
- When and to whom you pay
- To the Japanese embassy or consulate when the visa is issued. The page says no fee is charged if the visa is not issued.
Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says
Read on moj.go.jp Q&A on 2026-10-18: "ポイントの合計点が７０点以上であることが必要です"; "申請受理から１０日以内"; points table: "An annual salary of at least 3 million yen is required for advanced specialized / technical activities or advanced business management activities"; fee page: "approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and approximately 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa"; "If a visa is not issued, no visa fee will be charged." Another official page. Another official page. Another official page. Another official page.