Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)
🇯🇵 Japan visas · Work
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Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)
Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)
Japan · Work
What it is
Fast-track to HSP status without points calculation. For top-tier professionals (Master's + JPY 20M/year income) or business managers (5+ years experience + JPY 40M/year). Eligible for indefinite stay after 1 year. Falls under the Designated Activities (特定活動) status. Typical holders: domestic workers of diplomats, working holiday participants, foreign nurses under an EPA.
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, or a period designated individually by the Minister of Justice not exceeding 5 years
- Processing time
- 3 months
- Maximum validity
- 5 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Indirect route
- Dependants
- Yes
- Health insurance
- Required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (band 14,900-15,100; local amount per mission)
- JPY 15,100
- Application fee (band 29,900-30,100; local amount per mission)
- JPY 30,100
Key requirements
- Researchers/specialists: Master's degree or higher AND annual income JPY 20 million+, OR 10+ years experience AND JPY 20 million+
- Business managers: 5+ years management experience AND annual income JPY 40 million+
- Certificate of Eligibility
Working on this visa
J-Skip grants the Highly Skilled Professional status. The holder may perform the corresponding highly skilled work under a contract with a Japanese organisation: academic research, specialist/technical work, or business management.
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 22 July 2026.