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80 points = PR in 1 year — exceptionally fast for Japan

Highly Skilled Professional
Japan — HSP

A points system (education, income, age, Japanese language) replaces capital. 70+ points — PR after 3 years; 80+ points — after just 1 year. A minimum income from ¥3M/year (≈$19,700) is mandatory separately from points, for two of the three activity categories.

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Minimum points
70
Fast-track point threshold
80
PR at 70 points
after 3 years
PR at 80 points
after 1 year

70 vs. 80 points — a concrete difference in years

Not just "more points is better" — a specific 80-point threshold cuts the path to PR by two-thirds.

POINTS
PATH TO PR
NOTE
70+ points
PATH TO PRPR after 3 years
the base threshold for HSP status
80+ points
PATH TO PRPR after 1 year
a fast track — exceptionally rare speed for Japan
Minimum income ¥3M/year
PATH TO PRmandatory separately from points
for categories (b) technical/specialist and (c) business management

What the points consist of

Points accrue across several independent criteria — income isn’t the only factor, but the mandatory ¥3M/year minimum isn’t waived even with a high score elsewhere.

CRITERION
EXAMPLE POINTS
NOTE
Education
EXAMPLE POINTSdoctorate — 30, master’s — 20
plus points for a top-ranked university
Annual income
EXAMPLE POINTShigher for a higher salary
an independent criterion from the ¥3M minimum
Age, Japanese language, experience in Japan
EXAMPLE POINTSadditional points
younger age and language skills raise the score

How the process runs

01
Choosing one of three activity categories
Academic research, technical/specialist activity, or business management.
02
Calculating points on the official table
Education, income, age, Japanese language, experience, university.
03
Confirming minimum income of ¥3M/year
Mandatory for categories (b) and (c), regardless of the overall score.
04
Filing at 70+ points
Opens HSP status with preferential conditions.
05
PR after 3 years (70+) or 1 year (80+)
Depending on the points scored.

A good fit if

You hold a higher-education degree (especially a doctorate or master’s) and have a stable above-average income.
You score 70+ points on the official table — the path to PR opens after 3 years.
You have a chance at 80+ points — PR becomes available after just 1 year, exceptionally fast for Japan.
You’re bringing family — HSP status grants your spouse unrestricted work rights and allows bringing parents/a domestic helper under conditions.

A poor fit if

Your income is below ¥3M/year for categories (b) technical/specialist or (c) business management — this minimum is mandatory regardless of the overall score.
Your overall score is below 70 — HSP status doesn’t open at all, regardless of individual strong criteria.
You’d rather use capital instead of points — the site covers a separate Business Manager Visa programme (from ¥30M, ≈$188K) with a different selection logic.
You need certainty on category (a) academic research — its minimum income isn’t separately clarified from the general 70/80-point structure in sources.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why does the 70 vs. 80 point difference matter so much?

Per the available data, 70+ points opens the path to PR after 3 years, while 80+ points cuts that to 1 year — exceptionally fast for Japan, where PR usually takes 5 to 10 years.

Does a high point score waive the minimum income requirement?

No — per the available data, a minimum annual income of ¥3M is mandatory for categories (b) technical/specialist and (c) business management regardless of the overall score.

How are education points calculated?

Per the available data, a doctorate is worth 30 points, a master’s 20, plus additional points for graduating from a top-ranked university.

Can a spouse work in Japan under this status?

Yes — per the available data, HSP status grants the spouse the right to work without the usual activity-type restrictions.

Can parents be brought over?

Per the available data — yes, under additional conditions, which is an exceptional benefit for Japan.

How does this differ from the Business Manager Visa?

HSP is based on a points system (education, income, age, language), not capital; the Business Manager Visa (a separate programme on the site) requires capital from ¥30M and at least 1 full-time employee.

Sources

VisaJapan — overview of the HSP points system: the 70/80-point thresholds, PR timelines, the three activity categories, minimum income↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.