Japan · Work

Japan J-Skip

Income needed: from ¥20M a year ≈ $126k

Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip, 特別高度人材) — HSP 1 with J-Skip benefits

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026Change log

Key facts

J-Skip is a work route for Japan. Applicants need income from ¥20M a year ≈ $126k. You can stay 5 yrs, renewable. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Money needed: from ¥20M a year ≈ $126k
Government fees: ¥10k ≈ $63 · +6 more
Processing: 1–3 months
First stay: 5 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: 7 government fees listed below; income to show from ¥20M/yr ≈ $126k; decision: 1–3 months. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government fees¥10k ≈ $63 · +6 more

JPY 10,000 (≈ $63)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 3 months or less; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 15,000 (≈ $95)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 3 months up to 6 months; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 21,000 (≈ $130)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 6 months and under 1 year; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 27,000 (≈ $170)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 1 year; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 42,000 (≈ $260)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 1 year and under 3 years; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 56,000 (≈ $350)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 3 years or more and under 5 years; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.
JPY 65,000 (≈ $410)Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 5 years or more; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.

Shown, not spent¥20M+/yr ≈ $126k · ¥40M+/yr ≈ $252k

JPY 20,000,000 a year (≈ $126,000)Activities 1(a) academic research and 1(b) specialised or technical work: master's degree or higher with this income, or 10 or more years of relevant practical experience with this income.
JPY 40,000,000 a year (≈ $252,000)Activity 1(c) business management: at least 5 years of business management or administration experience with this income.

RenewalRenewable

HSP 1 with a 5-year period of stay is renewable; HSP 2 with an indefinite period of stay is available after at least 1 year of activity.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Permanent residenceAfter 1 year of residence

Special Highly Skilled Professionals can apply for permanent residence after 1 year in Japan, with tax, pension and conduct conditions.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan

CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence

The Nationality Act (Article 5) sets a minimum of 5 consecutive years of lawful residence in Japan, plus conduct, livelihood and other conditions. The Ministry of Justice's naturalisation Q&A adds that integration into Japanese society is required, such as 10 years or more of residence and Japanese good enough for daily life (speaking, reading and writing). Meeting the conditions does not guarantee permission.

Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice of Japan

Processing1–3 months

Standard processing: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status inside Japan and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice

Where to applyAbroad or in-country

Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility through the sponsoring organisation in Japan and then the visa abroad, or change status inside Japan.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

Needs a job offer from an employer in Japan

What you'll need

Who can apply3

Activities 1(a) and 1(b): a master's degree or higher and annual income of JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) or more.
Activities 1(a) and 1(b) alternative: 10 or more years of practical experience in the field and annual income of JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) or more.
Activity 1(c): 5 or more years of business management or administration experience and annual income of JPY 40,000,000 (≈ $252,000) or more.

What you must show2

Annual income is at least JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) for activities 1(a) and 1(b).
Annual income is at least JPY 40,000,000 (≈ $252,000) for activity 1(c).

Steps2

Apply through a Certificate of Eligibility under HSP 1(a), 1(b) or 1(c), which the receiving organisation can file.
A special highly skilled professional certificate is issued.

When you become tax resident

How Japan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

Stay on this route

5 years at first, renewable

Tax residence

Resident individuals are domiciled in Japan or have continuous residence of 1 year or more.

Foreign-source income

Remittance basis

Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.

Special regime

Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment · Tax relief

All tax rules for Japan Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026

Official site

Full official text

Highly Skilled Professional status granted on degree or experience plus annual income, without point calculation, with expanded benefits including a 5-year period of stay and permanent residence after 1 year in Japan as a special highly skilled professional. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

Income of at least JPY 20,000,000 a year (≈ $126,000) · Activities 1(a) academic research and 1(b) specialised or technical work: master's degree or higher with this income, or 10 or more years of relevant practical experience with this income. ¹
Income of at least JPY 40,000,000 a year (≈ $252,000) · Activity 1(c) business management: at least 5 years of business management or administration experience with this income. ¹
A fee of JPY 10,000 (≈ $63) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 3 months or less; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 15,000 (≈ $95) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 3 months up to 6 months; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 21,000 (≈ $130) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 6 months and under 1 year; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 27,000 (≈ $170) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 1 year; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 42,000 (≈ $260) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 1 year and under 3 years; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 56,000 (≈ $350) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 3 years or more and under 5 years; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴
A fee of JPY 65,000 (≈ $410) · Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 5 years or more; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. ⁴

Requirements

Activities 1(a) and 1(b): a master's degree or higher and annual income of JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) or more. ¹
Activities 1(a) and 1(b) alternative: 10 or more years of practical experience in the field and annual income of JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) or more. ¹
Activity 1(c): 5 or more years of business management or administration experience and annual income of JPY 40,000,000 (≈ $252,000) or more. ¹
Annual income is at least JPY 20,000,000 (≈ $126,000) for activities 1(a) and 1(b). ¹
Annual income is at least JPY 40,000,000 (≈ $252,000) for activity 1(c). ¹
Apply through a Certificate of Eligibility under HSP 1(a), 1(b) or 1(c), which the receiving organisation can file. ¹
A special highly skilled professional certificate is issued. ¹

Stay

HSP 1 with a 5-year period of stay; HSP 2 (indefinite) after at least 1 year of activity as HSP 1 Special Highly Skilled Professional.
Initial permitted stay: 60 months.
Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Work

Multiple activities across HSP 1 categories are allowed together; spouse employment, parent accompaniment under conditions and domestic worker hiring are permitted.

Family

Spouse may work; parents may accompany under conditions; a domestic worker may be hired. Your spouse or partner may work in Japan without a separate permit.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

Special Highly Skilled Professional system J-Skip (ISA) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-10
Designated Activities: working spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional or Special Highly Skilled Professional · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Designated Activities Notification (MOJ Notice No. 131 of 1990, as amended 8 April 2026): items 40 and 41 and Annex 9 · Ministry of Justice, Japan · checked 2026-10-11
Fees for extension of stay, change of status and permanent residence applied for online from 1 October 2026 · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11
Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised 24 February 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-02-24
Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised 1 October 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-01
Naturalization: conditions and procedure (Q&A) · Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Certificate of Eligibility application: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
Application for change of status of residence: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
Application for extension of period of stay: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11

J-Skip and its alternatives

Route	Money needed	Stay	Work
J-Skip	Needs income from ¥20M a year ≈ $126k	5 yr, renewable	Yes
Engineer/Specialist visa	–	5 yr, renewable	Limited
Highly Skilled Professional	–	5 yr, renewable	Limited
Instructor visa	–	5 yr, renewable	Limited
Intra-company transfer	–	5 yr, renewable	–

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the J-Skip?

Income of at least JPY 20,000,000 a year (≈ $126,000). Activities 1(a) academic research and 1(b) specialised or technical work: master's degree or higher with this income, or 10 or more years of relevant practical experience with this income. Income of at least JPY 40,000,000 a year (≈ $252,000). Activity 1(c) business management: at least 5 years of business management or administration experience with this income. A fee of JPY 10,000 (≈ $63). Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is 3 months or less; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added. A fee of JPY 15,000 (≈ $95). Extension of stay or change of status, online application filed from 1 October 2026: fee when the period granted is over 3 months up to 6 months; a payment-processing charge of JPY 330 (≈ $2) (JPY 550 (≈ $3) from 3 years) is added.

How long can I stay on the J-Skip?

HSP 1 with a 5-year period of stay; HSP 2 (indefinite) after at least 1 year of activity as HSP 1 Special Highly Skilled Professional.

How long does the J-Skip take to process?

Standard processing: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status inside Japan and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension.

Can I work on the J-Skip?

Yes. Multiple activities across HSP 1 categories are allowed together; spouse employment, parent accompaniment under conditions and domestic worker hiring are permitted.

Can I bring my family on the J-Skip?

Spouse may work; parents may accompany under conditions; a domestic worker may be hired.

Does the J-Skip lead to permanent residence in Japan?

Time on the J-Skip counts toward permanent residence in Japan, which the rules allow after 1 year of residence. Time on the J-Skip counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.

Is there a tax break for J-Skip holders in Japan?

Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.

Tax

Special regime

Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment

Tax relief

Foreign-source income: Remittance basis

Details

Who: Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more

Taxed on

Income tax on all Japan-source income plus foreign-source income that is paid in Japan or remitted to Japan from abroad, at the progressive national rates of 5% to 45%.

Who it applies to

Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more.
Non-Japanese nationality.
Domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the preceding ten years.

Exclusions

Japan-source income, including pay for work performed in Japan, is taxed in full.
Residents who are not non-permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income.

Tax residence

Resident = domicile, or continuous residence of one year or more. Non-permanent resident = non-Japanese national resident for an aggregate of five years or less in the preceding ten years. Based on facts, not visa type.

Visas

No visa grants this treatment; it follows tax residence and nationality.

Other taxes

Consumption tax: standard rate 10% (7.8% national plus 2.2% local) and reduced rate 8% (6.24% national plus 1.76% local). Local inhabitant tax and social insurance are separate.

Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026Change log

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about this route AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 10 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

Special Highly Skilled Professional system J-Skip (ISA) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-10
Designated Activities: working spouse of a Highly Skilled Professional or Special Highly Skilled Professional · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Designated Activities Notification (MOJ Notice No. 131 of 1990, as amended 8 April 2026): items 40 and 41 and Annex 9 · Ministry of Justice, Japan · checked 2026-10-11
Fees for extension of stay, change of status and permanent residence applied for online from 1 October 2026 · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11
Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised 24 February 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11
Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised 1 October 2026) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Naturalization: conditions and procedure (Q&A) · Civil Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Certificate of Eligibility application: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
Application for change of status of residence: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
Application for extension of period of stay: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.