Japan · Talent & extraordinary ability
J-Skip (Special Highly Skilled Professional)
Open
Last verified July 2026
Launched April 2023 and open. Bypasses the points table entirely in favour of hard income and credential tests.
J-Skip solves the specific problem that the HSP points table punishes senior people who do not speak Japanese and are past 40. If you clear the income bar, none of that matters. The five-year status, two domestic helpers, and near-unrestricted spouse work rights make it the most generous package Japan offers.
Qualifying routes
20M JPY
Researchers and engineers
Master's degree or higher AND annual income of at least JPY 20m; or 10+ years of relevant professional experience AND annual income of at least JPY 20m
40M JPY
Business managers
5+ years of management experience AND annual income of at least JPY 40m
The facts
- Qualifying figure
- 20M JPY
- Total landed cost
- Standard visa fees only; no investment required
- Timeline
- 1–3 months — Priority processing
- Physical presence
- Residence-based
- Family
- spouse with broad work rights including fields normally restrictedchildrenparents in defined circumstancesup to two domestic helpers
- Permanent residency
- 1 year — J-Skip holders are treated as equivalent to 80-point HSP
- Citizenship
- generally 5 years; discretionary; renunciation required
- Language test
- no formal test
- Dual citizenship
- Not permitted — you would have to renounce
- Requirements
- Researchers/engineers: master's degree plus JPY 20m annual income, or 10+ years' experience plus JPY 20mBusiness managers: 5+ years' management experience plus JPY 40m annual incomeQualifying activity and sponsoring organisation in Japan
What can go wrong
- The income thresholds are the whole test and they are high — JPY 40m is roughly USD 250k–270k for the management route.
- The one-year PR eligibility is precisely the trap flagged in the inheritance tax entry. J-Skip itself is a Table 1 status and protects the overseas estate; taking PR at year one destroys that protection permanently.
- Income must be evidenced. Structuring compensation as dividends or carry rather than salary can put you below the line.
- As with all Japanese work statuses, exposure to the exit tax builds once you pass 5 years of residence in any 10-year window.