HSP Points Table Guide for Japan 2026

To calculate Highly Skilled Professional points for Japan, first choose the correct activity category, then add the points you can prove from the official points table, including education, work experience, annual income, and any bonus points. The key threshold is 70 points, which is required for 高度専門職 (Kōdo Senmonshoku, Highly Skilled Professional) status.

This guide explains how to use the HSP points table in 2026 without guessing. It is based only on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan materials listed in the official sources.

What the Japan HSP points system measures

Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional system evaluates foreign professionals by assigning points for items such as academic background, professional career, annual income, and other achievements. The Immigration Services Agency explains that the system classifies highly skilled foreign professionals into three activity types, and the points are calculated according to the type matching the applicant’s intended activity.

The three types are:

1. 高度学術研究活動 (Kōdo Gakujutsu Kenkyū Katsudō), Highly Skilled Professional 1(i): academic research activity.
2. 高度専門・技術活動 (Kōdo Senmon Gijutsu Katsudō), Highly Skilled Professional 1(ii): specialized or technical activity.
3. 高度経営・管理活動 (Kōdo Keiei Kanri Katsudō), Highly Skilled Professional 1(iii): business management activity.

You do not choose the category because it gives the highest score. You choose it because it matches what you will actually do in Japan.

The 70-point threshold and what it unlocks

The practical target for a highly skilled professional points calculator in Japan is 70 points. The official requirements for Highly Skilled Professional 1 state that the applicant must have a total of 70 points or more under the points calculation.

If the authority confirms that your intended activity fits one of the three HSP activity types and your points reach the required level, you may be granted Highly Skilled Professional 1 status. The official Q&A explains that highly skilled foreign professionals receive immigration advantages, including permission for composite activities, a 5-year period of stay, relaxed permanent residence residence-history requirements, priority handling efforts for certain procedures, and family-related advantages.

Highly Skilled Professional 2 is a later status. The official status page says it is for persons who have stayed for a certain period under Highly Skilled Professional 1 and provides an indefinite period of stay and broader relaxation of activity restrictions.

Step 1: Choose the correct HSP category

Before calculating, identify your activity category. This matters because the points table is applied to the category corresponding to the activity you intend to perform.

Academic Research: HSP 1(i)

Academic Research covers activities to conduct research, guide research, or provide education based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan. The official description gives this as Highly Skilled Professional 1(i).

The Q&A also states that academic research activity may include education at institutions such as universities or research at private company research institutes, and may also allow related business activities based on the results of the education or research.

Specialized/Technical: HSP 1(ii)

Specialized/Technical activity covers work based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan that requires knowledge or skills in the natural sciences or humanities. The official page describes this as Highly Skilled Professional 1(ii).

The Q&A gives examples such as working as an engineer in product development while also doing planning work such as sales promotion. It also notes that related business activities may be possible together with the specialized or technical work.

Business Management: HSP 1(iii)

Business Management activity covers managing a business or engaging in administration at a public or private organization in Japan. The official page describes this as Highly Skilled Professional 1(iii).

The Q&A states that this can include company management or managing offices such as a law office or audit corporation. It also clarifies that the company’s size and whether the person is formally an officer are not direct requirements; what matters is whether the person’s actual activity is business management or administration.

HSP points table: Academic Research category

Use this table as a category-specific checklist before filling in the official points calculation form. The Immigration Services Agency provides the official point calculation table and related materials through its points evaluation page.

For research achievements, the Q&A states that Immigration may use academic article databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed when confirming submitted articles. If you plan to claim research-related points, prepare evidence that matches how the item is described in the official table and Q&A.

Academic Research is the only one of the three categories where the official explanation specifically lists research, research guidance, and education as the activity itself. If your job is mainly a corporate engineering or business role, do not force it into this category simply because you have research experience.

HSP points table: Specialized/Technical category

Specialized/Technical is the common category for applicants whose Japan activity is professional work requiring specialized knowledge or skills in natural sciences or humanities. The official HSP page requires that the intended activity fall under the relevant activity type and that the applicant meet the 70-point requirement.

The official Q&A explains that Japanese national qualifications counted for Specialized/Technical activity include legally positioned qualifications such as exclusive-business qualifications and title-exclusive qualifications. It gives examples including lawyers, doctors, certified public accountants, professional engineers, and measurement specialists, and also refers to certain information-processing examinations and qualifications listed in the IT notification.

There is also an important income floor. For Specialized/Technical activity, the official Q&A states that if annual income does not reach 3 million yen, the person is not recognized as a highly skilled foreign professional even if the total from other items exceeds 70 points.

HSP points table: Business Management category

Business Management is for people whose activity is to manage or administer a business in Japan. The official Q&A states that the category includes people engaged in important company management decisions, business execution, audits, or management work in an internal organization equivalent to a department or higher.

For management-related professional degrees, the official Q&A states that degrees from professional graduate schools in business management, generally called MBA or MOT, can be treated as professional degrees in business management. It also states that overseas MBA or similar degrees may be recognized if they are equivalent to such a degree.

Business Management also has the same income floor noted above. The official Q&A states that for Business Management activity, if annual income does not reach 3 million yen, the person is not recognized as a highly skilled foreign professional even if the point total otherwise exceeds 70.

How to calculate HSP points

The safest way to calculate HSP points is to work from the official point calculation table rather than from an unofficial spreadsheet. The Immigration Services Agency publishes a reference point calculation form, including an English version, and instructs applicants to use the field corresponding to the activity type.

Use this practical sequence:

1. Select the activity type: HSP 1(i), 1(ii), or 1(iii).
2. Open the official points table for that category.
3. Add points for education that you can prove.
4. Add points for professional career or work experience that you can prove.
5. Add points for annual income based on the remuneration rules.
6. Add category-specific items such as research achievements, qualifications, or management items.
7. Add eligible bonus points.
8. Confirm that the total reaches at least 70 points.
9. Prepare evidence for enough items to prove 70 points or more.

The Q&A gives several useful rules for annual income. “Remuneration” includes basic salary and items such as diligence allowance and adjustment allowance, while commuting allowance, dependent allowance, and housing allowance with a reimbursement character are excluded unless taxable. Overtime pay is not included in the points calculation remuneration, while bonuses are included.

If you are transferred to Japan and paid by an overseas company, the Q&A states that remuneration paid by the overseas company can be included when the transfer is to a Japanese company or organization and you can prove the payment.

Bonus points to check before submitting

The official HSP materials include special additions, commonly called bonus points. The Immigration Services Agency lists related materials for bonus items on the HSP status page, including Japanese language ability, foreign qualifications and awards, growth-field projects, innovation-support measures, eligible universities, and certain local government support measures.

Japanese language ability

The Q&A explains that one Japanese ability item corresponds to Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 level, and gives BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test 480 or higher as an example of equivalent ability. Another item corresponds to JLPT N2 level, and gives BJT 400 or higher as an example.

However, the Q&A also states that the N2-level item cannot be double-counted with certain other Japanese-related items, including graduation from a Japanese university or completion of a Japanese graduate program and the higher Japanese-language item. Check the official table carefully before adding overlapping language points.

University ranking and designated universities

The official materials list universities designated by the Minister of Justice for bonus treatment. The Q&A states that these include foreign universities ranked within 300 in at least two of QS World University Rankings, THE World University Rankings, and Academic Ranking of World Universities, and Japanese universities ranked in any of those rankings.

It also lists universities receiving support under the Top Global University Project and partner schools in the Innovative Asia project. The points evaluation page notes that applicants should check the latest three world university rankings as well as the published list.

Growth-field bonus

The Q&A explains that “advanced projects in fields expected to grow in the future” include growth fields such as IoT and regenerative medicine, where the relevant ministry is involved in an advanced project. It states that covered projects are recognized in advance by the Minister of Justice after hearing opinions from relevant administrative agencies and are published by the Immigration Services Agency.

How to submit the points calculation table

For a Certificate of Eligibility application for Highly Skilled Professional 1, the official status page lists the point calculation table as a required document and states that you submit one table for the relevant field, according to whether the activity is HSP 1(i), 1(ii), or 1(iii). The same page also lists the points table for change of status, renewal, and acquisition procedures.

You must also submit supporting materials for the point items. The official page states that it is enough to submit materials confirming that the total is at least 70 points; you do not need to submit evidence for every item that applies to you.

A practical submission checklist is:

• Application form for the activity you will perform.
• Photo, where required by the listed procedure.
• Passport and residence card, if the procedure requires presentation.
• Documents for the underlying work activity, such as materials listed for the corresponding work status.
• One official point calculation table for HSP 1(i), 1(ii), or 1(iii).
• Supporting evidence for enough point items to prove at least 70 points.
• Japanese translations for foreign-language documents, because the official page states that foreign-language documents require a Japanese translation.

For a new entry case, the Q&A explains the route: apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for one of HSP 1(i), 1(ii), or 1(iii), submit the self-scored point calculation document with supporting materials, and if the authority confirms that the work status is possible and the points reach the passing score, a Certificate of Eligibility noting the relevant HSP status is issued. The applicant then uses that Certificate of Eligibility for the visa application at the overseas mission.

The status page also warns that missing documents may significantly delay examination or lead to an unfavorable disposition. If Immigration asks for additional materials during examination, the official page states that such additional requests may be made.

Common calculation mistakes

A common mistake is using the wrong category. For example, a person with a PhD working in a corporate non-research role may still need to use Specialized/Technical if the intended activity is specialized professional work rather than research, research guidance, or education.

Another mistake is treating all compensation as annual income. The Q&A distinguishes remuneration from reimbursements and excludes overtime pay from the points calculation, even though bonuses are included.

A third mistake is assuming that points must stay above 70 at every moment after approval. The official Q&A says a drop caused by reduced income or age does not immediately make the person unable to stay as a highly skilled foreign professional, but renewal is not available if the point total is below 70 at renewal.

Finally, do not submit weak evidence for every possible item. The official rule is more practical: submit enough evidence to confirm at least 70 points.

FAQ

How many HSP points do I need for Japan?

You need at least 70 points. The official HSP requirements state that the total calculated under the points system must be 70 points or more.

Which HSP category should I use?

Use Academic Research for research, research guidance, or education; Specialized/Technical for work requiring specialized knowledge or skills in natural sciences or humanities; and Business Management for managing or administering a business. The category should match your real activity in Japan.

Do I have to prove every point item I claim?

No. Immigration states that it is enough to submit materials confirming that your total is 70 points or more. You do not need to submit supporting materials for every item that applies.

If my points fall below 70 after approval, do I lose HSP immediately?

Not immediately. The official Q&A says that falling below 70 because of income or age changes does not automatically end your stay, but renewal cannot be granted if your total is below 70 at renewal.

Is J-Skip the same as the HSP points system?

No. The official HSP status page describes the Special Highly Skilled Professional System, or J-Skip, as a separate system from the points-based HSP system. It is based on certain education or work history and income levels rather than the normal HSP points calculation.

Common questions