The Highly Skilled Professional Visa Type 2 (HSP2 / 高度専門職2号) is the most flexible long-term residence status available to foreign tech professionals in Japan. It grants an indefinite period of stay while keeping the family and career benefits of the HSP program — but getting there means navigating a structured 3-year path and preparing for detailed Immigration Services Agency (ISA) document reviews.
This guide covers the HSP1-to-HSP2 transition, the exact documents you need, the most common "additional documents" requests that delay applications, and how the HSP point system works for software engineers and tech professionals.
HSP1 vs HSP2: what changes
The HSP program has two tiers. HSP1 is your entry point — a 5-year renewable visa with a specific sponsor company. HSP2 is the upgrade you can apply for after 3 years:
| Feature | HSP Type 1 (HSP1) | HSP Type 2 (HSP2) |
|---|---|---|
| Period of stay | 5 years (renewable) | Indefinite — no more visa renewals |
| Employer | Tied to your sponsoring company | Flexible — within designated professional activities |
| Points check | Must maintain 70+ points at renewal | No points needed once granted |
| Spouse work | Full-time work permitted | Full-time work permitted |
| Parent visa | Allowed (child under 7 or pregnant) | Same |
| PR eligibility | 1 year (80+ pts) or 3 years (70+ pts) | Can apply anytime — indefinite stay in the meantime |
Eligibility for HSP2 in 2026
To qualify for the HSP2 visa, you need:
- 3 consecutive years as an HSP Type 1 holder
- 70+ points maintained throughout the 3-year period and at the time of application
- Clean compliance record — on-time tax filings, full pension and health insurance contributions, no immigration violations
Immigration now audits tax and pension records for the full 36 months. Any gap or late payment — even a single month — can trigger an additional documents request.
Core documents checklist
When submitting your HSP1-to-HSP2 change of status application at your local Regional Immigration Bureau, prepare:
- Application for Change of Status of Residence — ISA standard form with a 30×40mm photo
- Passport and Residence Card (Zairyu Card) — originals presented at the counter
- Point Calculation Worksheet — self-calculated, with documentary proof for every point claimed
- Proof of 3 years as HSP1 — residence card history or certificate of residence status
- Income records for 3 years:
- 源泉徴収票 (Gensen Choshuhyo) for the past 3 fiscal years
- 納税証明書 (Certificate of Tax Payment) — national taxes
- 課税・非課税証明書 — local resident taxes
- Certificate of Employment — job description, position, and annual salary from current employer
- Pension and health insurance records — 年金記録 from Nenkin Net showing on-time payments
Common "additional documents" requests
Receiving a 資料提出通知書 (Notification for Submission of Additional Documents) is normal during HSP processing. Immigration issues these to verify specific claims. Here's what gets requested most often — and what to prepare in advance:
| Trigger | Additional document requested | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Income points claimed | Future salary projection or guaranteed bonus letter | Immigration wants to verify your expected income for the coming 12 months meets the point threshold claimed |
| Overseas degree | Apostilled diploma translation or university accreditation letter | Required if your degree is from a non-Japanese institution not in standard ranking databases |
| Japanese university bonus | Graduation certificate naming the Japanese institution | To claim the +10 point bonus for a Japanese university degree |
| JLPT points | Original JLPT N1 or N2 passing certificate, or BJT score report | Language points are heavily scrutinized — copies are not accepted, originals only |
| Pension gap flagged | Bank transfer receipts or payment stubs | Even a 1-month gap on your Nenkin Net record triggers this request |
HSP point calculator: what counts for tech professionals
The HSP point system evaluates candidates across categories. For software engineers, data scientists, and AI/ML engineers — who fall under the Advanced Specialized/Technical Activities category — here is how points are scored:
Academic background
- Master's degree: 20 points
- Bachelor's degree: 10 points
- Dual degrees: +5 points bonus
Work experience
- 10+ years: 20 points
- 7+ years: 15 points
- 5+ years: 10 points
- 3+ years: 5 points
Annual salary (by age band)
- Under 30: ¥5M+ (10 pts), ¥6M+ (20 pts), ¥8M+ (30 pts), ¥10M+ (40 pts)
- 30–34: ¥6M+ (10 pts), ¥7M+ (20 pts), ¥8M+ (30 pts), ¥9M+ (35 pts), ¥10M+ (40 pts)
- 35–39: ¥8M+ (20 pts), ¥9M+ (30 pts), ¥10M+ (40 pts)
Age bonus
- Under 30: 15 points
- 30–34: 10 points
- 35–39: 5 points
Special incentives
- Japanese university graduate: +10 points
- JLPT N1: +15 points | N2: +10 points
- Working at an innovative tech company or R&D-focused SME: +10–20 points
- Designated tech certifications: +5–10 points
Most senior engineers at foreign-capital companies in Tokyo score 70+ without trying. The common gap is language points — JLPT N1 or N2 makes a meaningful difference.
HSP2 to PR timeline: what to expect
A frequent question from tech workers in Tokyo is whether to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) or switch to HSP2 first. Here's how the timelines compare:
- 80+ points (fast track): Eligible for PR after 1 year of continuous residence. This is the fastest path to PR under any visa category.
- 70–79 points: Eligible for PR after 3 years.
- HSP2 route: Switch to HSP2 after 3 years on HSP1 at 70+ points. HSP2 gives you indefinite stay immediately — no waiting for a PR decision. HSP2 applications are generally processed faster than PR applications.
The key trade-off: PR removes all professional activity restrictions. HSP2 gives you indefinite stay faster but within a designated professional scope. For most tech professionals, HSP2 is the practical choice until PR comes through.
Getting started: finding HSP-qualifying sponsorship
Both HSP1 and HSP2 require employment with a company that can offer HSP-qualifying salary levels and formal visa sponsorship. Foreign tech companies (Google, Amazon, Stripe, Indeed), Japanese scale-ups with English-first engineering cultures (Mercari, SmartHR, SmartNews), and funded startups are the most reliable sponsors.
Our detailed guide on which companies in Japan sponsor work visas covers what to look for in a job description, how to verify sponsorship before applying, and what the COE process looks like in practice. For an overview of all visa types, see our Japan work visas explained guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HSP2 visa in Japan?
HSP2 (Highly Skilled Professional Type 2 / 高度専門職2号) is the advanced tier of Japan's points-based immigration framework. Unlike HSP1's 5-year renewable term, HSP2 grants an indefinite period of stay with no visa renewals. It is available after 3 consecutive years on HSP1 with at least 70 points.
What documents do I need for the HSP2 visa application?
Core documents: Application for Change of Status of Residence, passport and residence card, point calculation worksheet with proof for every claimed point, proof of 3 continuous years as HSP1, 3 years of income records (源泉徴収票 and 納税証明書), certificate of employment, and pension/health insurance payment records.
What are common "additional documents" requests from immigration?
The most frequent requests are: future salary projections to verify income points, apostilled degree translations, original JLPT certificates, and pension payment stubs if any gaps appear in your Nenkin record.
How does the HSP point calculator work for tech professionals?
Academic background (Master's 20 pts, Bachelor's 10 pts), work experience (up to 20 pts), annual salary by age band (up to 40 pts), age bonus (up to 15 pts), Japanese language (up to 15 pts), and special incentives like Japanese university degrees (+10 pts) or designated tech certifications (+5–10 pts).
What is the HSP2 to PR timeline?
80+ points = PR eligible after 1 year. 70–79 points = PR eligible after 3 years. HSP2 switch = after 3 years at 70+ points, indefinite stay immediately, with faster processing than PR.
Do I need a company sponsor for the HSP visa?
Yes. Both HSP1 and HSP2 require employment with a Japanese-registered company that can offer HSP-qualifying salary levels and formal visa sponsorship. Foreign tech companies and Japanese scale-ups with English-first cultures are the most reliable sponsors.