Work Experience of HSP Point table: Japan Permanent Residence
Calculating Professional Experience for Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa Points System
This guide explains the scoring criteria for professional experience under Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa points system, designed to attract skilled foreign professionals to Japan by assigning points that support visa approvals and permanent residency applications. Professional experience significantly impacts your eligibility under this system.
Professional Experience Points under the HSP System
- More than 10 years: 20 points
- 7 to 10 years: 15 points
- 5 to 7 years: 10 points
- 3 to 5 years: 5 points
Note: Points apply exclusively to experience relevant to your current or intended professional field. For example, an IT engineer cannot include unrelated roles such as language teaching or translation unless directly related.
Participants from the JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching) must confirm if their work experience in local government roles qualifies as professional experience. Misclassification of experience may affect eligibility for the Highly Skilled Professional visa or for permanent residency via the HSP system.
Key Points Criteria for Highly Skilled Professionals
- Academic Background
- PhD: 30 points
- MBA: 25 points
- Master’s degree: 20 points
- Bachelor’s degree: 10 points
- Additional points for multiple advanced degrees
- Professional Experience
- Over 10 years: 20 points
- 7 to 10 years: 15 points
- 5 to 7 years: 10 points
- 3 to 5 years: 5 points
- Age
- Under 30: 15 points
- 30–34: 10 points
- 35–39: 5 points
- Language Proficiency
- JLPT N1 Certification: 15 points
- Graduation from a Japanese university: 10 points
- Additional points for graduates from top 300 universities globally (QS or THE rankings), including prestigious Japanese institutions like the University of Tokyo, Keio, and Waseda University.
Documenting Your Professional Experience
Professional experience must be documented through employment certificates, termination letters, or government-issued labor certificates. Only officially verified experience will count towards your HSP points total, even if your actual experience exceeds 10 years.
Documentation can be complicated if past employers have ceased operations or merged, making verification difficult.
For tailored guidance, consult with a licensed administrative scrivener or immigration specialist.
About the Expert
Masakazu Murai
Immigration Consultant & Financial Advisor
18 years at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, advising over 500 entrepreneurs and executives.
Active in workplace diversity initiatives, specializing in residence status consulting for foreign nationals.
- Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
- CMA (Japanese Financial Analyst)
- CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
- MBA in Entrepreneurship
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