Part of 特定活動 (Designated Activities). See the Designated Activities hub for the full list of 20+ sub-types.
The HSP Family status under 特定活動 packages two of the most valuable family-side privileges in Japanese immigration law, both reserved exclusively for holders of 高度専門職 (HSP) status. These privileges are not available to holders of 技術・人文知識・国際業務 or most other work statuses, and are a major reason why many professionals who could qualify for 技人国 instead choose to pursue HSP certification.
Working Spouse (告示 34 号)
Under the regular 家族滞在 (Family Stay) status, a dependent spouse can work only up to 28 hours per week with 資格外活動許可 — a severe restriction for internationally mobile couples where both partners have professional careers. The HSP Working Spouse 特定活動 lifts that limit entirely: the spouse can work full-time in any job that would normally fall under 研究, 教育, 教授, 技術・人文知識・国際業務, 興行, 医療, or 法律・会計業務. The spouse must have an academic or work background appropriate to the specific role, but they do not need to qualify for a work visa independently — the HSP holder's status carries the sponsorship.
This is, in practice, a hiring-advantage benefit. Japanese employers can bring on the HSP holder's spouse without sponsoring a separate work visa, dramatically reducing friction. For dual-career couples, it's often the decisive factor in choosing HSP over 技人国.
Parents (告示 37 号)
The Parents variant is much rarer and more narrowly defined. It permits the HSP holder's parents — OR the spouse's parents, but not both sets — to reside in Japan for the express purpose of caring for a child under 7, or supporting a spouse during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. The HSP household must demonstrate income of at least ¥8 million per year, and the parents must be financially dependent on the household.
This is an unusual privilege in Japanese immigration — most residence categories make no provision for elderly parents of foreign residents — and it explicitly exists to reduce the child-rearing burden that might otherwise push HSP holders to leave Japan for countries where extended-family support is more available. Once the child turns 7 and the immediate support rationale ends, the parents' residence period does not continue.
Both variants remain tied to the principal HSP holder's status. If HSP status ends — through points dropping below threshold, leaving employment, or converting out — the family statuses terminate with it. For long-term stability, the usual trajectory is HSP → PR for the principal, after which family statuses are handled through other residence categories (spouse of PR, permanent resident, etc.).
Who Is This For
- ✓Working spouses of HSP holders wishing to work full-time in Japan without the 28-hour-per-week limit of Family Stay
- ✓Parents of HSP holders (or HSP's spouse) needing to care for young children or during/after pregnancy
- ✓Dual-career international families where both partners want to pursue professional work in Japan
- ✓HSP holders choosing HSP (over 技人国) specifically for these family-side benefits
- ✓Senior foreign professionals bringing multi-generational family to Japan
Requirements
- •(a) Working Spouse (告示 34 号) - Principal visa holder must be 高度専門職 1 号 or 2 号; spouse's work must fall within 研究, 教育, 教授, 技術・人文知識・国際業務, 興行, 医療, 法律・会計業務, 経営・管理 or similar recognized categories; spouse must have academic / work background appropriate to the role
- •(a) Working Spouse - Spouse's working hours not restricted (full-time OK, unlike Family Stay's 28-hour/week limit)
- •(b) Parents (告示 37 号) - Principal HSP holder and spouse household income ≥ ¥8 million/year
- •(b) Parents - At least one child aged under 7, OR the spouse is pregnant/postpartum and requires family support
- •(b) Parents - Only one set of parents (either the HSP holder's parents OR the spouse's parents, not both) can reside under this status
- •(b) Parents - Parents must be at least financially dependent on the HSP household
Full breakdown of Immigration fees, scrivener rates, and all other costs for this visa type.
Required Documents
- Valid passport
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
- Principal HSP holder's residence card copy and HSP score sheet
- Marriage / birth / family relationship certificates (with official Japanese translation)
- (Working Spouse) Spouse's degree, CV, and the Japanese employer's job offer / contract
- (Parents) Household income documentation (tax withholding certificate) showing ≥ ¥8 million
- (Parents) Child's family register or birth certificate showing age under 7, OR maternity documentation
- (Parents) Declaration of which set of parents will reside (one side only)
- Photograph (4cm x 3cm, taken within 3 months)
Application Process
- 1Principal HSP holder secures or maintains their 高度専門職 status (HSP 1 号 or HSP 2 号)
- 2Confirm the specific variant (a — Working Spouse, or b — Parents) and its requirements
- 3Gather marriage, family-relationship, and for parents variant, household-income and child-age documents
- 4File the Certificate of Eligibility application at the Regional Immigration Bureau (HSP holder is usually the applicant)
- 5Family member applies for the visa at the Japanese Embassy / Consulate in their home country
- 6Enter Japan and receive a residence card; Working Spouse begins full-time employment; Parents begin child-care or postpartum support
- 7Update status when the principal HSP extends or changes residence status
- 8Family status ends when the principal HSP leaves Japan, changes out of HSP, or PR is granted
Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Once you've chosen your visa, your Japan-side sponsor (employer / school / family) files the COE with Immigration — then you exchange it for a visa at the embassy.