Hello everyone,
I’m hoping to connect with others who have been through a similar process or who might have insights or advice to share.
I’m a French national in my late 20s, and I’ve been living in Japan for about two years. I was hired by a Japanese company for a manager position, and they sponsored my visa. I currently hold a standard Engineer/Humanities/International Services visa.
For several reasons, I’m now considering applying for the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional (HSFP) visa:
• So that my wife can legally freelance (currently limited to under 28 hours/week and requires a separate permit)
• To shorten the path to permanent residency (PR) — which is 1 year with 80 points, or 3 years with 70 points.
From what I understand, the PR clock starts from the moment you get the HSFP visa, so I want to apply even if I only have 70 points now—hoping to reach 80 in the near future.
Here are some questions I’m hoping to get help with:
1. Does the annual bonus count toward the salary portion of the point calculation?
2. How long does the application process take, from submission to approval?
3. Has anyone applied without using an immigration lawyer? Was it manageable?
4. Can documents like work contracts or tax forms be submitted in English, or do they need official translations?
5. For those who’ve done it: What part of the process was more difficult than expected?
Any tips, personal experiences, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help! 🙏
by french-pierogi