Highly Skilled Professional Visa: Changing Jobs in Japan (2026)

If you hold Highly Skilled Professional (i) status, you must get a new change of status permission from the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) before you start working for a new employer. This is different from Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, where a job change usually needs only a notification.

The reason is simple. Under Japan's Immigration Control Act, Highly Skilled Professional (i) work is done under a contract with an organization "designated by the Minister of Justice". Your current employer is the designated organization. A new employer is not, until ISA approves a new application.

This guide explains who is affected, the steps, how long it takes, what it costs after the fee revision of 1 October 2026, and how to plan your resignation date so you do not end up with a gap or a problem. Rules are described as of October 2026.

Key takeaways

• Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a), (i)(b) and (i)(c) are tied to a designated organization. A new employer means a new change of status application.

• You also file the 14-day notification to ISA when your old contract ends and when you sign the new one.

• Do not start work at the new company until the new permission is granted.

• ISA aims to process Highly Skilled Professional applications quickly, but real averages in July 2026 were about 39 to 52 days.

• From 1 October 2026, a change of status that grants a 5-year stay costs ¥75,000 at the counter or ¥65,000 online.

Which Highly Skilled Professional holders need a change of status?

All Highly Skilled Professional (i) holders need a change of status permission when they change employer. ISA's official Q&A on the points system says that because the organization is designated for Highly Skilled Professional (i), "a change of status application is required" when the organization changes through a job change. This is true even if you stay in the same category, for example (i)(b) to (i)(b).

Why Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is different

For Highly Skilled Professional (ii), the law describes work under a contract with "a public or private organization in Japan", without the word "designated". ISA lists Highly Skilled Professional (ii) among the statuses that must file the 14-day notification. If your job type also changes, ask ISA before you move.

What are the steps to change jobs on Highly Skilled Professional (i)?

The usual order is: get an offer, check your points, apply, wait for permission, then start. Here is a simple plan.

1. Get a written offer. You need the new employer's documents for the application. Ask for the employment contract or a written offer with salary, job duties and start date.

2. Recalculate your points. You need 70 points or more with the new job. Salary and job content can change your score. For (i)(b), annual salary must be at least ¥3 million.

3. Prepare the application. ISA lists: the change of status application form for your category, a photo, your passport and residence card, documents for the new activity, the points calculation sheet, and documents that prove at least 70 points.

4. Apply at your regional immigration bureau or online. The online system can be used for many residence applications.

5. Notify ISA within 14 days when your old contract ends, and again within 14 days after you sign the new contract.

6. Receive the new permission. Only then start working at the new employer.

Can I start working before the permission arrives?

In general, no. Highly Skilled Professional (i) work is tied to the designated organization. Working for a different employer before a new designation is approved can be treated as work outside your status. ISA does not say that early starts are allowed. Plan your start date after the expected decision, and leave some margin.

How long does the change of status take?

Expect about one to two months, sometimes longer. ISA says it tries to process Highly Skilled Professional (i) change and extension applications within about 5 days of receipt. But this target excludes cases with missing documents or questions, and real averages are longer.

ISA publishes monthly processing statistics. For approvals in July 2026, the average days from application to the notice of permission were:

These numbers include the time to submit extra documents if ISA asked for them. They do not include refusals or withdrawn applications. ISA also notes that work-related applications tend to take longer before the April hiring season. Numbers change every month, so check the latest ISA processing time statistics before you choose dates.

For the Tokyo bureau, the licensed immigration lawyers we work with suggest planning for about 1.5 months or more for (i)(b). Treat this as a planning guide, not a promise.

How much does it cost after the October 2026 fee revision?

From 1 October 2026, the fee for a change of status depends on the period of stay granted. Highly Skilled Professional (i) is normally granted the maximum period of 5 years, so the 5-year line usually applies.

Online fees are paid by convenience store or bank payment, not revenue stamps, and a separate transaction fee applies. Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee even if the permission comes later. See the ISA fee revision page.

Some employers pay this fee for new hires. Ask before you apply. It is a fair question.

How should I plan my resignation date?

Resign only when your plan is clear, and keep the gap short. Japanese law gives a specific risk for gaps: if you stay in Japan for 3 months or more without doing the activity of your status, without a justifiable reason, this can be a ground to revoke your status. For Highly Skilled Professional (ii), the period is 6 months.

A safe sequence

• Sign the new offer, with a start date that allows for processing time.

• Check your notice period in your current contract and work rules.

• Apply for the change of status as early as the documents allow.

• Keep working at your current employer while ISA reviews, if your situation allows.

• Give notice so that your last day is close to the expected permission date.

If your contract ends before the permission

This happens. Keep your application receipt, file the 14-day notification for the contract end, and keep proof that you are actively changing jobs. Do not start work at the new employer early. If the wait becomes long, contact ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer (gyoseishoshi).

Should I switch to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities instead?

Some people choose to change from Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b) to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services at the time of a job change. After that, future job changes in the same type of work usually need only the 14-day notification. But you lose Highly Skilled Professional benefits.

ISA lists these benefits for Highly Skilled Professional (i):

• 5-year period of stay, given uniformly.

• Faster permanent residence: possible after 3 years of continuous Highly Skilled Professional activity, or after 1 year with 80 points or more.

• Spouse employment: your spouse can work in fields such as education or Engineer/Specialist work without the usual degree or work-history requirements (you must live together).

• Parents: in some cases, parents can come to help with a child under 7 or during pregnancy (household income ¥8 million or more, living together).

• Priority processing of applications.

If permanent residence in a few years is your goal, think carefully before you give up Highly Skilled Professional status. ISA's Q&A does not say whether a job change breaks the "continuous" 3-year or 1-year period. Ask ISA about your own case.

What about Highly Skilled Professional (ii) and dispatch work?

Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is available after 3 years or more of activity on Highly Skilled Professional (i), with 70 points or more and good conduct. The period of stay is unlimited, and you can do almost all work activities. You still file the 14-day notification when your contract changes.

If you plan to work as a dispatched (haken) engineer, ISA explains for the 14-day notification that your "contracting organization" is the dispatch company that employs you, not the client site. A change of client site under the same dispatch employer does not need a new notification. For Highly Skilled Professional (i), the employer you sign with is the organization in your application. Discuss this with the dispatch company before you apply.

How AGG can help

AGG (Awaji Global Gateway, a division of Fukuyoshi Inc.) supports engineers who join us with the visa paperwork for their new job, including change of status applications. We help you check your points before you resign, and we plan the start date around realistic processing times, not best-case numbers.

Many AGG jobs are dispatch (haken) roles. You are employed by Fukuyoshi Inc. and work at a client site, with social insurance. Dispatch contracts are often renewed every few months, and renewal depends on the client project. We explain this honestly at the first interview, so you can compare it with keeping your current job.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do I need a new visa if I change jobs on a Highly Skilled Professional visa in Japan?

Yes, if you hold Highly Skilled Professional (i). Your status is tied to an organization designated by the Minister of Justice. When you move to a new employer, you must apply for a change of status permission and receive it before you start working there. This applies even if your category stays the same, for example (i)(b) to (i)(b). You also file the 14-day notification to ISA about your old and new contracts. Highly Skilled Professional (ii) is not tied to a designated organization in the law, but the 14-day notification still applies.

Q. How long does a Highly Skilled Professional change of status take?

ISA aims to process Highly Skilled Professional (i) applications within about 5 days, but this excludes cases with missing documents or questions. In ISA's statistics for approvals in July 2026, the average was 38.8 days for (i)(a) and 51.5 days for (i)(b), from application to the notice of permission. Timelines are often longer before April. For planning, allow about one to two months, and check ISA's latest monthly statistics before you set your start date with the new employer.

Q. Can I start my new job while my HSP change of status is pending?

In general, you should not. Highly Skilled Professional (i) work must be done for the designated organization. Until ISA approves your new application, the new employer is not your designated organization, so working there can be treated as work outside your status. Ask the new employer to set a start date after the expected decision. If your old contract ends first, file the 14-day notification and keep your application receipt.

Q. How much is the change of status fee for Highly Skilled Professional in 2026?

From 1 October 2026, fees depend on the period of stay granted. Highly Skilled Professional (i) is normally granted 5 years. For a 5-year permit, the fee is ¥75,000 at the counter or ¥65,000 online, plus a payment transaction fee for online payment. Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee of ¥6,000 (¥5,500 online), even if the permission is granted later.

Q. Will changing jobs reset my permanent residence clock as a Highly Skilled Professional?

ISA's official Q&A does not say clearly. The fast track to permanent residence requires 3 years of continuous Highly Skilled Professional activity (70 points or more), or 1 year with 80 points or more. Whether a job change affects this "continuous" period depends on your case. Keep your points above the line at the new job, avoid long gaps, and ask ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer before you resign.

Q. Is it better to change from Highly Skilled Professional to Engineer visa when switching jobs?

It depends on your plans. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services usually lets you change jobs in the same field with only a notification. But you lose Highly Skilled Professional benefits, such as the 5-year stay, faster permanent residence, spouse employment without degree requirements, and priority processing. If permanent residence or your spouse's job matters to you, staying on Highly Skilled Professional may be worth the extra paperwork.

Q. What happens if I am unemployed for a while on a Highly Skilled Professional visa?

Under the Immigration Control Act, staying in Japan for 3 months or more without doing the activity of your status, without a justifiable reason, can be a ground to revoke your status. For Highly Skilled Professional (ii), the period is 6 months. Actively looking for a job can be a justifiable reason in some cases, but it is not automatic. File the 14-day notification when your contract ends and keep records of your job search.

Summary

• Highly Skilled Professional (i) is tied to a designated organization, so a new employer needs a change of status permission first.

• File the 14-day notification for both the contract end and the new contract.

• Plan for about one to two months of processing; July 2026 averages were 38.8 days for (i)(a) and 51.5 days for (i)(b).

• A 5-year permit now costs ¥75,000 at the counter or ¥65,000 online.

• Switching to Engineer/Specialist status makes future job changes easier, but you lose Highly Skilled Professional benefits.

If you are planning a move into an engineering role in Japan, see our Open engineering jobs and apply in a few minutes (CV optional). AGG charges no agency fees to job seekers. Related guides: Changing jobs in Japan as a foreigner, The 14-day notification, Certificate of Authorized Employment, and Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa guide.

Reviewed by

Naoya Mitani — Head of Business Operations, Awaji Global Gateway (Fukuyoshi Inc.). Supports foreign engineers moving into jobs in Japan, including visa changes and onboarding.