Pairwise comparison
Side-by-side visa reference. Income thresholds, cost, processing time, residency / citizenship pathway, family policy, and tax-residency trigger.
Not legal or immigration advice
This page summarizes publicly available information from official immigration authorities. Visa rules change frequently and individual circumstances matter. Verify with the relevant consulate, embassy, or a licensed immigration attorney before applying.
Highly Skilled
Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)
Points-based 5-year visa with the world's fastest path to permanent residence (1-3 years vs 10 standard). Octobered J-SkIP variant for >¥20M earners gives 5-year visa + 1-year PR.
Work
UK Skilled Worker Visa
Replaced Tier 2 General in 2020. Sponsored employment route with a £41,500 minimum salary and a 5-year path to indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
| Attribute | 🇯🇵 Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | 🇬🇧 UK Skilled Worker Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Highly Skilled | Work |
| Country | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Min income / yr | — | $53,000 |
| Government fee | $30 | $950 |
| Lawyer / agent fee | $500–$2,500 | $800–$3,000 |
| All-in cost (USD) | $1,200–$4,500 | $4,500–$12,000 |
| Processing time | 14–90d | 21–56d |
| Initial validity | 60 months | 60 months |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Path to residency | 1 years | 5 years |
| Path to citizenship | 5 years | 6 years |
| Remote work allowed | No | No |
| Family included | Yes (spouse + children) | Yes (spouse + children) |
| Tax-residency trigger | 183 days physical presence | 183 days physical presence |
Highlighted cells show the more favourable value on that dimension only — they don’t indicate which visa is right for you. Read the full profiles before applying.