Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa vs Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)

About Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

The Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is a points-based permit for advanced researchers, specialised technical workers and business managers who score at least 70 points on Japan's official table (weighing salary, age, education, career and Japanese ability). There is no fixed income minimum, and a qualifying job offer in one of the three HSP categories is required. Government fees are minimal (about $40), with first-year costs of $1,000–$7,000; the main bottleneck is the Certificate of Eligibility (1–3 months), and processing runs roughly 8–20 weeks. It offers Japan's fastest route to permanent residency — one year for those scoring 80+ points, three years at 70–79 — with no Japanese language test, versus ten years on a standard visa. A spouse and children are included, and some HSP categories even allow a domestic helper. Naturalisation is possible after five years of continuous residence, but Japan bars dual citizenship and requires renouncing your prior nationality. Holders are Japanese tax residents; for the first five years, Non-Permanent Resident status exempts foreign-source income not remitted to Japan.

About Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)

The Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) is a five-year pass for top talent that, unlike the Employment Pass, is not tied to a single employer. Applicants must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 30,000 (about $22,000 USD) in their current or most recent role, or demonstrate outstanding achievement in arts, culture, sport, academia or research; bonuses, RSUs and equity do not count toward the salary figure. It is filed directly with MOM without employer sponsorship, usually within 4–8 weeks. A Dependant's Pass covers the spouse and children, and the spouse may work without a separate pass. Permanent residency can be sought after about two years — favourably assessed at this income tier, with no language test — while citizenship follows roughly two years after PR but requires renouncing prior nationality, as Singapore bars dual citizenship. Holders are taxed only on Singapore-sourced income (progressive 0–22%), with unremitted foreign income generally exempt. Holders must still work for a Singapore entity or run a Singapore business to justify their stay.