Silicon carbide semiconductor element and method for manufacturing the same

In the silicon carbide semiconductor element, a second silicon carbide semiconductor layer that is in contact with the surface of a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer has at least an upper layer including a dopant of a first conductivity type at a high concentration. Above a junction field effect transistor (JFET) region interposed between body regions that are disposed in the first silicon carbide semiconductor layer so as to be spaced from each other, the silicon carbide semiconductor element has a channel removed region, which is a cutout formed by removing a high concentration layer from the front surface side of the second silicon carbide semiconductor layer, the high concentration layer having a higher dopant concentration than at least the dopant concentration of the JFET region. The width of the channel removed region is smaller than that of the JFET region.