Recently, the number of foreigners who wish to live in Japan for a long period of time has been increasing, and the number of foreign residents who wish to apply for a PR visa seems to be increasing. However, if you have committed a crime in the past, how will it affect your application for permanent residence?
The legal requirement for a PR visa is "good conduct," which means that you must be law-abiding and lead a socially acceptable life as a resident in everyday life. Furthermore, the Immigration Bureau clearly states that the applicant must not have been fined or imprisoned.
However, this does not necessarily mean that a person cannot apply for permanent residence if he or she has even one criminal record. For example, if you have a few minor traffic violations with only one point deduction or a fine, there is a possibility that you will be granted a PR visa.
However, if even minor violations are numerous, the application will still be denied. As mentioned above, a PR visa will not be granted if you have been fined or imprisoned.
However, it does not mean that you will not be granted a pr visa for the rest of your life. The following is just a rough guide,
Imprisonment: 10 years after the sentence
Fine: 5 years after the sentence
After a certain period of time has elapsed, you may be able to obtain a PR visa.
Thus, it is not absolutely impossible to apply for permanent residence if you have a criminal record. However, the screening process is naturally stricter than for someone with no criminal record. If you are considering applying for permanent residence, it is of course advisable to be law-abiding on a regular basis.
If you have a traffic violation, it will not affect your application for permanent residence because it is minor, so you should be more careful to lead a proper life (e.g., pay your taxes properly).
It is difficult to apply for permanent residence with a criminal record, and there may be various cases. It is possible to reapply even if your application is denied, but it is not possible to apply for pr visa more than once a year due to the lengthy examination period. If you have a criminal record and are considering applying for permanent residence, please contact IMS for more information.
