Hello, this is Takeuchi from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. Recently, there has been a great deal of news concerning immigration-related procedures and operational changes. The revised Immigration Control Act, including changes to residence-related examination fees, was passed and enacted by the Diet in late May 2026.
As a result, not only fees for various examinations such as extension and change of status applications, but also the fee for permanent residence applications, will be increased. Perhaps partly because of this, we have recently been receiving a significant increase in inquiries regarding permanent residence applications. Among these are quite a few people who wish to apply together with their family members.
In this article, we will discuss three different situations:
(1) an individual applicant filing alone;
(2) a family applying together at the same time; and
(3) one person applying alone while other family members do not apply.
(1) What if a single person applies alone?
If you are residing in Japan by yourself, then, as a general rule, there is usually no issue with the residence period requirement as long as you have either lived in Japan for 10 years, or, if applying under the Highly Skilled Professional points-based special measure, you satisfy the required period of residence of 1 year or 3 years. In such cases, whether you may apply will generally depend on how the other requirements apply to your situation.
One point that requires attention, however, is that if there is someone living with you, that person’s payment status for taxes and similar obligations may also become subject to review. As mentioned in our previous blog post, recent permanent residence applications have tended to involve very strict examination of tax payment status. Even if the applicant personally has no issue, unpaid amounts or late payments by a cohabiting person may affect the review, so caution is required.
(2) What if the whole family applies together at the same time?
We often receive inquiries from people who have been living in Japan for several years and wish to apply for permanent residence together with their family members. For example, if the principal applicant holds the status of residence of Highly Skilled Professional, then if the applicant has 80 points or more, permanent residence may be applied for after only 1 year of residence in Japan, and if the applicant has 70 points or more, after 3 years, under the applicable special measures. However, these special measures apply only to the principal applicant who holds the Highly Skilled Professional status, and they do not automatically apply to the spouse or children.
In addition, the length of residence required to satisfy the application requirements differs depending on the specific case. In one example, while the principal applicant alone may qualify with only 1 year of residence (where the applicant has 80 or more highly skilled points), if the entire family applies together, the principal applicant may in some cases need to submit documents covering 3 years. For that reason, it is important to carefully confirm the current circumstances and determine the appropriate timing for the application.
(3) What if only one person in the family applies?
Even if no other family members apply for permanent residence and only one person applies alone, cohabiting relatives listed on the residence certificate, such as a spouse or children, are still likely to be subject to review. In other words, the application is reviewed on a household basis. Not only payment status, but also the residence status of cohabiting relatives will be examined, and we believe that Immigration will strictly review whether they are properly fulfilling their obligations, engaging only in the activities permitted under their granted status, and complying with applicable laws and regulations.
Why Family Members Also Matter in PR Screening
In this context, the spouse or children are not limited to foreign nationals living in Japan. These considerations may also apply even where the spouse or family member is a Japanese national. For that reason, before filing a permanent residence application, it is advisable to confirm your family members’ situation as well.
In permanent residence applications, special measures available to categories such as Highly Skilled Professionals or spouses of Japanese nationals may sometimes work in a favorable way for family members who apply together. For example, even a person holding Dependent status, who would not independently meet the requirement of financial self-sufficiency, may still be able to apply if applying together with the principal applicant. In that sense, permanent residence offers several possible application routes depending on the family’s circumstances.
At the same time, there is also a downside. Because the review is conducted on a household basis, issues relating to a cohabiting family member may negatively affect the applicant as well. In other words, the applicant’s own situation is not the only factor that matters.
Another important point is that the process does not end once the application is filed. Immigration may later request additional documents to supplement the initial filing or to confirm matters such as tax payment status and current residence circumstances. As a result, the examination period can often be quite long.
That is why it is important to prepare and submit solid documentation from the outset. Since the procedure can be complex and burdensome, obtaining support from a professional may be one practical option. Our firm also offers paid consultation services, so please feel free to contact us.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
