Permanent Residence is one of the most stable statuses of residence available in Japan. It allows foreign nationals to live in Japan without a fixed period of stay and without restrictions on the type of employment or business activities they may engage in.
However, Permanent Residence applications are examined carefully. Eligibility can depend on your residence history, current status of residence, employment and income, tax and social insurance record, family circumstances, travel history, and whether you qualify for a special route such as the Highly Skilled Professional points system.
For a detailed overview of our services, please see our Permanent Residence Application Services.
Important 2026–2027 update: Japan revised its Permanent Residence guidelines on October 1, 2026. For applications filed from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, the February 24, 2026 guidelines generally continue to apply, while certain revised provisions concerning income and financial stability already apply. The revised October 2026 guidelines will generally apply to applications filed on or after April 1, 2027.
Permanent Residence Eligibility in Japan
Q1. What is Permanent Residence in Japan?
Permanent Residence is a status of residence that allows a foreign national to live in Japan without a fixed period of stay and without restrictions on the type of employment or business activity they may engage in.
Once Permanent Residence is granted, you generally do not need to renew your period of stay. However, you must still renew your residence card when required and continue to comply with Japanese laws and immigration-related obligations.
Permanent Residence does not make you a Japanese citizen. You retain your nationality and continue to use your foreign passport.
Related information: Permanent Residence in Japan
Q2. What are the basic requirements for Permanent Residence in Japan?
Permanent Residence applications are assessed comprehensively. The main factors generally include:
- Good conduct and compliance with Japanese laws
- Financial stability and the ability to maintain a stable life in Japan
- Proper payment of taxes, pension contributions, and public health insurance premiums
- Compliance with immigration notifications and other legal obligations
- A sufficient period of residence in Japan
- An appropriate period of stay under your current status of residence
- Whether granting Permanent Residence is considered to be in Japan's national interest
Different rules and exceptions apply to certain applicants, including spouses and children of Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents, Highly Skilled Professionals, Long-Term Residents, and certain other categories.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee approval. Immigration makes a comprehensive assessment of each individual application.
Q3. How long do I need to live in Japan before applying for Permanent Residence?
Under the ordinary route, an applicant is generally required to have continuously resided in Japan for at least 10 years.
As a general rule, at least 5 of those years must have been spent under an eligible work-related status of residence or a residence status based on personal status or position.
Important exceptions to the ordinary 10-year rule include:
- Spouses and certain children of Japanese nationals, Permanent Residents, or Special Permanent Residents
- Highly Skilled Professionals
- Special Highly Skilled Professionals under J-Skip
- Long-Term Residents
- Recognized refugees and persons under complementary protection
- Certain persons recognized as having made significant contributions to Japan
You may therefore qualify for Permanent Residence before reaching 10 years of residence in Japan.
Q4. Do I need to speak Japanese to apply for Permanent Residence?
The answer depends partly on when you apply.
For applications filed through March 31, 2027, the currently applicable guidelines do not establish a general Japanese-language level as a separate express consideration for all applicants.
For applications filed on or after April 1, 2027, Japanese-language ability becomes an express consideration under the revised guidelines.
The general benchmark under the revised guidelines is Japanese-language ability equivalent to B1 level or higher under the Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education.
B1 is an assessment factor rather than a simple automatic pass-or-fail rule. The revised guidelines also provide circumstances in which it may not be necessary to assess the applicant personally against the B1 benchmark, including certain Highly Skilled Professionals and their family members, and certain people with substantial Japanese school education.
Q5. Can a spouse of a Japanese citizen or Permanent Resident apply for Permanent Residence early?
Yes. A special exception to the ordinary 10-year residence requirement applies, but the required period is changing.
For applications filed through March 31, 2027, a spouse of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident, or Special Permanent Resident may qualify if:
- The genuine marital relationship has continued for at least 3 years; and
- The applicant has continuously resided in Japan for at least 1 year.
For applications filed on or after April 1, 2027, the revised guidelines generally require:
- At least 5 years of a genuine marital relationship; and
- At least 3 years of continuous residence in Japan.
These are exceptions to the ordinary residence-period requirement. Satisfying the required years alone does not automatically guarantee Permanent Residence. Immigration will still review the applicant's overall circumstances and applicable requirements.
For family-related immigration questions, please see our Family, Spouse & Dependent Visa FAQ.
Highly Skilled Professional & Fast-Track Permanent Residence
Q6. Can I apply for Permanent Residence after one year with 80 HSP points?
Yes, potentially.
A foreign professional with at least 80 points under the Highly Skilled Professional points system may qualify for the one-year Permanent Residence route.
In general, the applicant must be able to demonstrate:
- At least 80 points at the time of the Permanent Residence application; and
- At least 80 points based on their circumstances one year before the application.
Other Permanent Residence requirements, including residence history, public obligations, income, and conduct, must also be satisfied.
Related article: When Applying for Permanent Residence as a Highly Skilled Professional
Q7. Can I apply for Permanent Residence after three years with 70 HSP points?
Yes, potentially.
A person with at least 70 Highly Skilled Professional points may qualify for the three-year Permanent Residence route.
In general, the applicant must be able to demonstrate:
- At least 70 points at the time of application; and
- At least 70 points based on their circumstances three years before the application.
Documents supporting education, professional experience, salary, qualifications, research achievements, and other claimed points are important.
Q8. Do I need to hold a Highly Skilled Professional visa to use the HSP points route for Permanent Residence?
Not necessarily.
A person may potentially use the Highly Skilled Professional points route for Permanent Residence even if they currently hold another eligible status of residence, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services or Business Manager.
The key issue is whether the applicant can prove that they had the required number of points at both the time of application and the relevant time in the past: one year earlier for the 80-point route or three years earlier for the 70-point route.
Points must be supported by evidence. A personal points calculation alone is not sufficient.
For more information, please see our Highly Skilled Professional & Business Manager FAQ.
Income, Taxes, Pension & Employment
Q9. Is there a minimum annual income requirement for Permanent Residence?
There is no single fixed annual income amount that applies to every Permanent Residence applicant.
Under the revised income assessment already applicable to relevant applications from 2026, Immigration generally considers the applicant's household income and household size.
As a general principle, the household's annual income is assessed in comparison with the income level of Japanese households of a similar size.
The assessment may take into account:
- The applicant's current and expected future income
- The income of eligible members of the same household
- The number of people in the household
- Dependents supported by the applicant, including certain relatives living overseas
- The applicant's assets and professional skills
- Whether a stable life can be maintained without becoming a public burden
Certain income earned by household members who do not hold a work-authorized status, such as a Dependent working under permission for activities outside their status, is not necessarily included in household income for this assessment.
For this reason, statements such as “JPY 3 million is enough for Permanent Residence” are overly simplistic and can be misleading.
Q10. Do taxes, pension, and health insurance affect my Permanent Residence application?
Yes. They are extremely important.
Immigration examines compliance with public obligations, including:
- Income tax and other applicable national taxes
- Resident tax
- Public pension contributions
- Public health insurance premiums
- Other legally required public payments and obligations
It is also important whether required payments were made by their original legal deadlines.
Paying outstanding amounts immediately before filing an application does not necessarily erase the effect of previous late payments.
Q11. Can I apply for Permanent Residence if I paid taxes or pension late?
You may still submit an application, but late payment can have a significant impact on the examination.
Permanent Residence screening considers not only whether there is an outstanding balance at the time of application, but also whether public obligations were properly fulfilled by their required deadlines.
The effect of late payment depends on the individual case, including the type of payment, how late it was, whether it occurred repeatedly, and the applicant's overall compliance history.
If you have a history of late tax, pension, or health insurance payments, it is important to review your payment records carefully before applying.
Q12. Will changing jobs affect my Permanent Residence application?
It can, but changing jobs does not automatically make you ineligible.
Immigration may review whether your employment, professional activity, and income remain stable after the change.
A move to a stable position with similar or higher income may be assessed differently from repeated short-term employment, a prolonged period without work, or a substantial reduction in income.
If you change employers while your Permanent Residence application is pending, you should also complete any immigration notifications required under your current status of residence and provide updated information where appropriate.
For related questions, please see our Work Visa in Japan FAQ.
Q13. Can I apply for Permanent Residence if I am unemployed?
Unemployment does not automatically mean that Permanent Residence will be denied, but it can make it more difficult to demonstrate financial and residential stability.
Immigration may consider factors including:
- The reason for unemployment
- How long the applicant has been unemployed
- Current job-search activities
- Savings and other assets
- Household income
- Future employment prospects
- Whether the applicant continues to satisfy the requirements of their current status of residence
A significant change in employment while an application is pending should be reviewed carefully.
Residence History & Other Important Requirements
Q14. Does spending a long time outside Japan affect Permanent Residence?
Yes. Long or frequent absences from Japan can affect whether your residence is regarded as continuous and whether Japan is genuinely your principal place of residence.
The reason, frequency, and duration of overseas stays can all be relevant. Business trips, overseas assignments, medical circumstances, and family emergencies may need to be explained depending on the case.
For applications filed on or after April 1, 2027, the revised guidelines expressly state that, without a reasonable reason, the following will generally be assessed negatively:
- An absence from Japan of six months or more in a single trip; or
- Total absences of two years and six months or more during the previous ten years.
Applicants with substantial overseas travel histories should review their entry and departure records before applying.
Q15. Do I need a three-year or five-year period of stay to apply for Permanent Residence?
This rule is currently in transition.
For Permanent Residence applications filed through March 31, 2027, a person holding a three-year period of stay is treated as satisfying the requirement concerning the longest available period of stay.
For applications filed on or after April 1, 2027, the revised rule generally requires the applicant to hold the maximum period of stay available for their current status of residence.
A transitional measure is available for certain applicants who already hold a three-year period of stay as of March 31, 2027. Applicants planning to file around April 2027 should confirm carefully whether the transitional measure applies to their case.
Q16. Can traffic violations or a criminal record affect Permanent Residence?
Yes.
Compliance with Japanese law is an important factor in Permanent Residence screening. Criminal convictions, fines, imprisonment, repeated violations, and other conduct issues may negatively affect an application.
Traffic violations can also be relevant, particularly when they are serious or repeated, or when they have resulted in criminal penalties.
The effect will depend on the nature, seriousness, frequency, and timing of the conduct concerned.
Q17. Can my spouse and children apply for Permanent Residence with me?
Yes, family members may apply at the same time if each person satisfies the requirements applicable to them.
However, Permanent Residence is granted individually. Eligibility for one family member does not automatically make every other family member eligible.
For example, if the principal applicant qualifies under the Highly Skilled Professional 80-point one-year route, that one-year residence exception does not automatically apply to every spouse or child.
Each family member's status of residence, residence history, family relationship, and applicable exception must be reviewed separately.
Related article: Individual vs. Family Permanent Residency Applications
Q18. Do I need a guarantor for a Permanent Residence application?
Yes. A Letter of Guarantee is generally included among the required documents.
The Immigration Services Agency states that the guarantor will normally be a person residing in Japan who is:
- A Japanese national;
- A Permanent Resident; or
- A Special Permanent Resident.
The Permanent Residence guarantor system should not be confused with becoming a financial guarantor for an ordinary private loan.
Q19. How much does a Permanent Residence application cost, and how long does it take?
For Permanent Residence applications filed on or after October 1, 2026, the government fee payable when Permanent Residence is approved is generally JPY 200,000.
Certain applicants may qualify for a reduced fee under the applicable rules. Applications filed on or before September 30, 2026 remain subject to the previous fee rules.
The Immigration Services Agency continues to publish an official standard processing period of four to six months. However, this official standard does not reflect the actual waiting time currently experienced by many applicants.
In particular, the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau receives a very large volume of Permanent Residence applications, and processing is substantially longer in practice.
Based on the current practical situation, IMS advises applicants filing in Tokyo to plan for approximately 24 months for processing, although individual cases may be shorter or longer depending on application volume, case circumstances, and requests for additional documents.
Applicants should therefore not make important plans based solely on the official four-to-six-month standard.
Important: If your current period of stay will expire while your Permanent Residence application is pending, you must separately apply to extend your current status of residence before it expires. A pending Permanent Residence application does not automatically extend your current period of stay.
Q20. What is the difference between Permanent Residence and Naturalization in Japan?
Permanent Residence and naturalization are fundamentally different procedures.
With Permanent Residence, you remain a foreign national and retain your current nationality. You obtain an unrestricted status of residence in Japan, but you do not become a Japanese citizen.
With naturalization, you acquire Japanese nationality after receiving permission from the Minister of Justice.
Some important differences include:
- Permanent Residents retain their foreign nationality; naturalized persons become Japanese nationals.
- Permanent Residents continue to use their foreign passport; naturalized persons can obtain a Japanese passport.
- Permanent Residents do not have Japanese national voting rights; Japanese citizens do.
- Permanent Residence is administered through the Immigration Services Agency.
- Naturalization procedures are handled through the Legal Affairs Bureau.
The appropriate option depends on your long-term plans, nationality, family circumstances, and whether you wish to acquire Japanese citizenship.
Related information: Naturalization Application Services
Important Permanent Residence Rule Changes from April 2027
Japan revised its Permanent Residence guidelines on October 1, 2026. Most of the revised rules will generally apply to applications filed on or after April 1, 2027.
Major changes include:
- The spouse residence-period exception changing from 3 years of marriage + 1 year in Japan to 5 years of marriage + 3 years in Japan
- Japanese-language ability becoming an express consideration, generally using B1 as the benchmark
- Understanding of Japanese systems and rules becoming an express consideration
- Additional consideration of school attendance for certain school-age children
- More detailed standards concerning long periods spent outside Japan
- Stricter application of the requirement concerning the maximum period of stay
Applicants considering filing around April 2027 should pay particular attention to the date of application, because it can determine which version of the guidelines applies.
Need Help With Permanent Residence in Japan?
Permanent Residence applications require a detailed review of the applicant's residence history, employment, household income, taxes, pension and health insurance payments, travel history, family circumstances, and immigration compliance.
The applicable requirements can also differ significantly depending on whether you are applying under the ordinary 10-year route, a family-based exception, the Highly Skilled Professional points route, or another special exception.
The major Permanent Residence guideline changes taking effect in April 2027 also mean that the timing of an application may be particularly important.
IMS Legal Professional Corporation provides Permanent Residence application support for foreign nationals in Japan, including applications under the ordinary residence route, family-based exceptions, and Highly Skilled Professional routes.
Contact IMS for a consultation
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes. Permanent Residence requirements, fees, and examination practices may change, and every application is assessed according to its individual circumstances. Please confirm the latest requirements before applying.
