Good conduct requirement
You must comply with the law and lead a life that would not draw social criticism as a resident. This includes confirming that you have not received fines or imprisonment.
PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Permanent Residence Application Support
Permanent Resident status carries an unlimited period of stay and no restriction on employment. We explain the three requirements set out in the Immigration Services Agency's guidelines.
- Free first consultation
- Nationwide support
- Reapplication after refusal
Reach us by phone, LINE, or Messenger for a quick consultation.
OVERVIEW
What is permanent residence?
Permanent residence is a status of residence granted based on personal status rather than a specific activity. The period of stay is unlimited and there is no restriction on the type of work you can do. You must satisfy the three general requirements — good conduct, independent livelihood, and national interest — set out in the Immigration Services Agency's "Guidelines for Granting Permission for Permanent Residence."
Note that even after being granted permanent residence, the residence card itself must still be renewed every 7 years. For a detailed confirmation of the requirements and help preparing your application, please feel free to contact us.
REQUIREMENTS
Three general requirements
Independent livelihood requirement
You must not become a burden on the public in daily life, and your assets or skills must indicate a stable livelihood is likely to continue. This is assessed based on the income and assets of the whole household.
National interest requirement
In principle, you must have resided in Japan continuously for 10 years or more, including at least 5 continuous years on a work-based or status-based visa (periods under Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 do not count). In addition, having no history of fines or imprisonment, and properly paying taxes, public pension, and public health insurance premiums by their due dates, are given significant weight.
* For spouses and biological children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, the years-of-residence portion of the independent livelihood and national interest requirements does not apply (see "Exceptions to the 10-year requirement" below).
EXCEPTIONS
Exceptions to the 10-year requirement
- Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident, or special permanent resident: the marriage must have had substance for 3 years or more, and you must have resided in Japan continuously for 1 year or more
- Biological or special adopted child of a Japanese national, permanent resident, or special permanent resident: continuous residence in Japan for 1 year or more (in this case, the years-of-residence portion of the independent livelihood and national interest requirements is not required)
- Highly Skilled Professional (points-based system): 3 years of residence at 70 points or more, or 1 year at 80 points or more, satisfies the years-of-residence requirement
- Long-Term Residents, recognized refugees, and others may have the years-of-residence requirement relaxed depending on individual circumstances
FEE
Fees and standard processing time
- Standard processing time
- Approximately 4–6 months
- Immigration Services Agency fee
- ¥10,000 (only upon approval, revenue stamp)
- Our office fee
- From ¥165,000 (total)
We will provide a formal quotation after hearing the details of your case. View the full fee schedule →
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Are there exceptions to the "10 years of residence" requirement?
Yes. Spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents need the marriage to have had substance for 3 years or more (and 1 year or more of residence in Japan); biological or special adopted children need 1 year or more of residence; and Highly Skilled Professionals may need as little as 1 to 3 years depending on their points. The requirements can be relaxed depending on your situation — please contact us to confirm which category applies to you.
Q.I was behind on taxes but have since paid them — is that a problem?
Paying taxes by the due date is given significant weight, and payments made after the deadline are generally viewed unfavorably. If you have any unpaid or overdue taxes, we recommend contacting us as early as possible.
Q.Can this be used to sponsor a family member from overseas, like a Certificate of Eligibility application?
No. A permanent residence application is only available to those already residing in Japan — it is either an application to change status to "Permanent Resident," or an application for permanent resident status acquired through birth in Japan. It is not a procedure for newly sponsoring someone from overseas.
Q.Do I need to renew anything after being granted permanent residence?
Your period of stay itself becomes unlimited, but the residence card must still be renewed every 7 years. If you forget to renew it, the card will expire, so please be careful.
Q.Can I reapply if my application was refused once?
Yes. We will confirm the reason for the refusal, analyze what was lacking — such as the independent livelihood requirement or your tax payment record — and support you in reapplying after making improvements.
Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Guidelines for Granting Permission for Permanent Residence (official Immigration Services Agency of Japan website)
CONTACT
Have a visa question? Talk to us first.
Your first consultation is free, and we accept cases from anywhere in Japan. If you are not confident in Japanese, we can assist you in English or Vietnamese.
日本語
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English
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