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🇯🇵 Japan

Permanent Residence (Japan)

Japanese Permanent Residency Application

Hard ~45 min ImmigrationJapanPermanent Residence

/ What is this form?

Permanent Residence (永住者) is the highest category of residence status available to foreign nationals in Japan. Unlike other visa statuses that restrict work activities, require periodic renewal, and tie you to a specific employer or institution, permanent residence imposes no limitations on activities, is renewed every 7 years (only the residence card, not the status itself), and gives the holder the same rights as Japanese nationals in most civil matters.

Obtaining permanent residence in Japan has historically been considered one of the most demanding processes in the world's immigration systems, requiring not just 10 years of continuous residence but documented compliance with Japanese tax, pension, and health insurance obligations, as well as a demonstration of integration into Japanese society. The process is highly discretionary — the Immigration Services Agency has wide latitude in its decisions.

Fast-track pathways exist: the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) point system allows PR after as little as 1 year for those scoring 80+ points and 3 years for 70+ points. Spouses of Japanese nationals who have been married for 3+ years and resided in Japan for 1+ years may also qualify on an expedited basis.

/ Who needs this form?

  • Foreign nationals who have lived in Japan continuously for 10+ years and wish to stay permanently
  • Highly Skilled Professionals with 70+ points who have been in Japan for 3+ years (or 80+ points for 1+ year)
  • Spouses of Japanese nationals who have been married for 3+ years and lived in Japan for at least 1 year
  • Long-term residents who want to remove restrictions on work activities or employment changes
  • People establishing businesses or significant investments in Japan who need long-term certainty

/ What you need before you start

Completed application form (最新版, from the ISA website)
Valid passport and current residence card
Passport-size photo (4cm × 3cm)
Guarantor form signed by a Japanese national or permanent resident
Reason letter (理由書) explaining motivation and ties to Japan
5 years of income tax returns and payment receipts
5 years of pension payment records
5 years of health insurance payment records
Employment contract or business registration documents
Document proving continuous residence (copies of all previous residence cards, passport entry/exit stamps)

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Confirm Eligibility Requirements
Standard route: 10 years of continuous residence in Japan, with the last 5 years on a continuous working or residence visa (not student or dependent). Simplified routes: 3 years for Highly Skilled Professional (70+ points) with 3 years on HSP status; 1 year for HSP with 80+ points; 3 years for spouse of Japanese national (if married 3+ years and residing 1+ years in Japan). You must also show good conduct, financial stability, and compliance with all Japanese laws.
2 Prepare Tax and Social Insurance Compliance Documents
Japan places great weight on tax and social insurance compliance. Gather 5 years of: personal income tax returns and payment receipts, pension payment records (national pension or employee pension insurance), national health insurance or employee health insurance payment records. Any period of non-payment is a significant negative factor.
3 Write a Reason Letter (理由書)
Submit a detailed letter explaining why you wish to obtain permanent residence in Japan, your contributions to Japanese society, your long-term intentions, your ties to Japan (family, property, business), and your plan for the future. This letter significantly affects the discretionary assessment.
4 Obtain a Guarantor (身元保証人)
A guarantor (Japanese national or permanent resident) who knows you personally must sign a guarantor form. The guarantor states that they will supervise your conduct and ensure you comply with Japanese laws. This is a formal legal commitment.
5 Submit to Regional Immigration Services Agency
Submit the complete application in person or by designated agent at the regional Immigration Services Agency office with jurisdiction over your residence. Processing takes 4 months to over 1 year in some cases. You will be notified by postcard when a decision is made.

/ Key fields explained

Field What to enter Common mistake
Continuous Residence Document proving you have resided continuously in Japan for the required period — typically shown through previous residence card copies, passport stamps, and residence certificate (住民票) history. Not documenting periods between visa renewals — gaps in residence card validity that were due to application processing (applied before expiry) do not break continuous residence, but must be documented.
Tax Payment Records 5 years of income tax returns (確定申告書) with payment receipts, or withholding tax slips (源泉徴収票) if salaried, and municipal tax payment receipts (住民税納税証明書). Providing only national tax records and omitting municipal (residence) tax records — both are required. Municipal taxes are assessed by your ward office, not the national tax authority.
Reason Letter (理由書) A detailed personal letter (typically 1-3 pages) explaining: how long you have lived in Japan, your integration into Japanese society, contributions to your community and employer, family ties, property ownership, future plans, and specific reasons for seeking permanent status. Submitting a generic or short letter — the reason letter is one of the most important discretionary documents. Specific, personal, and detailed letters carry significantly more weight.

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Applying before the 10-year requirement without meeting one of the fast-track criteria — applications submitted prematurely are automatically rejected.
Pension payment gaps — even a few months of unpaid national pension is cited as a reason for denial. Retrospective payment is possible but must be completed before application.
Not maintaining a guarantor relationship — the guarantor must know you personally and be willing to vouch for you formally. They should be contacted and agree before you name them.
Extensive time outside Japan — extended overseas stays (especially multiple trips exceeding 3 months) raise concerns about genuine continuous residence.

/ Frequently asked questions

Can I lose permanent residence in Japan?

Yes. Permanent residence can be revoked if: you acquire the nationality of another country and renounce Japanese permanent residence, you commit a serious crime, you leave Japan for more than 5 consecutive years without re-entry permission, or you fraudulently obtained the status.

Do I still need to carry a residence card as a permanent resident?

Yes. All foreign residents in Japan (including permanent residents) must carry their residence card (在留カード) at all times and present it upon request by immigration or police officials.

Can my spouse and children get permanent residence at the same time?

Each family member must apply separately and individually meet the eligibility requirements. Spouses of permanent residents can apply under the 'Spouse of Permanent Resident' status, which has somewhat different requirements.

What happens to my permanent residence if I divorce a Japanese national?

Permanent residence is not conditional on marriage — once granted as 'Eijūsha,' your status is not affected by divorce. This is different from 'Spouse of Japanese National' status, which would require re-evaluation after divorce.