{ "name": "Japan permanent residence (永住許可) guideline rules", "rulesAsOf": "2026-10-18", "revisionPublished": "2026-10-01", "applicationBands": [ { "filed": "up to 2026-03-31", "applies": "2026-02-24 guideline" }, { "filed": "2026-04-01 to 2027-03-31", "applies": "2026-02-24 guideline, but income (2(4)(2)) and not-a-public-burden (2(5)(7)) of the 2026-10-01 revision (ISA: 'only the income-related parts'); covers applications already filed in this window too" }, { "filed": "from 2027-04-01", "applies": "2026-10-01 revised guideline in full" } ], "timeRequirements": [ { "route": "general", "label": "General route: 10 years in Japan (5 on a work or residence status)", "upTo20270331": "10+ years continuous residence, including 5+ continuous years on a work or residence status", "from20270401": "10+ years continuous residence, including 5+ continuous years on a work or residence status" }, { "route": "spouse", "label": "Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident", "upTo20270331": "substantive marriage 3+ years and 1+ year continuous residence", "from20270401": "substantive marriage 5+ years and 3+ years continuous residence" }, { "route": "child", "label": "Biological / specially adopted child of a Japanese national, PR or SPR", "upTo20270331": "1+ year continuous residence", "from20270401": "3+ years continuous residence" }, { "route": "long_term_resident", "label": "Long-Term Resident (定住者)", "upTo20270331": "5+ years continuous residence as a Long-Term Resident", "from20270401": "5+ years continuous residence as a Long-Term Resident" }, { "route": "refugee", "label": "Recognized refugee or complementary protection holder", "upTo20270331": "5+ years continuous residence after recognition", "from20270401": "5+ years continuous residence after recognition" }, { "route": "hsp70", "label": "Highly Skilled Professional points: 70+", "upTo20270331": "70+ HSP points kept for 3+ years of continuous residence", "from20270401": "70+ HSP points kept for 3+ years of continuous residence" }, { "route": "hsp80", "label": "Highly Skilled Professional points: 80+", "upTo20270331": "80+ HSP points kept for 1+ year of continuous residence", "from20270401": "80+ HSP points kept for 1+ year of continuous residence" }, { "route": "special_hsp", "label": "Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip)", "upTo20270331": "1+ year as (or meeting the criteria of) a Special Highly Skilled Professional", "from20270401": "1+ year as (or meeting the criteria of) a Special Highly Skilled Professional" }, { "route": "contribution", "label": "Contribution to Japan (awards, public roles etc.)", "upTo20270331": "recognized contribution to Japan and 5+ years in Japan", "from20270401": "recognized contribution to Japan and 5+ years in Japan" }, { "route": "special_zone_regional", "label": "Special zone / regional revitalization plan activity", "upTo20270331": "3+ years continuous residence in the special zone / regional revitalization activity", "from20270401": "3+ years continuous residence in the special zone / regional revitalization activity" } ], "workStatusExclusions": { "upTo20270331": [ "Technical Intern Training", "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" ], "from20270401": [ "Technical Intern Training", "Employment for Skill Development", "Specified Skilled Worker (i)", "Intra-company Transferee", "some Designated Activities (working holiday, internship, high-school graduates' employment)" ], "notCountedTowardTenYears": [ "Designated Activities for job hunting, job-offer waiting, start-up after graduation, pending refugee applications, stays due to unrest at home" ] }, "longestPeriodOfStay": "Must hold the longest period of stay for your status (usually 5 years). A 3-year period counts for filings up to 2027-03-31; from 2027-04-01 only if held on 2027-03-31, the PR application is the first filed from 2027-04-01, and the decision comes before that 3-year period expires.", "absences": "From 2027-04-01 filings: in the 10 years before filing, one trip of 6 months or more, or 2 years 6 months or more abroad in total, without a reasonable reason, is generally assessed negatively. This tool treats a trip as 6 months or more if the return date is on or after the same day 6 months later, and 2 years 6 months as 913 days (ISA publishes no day-count method).", "revisedFactors": [ "Household income above the Japanese average for the household size (amount not published)", "Projected pension vs. 30 years of Employees' Pension at that income level, or financial assets to cover the gap (amounts not published)", "Japanese at CEFR B1 or above (exempt: HSP and family, 6+ years schooling in Japan, PR's child born in Japan with a B1 parent); assessment method to be announced", "Understanding of Japan's rules (Living and Working Guidebook); method to be announced", "School-age children attending elementary / junior high school", "Not a public burden (also for spouses / children)" ], "fees": { "permanentResidencePermissionJPY": 200000 }, "sources": [ "https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00279.html", "https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001471577.pdf", "https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/eizyuu_00001.html", "https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html", "https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/pcm/1040?CLASSNAME=PCM1040&id=315000140&Mode=1", "https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/01_00644.html" ], "disclaimer": "Educational guide to the Immigration Services Agency's published permanent residence guidelines, not immigration or legal advice. Permission is at the Minister of Justice's broad discretion; meeting every factor here does not mean you will be approved. ISA does not publish its income, pension or asset thresholds. Check with ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer / gyoseishoshi before you file.", "docs": "https://japan-pr-check.vercel.app/openapi.json", "checker": "https://japan-pr-check.vercel.app/api/check" }