Complete Guide to the Three Requirements for Permanent Residency in Japan | Updated for the 2026 Guidelines

In recent years, Japan has adopted increasingly stringent measures regarding the acceptance of foreign nationals. Regulatory revisions affecting Business Manager visas, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visas, naturalization, and permanent residency applications have been introduced one after another, resulting in higher screening standards. While public opinion often suggests that permanent residency approval is too lenient—or should be made stricter—the reality is that the Immigration Services Agency is already conducting extremely rigorous examinations in accordance with the law.

In this article, an administrative scrivener provides a comprehensive explanation of the three legal requirements for permanent residency applications based on the Immigration Services Agency Guidelines (revised on February 24, 2026). We will also discuss the amendments to residency-period requirements that will take effect on April 1, 2027, making this a must-read for anyone considering applying for permanent residency in Japan.

This Article Is Also Explained in Video Format

The content of this article is also explained in detail through a video by Yuda, representative of Touch Immigration Law Firm. If you prefer learning through video rather than text, be sure to watch it as well.

What Is the Permanent Resident Status of Residence?

First, let’s clarify what “Permanent Resident” means as a status of residence in Japan.

Permanent Resident is one of the statuses of residence defined under Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. It is categorized as a distinct status alongside others such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and Spouse of a Japanese National.

Two Key Features That Distinguish Permanent Residents

Permanent residency differs from other statuses of residence in two significant ways.

The first is that there is no limit on the period of stay. For example, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visas must be renewed every 1, 3, or 5 years. Permanent residents are not subject to these renewal requirements. Once permanent residency is granted, the status itself remains valid indefinitely.

The second is that there are no restrictions on employment activities. Holders of Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visas are limited to professional work requiring a university-level background, while Family Stay visa holders may work only within the scope permitted by a work authorization. Permanent residents, by contrast, may work in any occupation and may also start their own businesses, just like Japanese nationals.

Because of these advantages, permanent residency provides one of the most stable foundations for life in Japan. For this reason, immigration authorities regard permanent residency screening as the “final stage” of immigration review and conduct examinations with great caution.

Important Note: Permanent Residents Are Still Subject to Revocation and Deportation Procedures

Permanent Resident Status Can Still Be Revoked

Unlike naturalization, obtaining permanent residency does not grant Japanese citizenship. As a result, permanent residents remain subject to the status revocation system and deportation provisions under immigration law. In other words, obtaining permanent residency does not guarantee immunity from immigration consequences. For details, please refer to our separate article, “All Cases in Which Permanent Resident Status Can Be Revoked.”

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Watch the Video ExplanationThis content is also explained in the video below. Please take a look.What is a Permanent Resident?"Permanent Resident" is one of the statuses of residence (commonly known as visas) under the Immigration Control Act. It is also colloquially referred to as "permanent residency" or "permanent residence status." The activities that foreign nationals living in Japan are permitted to engage in within Japan are restricted to the scope of thei...

Overview of the Three Legal Requirements for Permanent Residency

Under Article 22 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, applicants must satisfy three primary legal requirements to obtain permanent residency.

The first is the Good Conduct Requirement, the second is the Independent Livelihood Requirement, and the third is the National Interest Requirement. The following table provides a quick overview.

Let’s now examine each requirement in detail.

Requirement ①: Good Conduct

The first requirement is good conduct.

According to the official guidelines, this means “complying with laws and regulations and living a life that is not socially reprehensible as a resident”. Put simply, it means obeying the law and leading a respectable life.

Because this standard is somewhat abstract, we will explain three key categories that commonly become issues in practice.

Criminal Penalties for Legal Violations

The most straightforward case involves criminal punishment. If an individual has been sentenced to imprisonment, confinement, or a fine, they will generally be considered not to satisfy the good conduct requirement.

However, an important legal concept known as “extinction of penalties” applies.

Individuals Still Subject to Juvenile Protection Measures

The second category concerns individuals who remain under protective measures pursuant to Japan’s Juvenile Act. As this applies only to a limited group of applicants, we will not discuss it in detail here.

Repeated Illegal or Disorderly Conduct

The third category is actually the most common source of consultations. If an applicant repeatedly engages in unlawful behavior or conduct that disrupts public order and morals, they may be found not to satisfy the good conduct requirement.

Typical examples include the following four situations:

Particular attention should be paid to traffic violations and exceeding the limits of work authorization.

With respect to traffic violations, even minor offenses resulting in a blue traffic citation may affect eligibility if they occur frequently. As a practical guideline, three or more violations within the past five years should be regarded as a warning sign. If a driver’s license suspension has been imposed, obtaining permanent residency is generally difficult until at least 5 years have passed from the date of the suspension.

Exceeding the scope of work authorization—commonly referred to as overwork—is another frequent issue among international students and Family Stay visa holders. Evidence of working beyond the 28-hour weekly limit can significantly undermine a permanent residency application. While past violations cannot be erased, it is important to demonstrate subsequent compliance and provide a thorough explanation in a written statement.

Requirement ②: Possessing Sufficient Assets or Skills to Maintain an Independent Livelihood

The second requirement is possessing sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood.

The guidelines define this as “not becoming a burden on public assistance in daily life and being expected to maintain a stable livelihood in the future based on one’s assets, skills, and other circumstances”.

Put more simply, applicants are expected to support themselves without relying on public assistance and demonstrate that they can continue to do so in the future. In practice, this generally means meeting certain income thresholds.

Income Guidelines

For a single applicant, the practical benchmark is generally an annual income of at least 3.5 million yen. Although this figure is not officially published by the Immigration Services Agency, it is widely recognized in practice.

If the applicant has dependents, approximately 200,000 yen should be added for each dependent. For example, if the applicant supports a spouse and two children aged 12 and 6, and the spouse is a homemaker, the applicant would generally need an annual income of at least 4.1 million yen.

Review Period

Another important point is determining how far back immigration authorities will review your income history. The review period varies depending on the applicant’s current status of residence and personal circumstances.

For general permanent residency applications, such as those applying from work visas including Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, applicants must meet the annual income benchmark continuously for the most recent five years.

For applicants applying as the spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident, this period is shortened to the most recent 3 years. The same applies to Highly Skilled Professionals with 70 points or more. Applicants with 80 points or more, or those who qualify as Special Highly Skilled Professionals, only need to satisfy the requirement for the most recent 1 year.

Therefore, if your income dropped significantly for just one year during the past 5 years, this may be evaluated negatively in a general application. However, for spouse visa holders or Highly Skilled Professionals, it may not be an issue if that year falls outside the applicable review period.

Requirement ③ Permanent Residence Must Serve Japan’s National Interests [Most Important]

The third requirement, and the most important section of this article, is the National Interest Requirement.

The guidelines set out five criteria, labeled A, B, C, D, and E. We will examine each in order.

Continuous Residence in Japan for 10 Years or More / “A”

The first criterion is, as a general rule, continuous residence in Japan for 10 years or more.

However, there is an additional breakdown within this requirement. Of those 10 years, the applicant must have resided in Japan continuously for at least 5 years under a work-related status or a residence-based status. Note that among work-related statuses, Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker 1 are not counted toward this 5-year period.

In other words, simply spending 10 years in Japan solely as an international student does not make you eligible to apply for permanent residency. A typical path is 5 years as a student followed by 5 years on a work visa, totaling 10 years.

Here, the meaning of the word continuous is extremely important.

The third point, days spent outside Japan, is especially easy to overlook for applicants who frequently travel overseas for business or return to their home country often to care for parents.

If there is a year in which you spent more than half the year abroad, generally around 180 days or more, that year may be considered a period in which you were not continuously residing in Japan. Without a reasonable explanation, the permanent residency application may become difficult.

In practice, these cases are very common. An effective response is to carefully explain the reasonable grounds for the departures and the applicant’s future plans in Japan in a written statement. Specifically, it is helpful to prepare a list of immigration records showing when, why, and how long the applicant stayed overseas, and to obtain documents from the employer or other relevant parties objectively showing that overseas business trips were necessary for work and that the applicant will continue to maintain their base of life in Japan.

The 8 Exceptions to the 10-Year Rule

The 10-year requirement has 8exception patterns that allow the required period of residence to be shortened depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

The most commonly used exceptions are (1) the spouse exception, (2) the Long-Term Resident exception, and (6)(7)(8) the Highly Skilled Professional-related exceptions.

The spouse exception applies to spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents. Applicants may apply if their marriage has continued for at least 3 years and they have resided in Japan continuously for at least 1 year. Children, meaning biological children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, may apply after residing in Japan for at least 1 year.

Applicants with 70 points or more as Highly Skilled Professionals may apply after 3 years, while those with 80 points or more, or those who qualify as Special Highly Skilled Professionals, may apply after just 1 year. These are significant reductions. In particular, those who qualify under J-Skip, the Special Highly Skilled Professional system introduced in April 2023, face strict requirements for income, educational background, and work experience, but enjoy substantially relaxed permanent residency requirements.

Proper Fulfillment of Public Obligations / “B”

Criterion “B” of the National Interest Requirement concerns the fulfillment of public obligations. It requires that the applicant has not received a fine, imprisonment, or similar penalty, and that the applicant has properly fulfilled obligations such as paying taxes, public pension contributions, public health insurance premiums, and notifications required under the Immigration Control Act.

The following note expressly stated in the guidelines is extremely important.

In other words, even if you later make a lump-sum retroactive payment, the fact that you did not pay by the deadline itself will be evaluated negatively. It is not enough to pay everything once you notice the issue; whether you paid on time is the decisive point, and this is now clearly stated in the guidelines.

To go one step further and explain the current state of practice, if there has been even one late payment during the review period, the application is currently almost always refused. Therefore, if you have any past late payments, we strongly recommend that you do not apply immediately. Instead, you should first build a clean record with no late payments during the applicable review period before applying. For example, if the most recent 5 years are reviewed, you should wait until 5 years have passed from the month in which the late payment occurred.

The review period for public obligations also varies depending on the applicant’s category.

For local taxes, general applicants applying from work visas are reviewed for the most recent 5 years, Highly Skilled Professionals with 70 points for the most recent 3 years, and those with 80 points or more for the most recent 1 year. For pension and health insurance premiums, general applicants are reviewed for the most recent 2 years, while those with 80 points or more are reviewed for the most recent 1 year.

[Extremely Important] Longest Period of Stay / “C”

This is the most important point we want readers to understand in this article.

Criterion “C” of the National Interest Requirement requires that the applicant currently resides in Japan under the longest period of stay prescribed in Appended Table 2 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Control Act for their current status of residence.

Simply put, for example, the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa has three possible periods of stay: 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years. As a general rule, the applicant must hold the “longest” period, meaning 5 years.

However, there is currently an extremely important transitional measure for applicants.

The significance of this transitional measure is extremely important.

Currently, many people applying for permanent residency from work visas such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services do so while holding a 3-year period of stay. In fact, nearly half of the permanent residency applications handled by our firm are filed by applicants holding a 3-year period of stay.

From April 1, 2027, however, a 5-year period of stay will generally be required. In the coming several months to 1 year, you should expect that the hurdle for permanent residency applications will rise by one level.

Therefore, if you currently hold a 3-year period of stay and are considering applying for permanent residency, we strongly recommend deciding your strategy now: proceed with the application by March 2027, or first renew to a 5-year period before applying.

Compliance with Landing Permission Criteria / “D”

Criterion “D” of the National Interest Requirement requires that the applicant, with respect to their current status of residence, complies with the landing permission criteria and other standards prescribed by Ministry of Justice ordinances. For most applicants, this is naturally satisfied if their current status of residence was lawfully obtained and renewed, so it usually does not become an issue.

Public Health Considerations / “E”

The final criterion, “E,” requires that the applicant is not likely to be harmful from a public health perspective. This applies to individuals with Class I infectious diseases, Class II infectious diseases, designated infectious diseases, or new infectious diseases, as well as those with chronic addiction to narcotics, cannabis, opium, stimulants, and similar substances. This also usually does not become an issue.

Summary and Expert Comment

We have now reviewed the three requirements for permanent residency in detail according to the guidelines. Let us summarize the key points once again.

The first is the Good Conduct Requirement. Applicants must not have repeated legal violations, traffic violations, or excessive work beyond the permitted scope of their status.

The second is the Independent Livelihood Requirement. A single applicant generally needs an annual income of at least 3.5 million yen, with an additional approximately 200,000 yen per dependent if they have family members. The review period varies by applicant category and may be the most recent 1, 3, or 5 years.

The third is the National Interest Requirement. As a general rule, 10 years of residence is required, although there are 8 exceptions. For public obligations, timely payment by the deadline is decisive, and retroactive payment after the fact will still be evaluated negatively. The point emphasized in this article—that from April 1, 2027, a 5-year period of stay will generally be required—is an essential issue for anyone currently considering a permanent residency application.

Related Articles

Please also see the other articles in our complete guide series on permanent residency applications.

• Part 2/4: Complete Guide to Required Documents for Permanent Residency｜How to Read the Immigration Website and Case-Specific Pitfalls
• Part 3/4: How to Write a Statement of Reasons for Permanent Residency｜Explained by an Administrative Scrivener with Sample Text by Pattern
• Part 4/4: From Permanent Residency Application to Approval｜An Administrative Scrivener Explains How to Respond If Refused
• Special Article: All Cases in Which Permanent Resident Status Can Be Revoked

We Offer Free Consultations for Permanent Residency Applications

Touch Immigration Law Firm offers free consultations for permanent residency applications. If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements, have a complex case, or find it difficult to assess your situation on your own, please feel free to contact us.

Please contact us anytime through the inquiry form on our website or by phone.