For Those Whose Permanent Residence Application Was Denied

What If Your Permanent Residence Application Is Denied?

Many people who file a Permanent Residence application on their own end up being denied. The Permanent Residence approval rate in 2020 was about 50%, meaning that one in two foreign nationals who applied was denied.

When a Permanent Residence application is denied, you must reapply. This article explains what kind of response is needed to obtain Permanent Residence through reapplication.

First, Confirm the Reasons for Denial

In preparation for reapplication, you first need to confirm the reasons for the denial of Permanent Residence. The reasons can be confirmed at the Immigration Bureau where the application was filed; an Immigration Bureau staff member (not the one who handled your review) will explain the reasons for denial. What requires attention here is that, while the Immigration Bureau is required to convey the reasons for denial, they have no obligation to convey all of them. Therefore, in this denial interview, it is important to confirm every single reason for denial and to confirm what should be done so that there is a prospect of approval upon reapplication.

If you have concerns about confirming the reasons for denial, it is a good idea to ask an administrative scrivener office specializing in Permanent Residence applications to accompany you to the Immigration Bureau. They can scrutinize the reasons for denial and map out a path for whether — and how — you can obtain Permanent Residence approval upon reapplication.

Permanent Residence Denial Reason Accompaniment Service: 27,500 yen (tax included)

Our administrative scriveners accompany you to the Immigration Bureau and confirm the reasons for the Permanent Residence denial together with you.

Main Reasons Permanent Residence Applications Are Denied

First, the main reasons Permanent Residence applications are denied fall into 2 categories.

When You Do Not Meet the Approval Requirements in the First Place

This can occur when you apply on your own based on information from the internet or your own judgment. In this case, the Immigration Bureau has determined that, as of the current point in time, “the approval requirements are not met.” You need to properly check the requirements for a Permanent Residence application and put your situation in order so that the requirements are met before reapplying.

In this case, because creating a situation that immediately satisfies the requirements is difficult, it is expected that a certain period of time will be needed before reapplying.

When There Are Deficiencies in the Documents or the Explanation of Circumstances Is Insufficient

In this case, if you had properly submitted documents and had submitted a written statement explaining the circumstances regarding any disadvantageous matters, there is a possibility that approval would have been granted.

In other words, by confirming the reasons for denial, if it appears that the reasons for denial can be cleared, there is a possibility that you can immediately reapply and obtain Permanent Residence approval.

If you are unsure what kinds of documents to collect or what content to include in the written statement for reapplication, we recommend consulting an administrative scrivener office specializing in Permanent Residence applications.

4 Specific Reasons Permanent Residence Applications Are Denied

Having introduced the 2 patterns in which Permanent Residence applications are denied above, we will now introduce 4 specific reasons. Most cases of denial fall under one of the following, so please check these and prepare for reapplication.

① The Income Requirement Is Not Satisfied

For income in a Permanent Residence application, those holding work-related visas applying for Permanent Residence have the most recent 5 years reviewed, and those holding status-based visas (such as Spouse of Japanese National) have the most recent 3 years reviewed.
Income is, as a rule, verified based on the resident tax taxation certificate issued by the municipal office.

Income guideline: 3 million yen or more

On a work visa, you need annual income of 3 million yen or more for 5 consecutive years up to the date of application. In addition, if you have dependents such as a spouse or children, an additional 300,000 yen per dependent is required.

Example) Husband’s Status of Residence: Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
Wife’s Status of Residence: Dependent
* The wife is claimed as a dependent of the husband.

If you want to obtain Permanent Residence in the above case, it is desirable for the husband to have an annual income of at least 3.3 million yen.

* The wife’s part-time income earned on the Dependent visa cannot, as a rule, be added to household income. If the wife also holds a work-related Status of Residence like the husband, there is a high possibility that her income can also be considered as part of household income.

In addition, in the case of a Spouse or Child of Japanese National and similar cases where a foreign national is claimed as a dependent of their husband or wife, it is fine to consider matters starting from the Japanese spouse’s annual income.

② There Are Late or Unpaid Taxes, Pension, or Insurance Premiums

At the time of a Permanent Residence application, you submit payment certificates for resident tax for the most recent 5 years and for pension and insurance premiums for the most recent 2 years.

In other words, if there are unpaid amounts or delays in payment during the above periods, the Permanent Residence application is highly likely to be denied. Company employees who have these withheld from their salary have no need for concern, but sole proprietors who pay on their own — and even company employees, who can have missed payments during unemployed periods between jobs — need to be careful.

③ Long Periods Outside Japan

A Permanent Residence application has a residence requirement: as a general rule, you must have continuously lived in Japan for 10 years or more.

* For spouses of Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents, 1 year is sufficient if 3 years have passed since marriage.

For Highly Skilled Professionals, 3 years applies for those with 70 points or more, and 1 year for those with 80 points or more.

Within the above residence period, if you have been outside Japan for 100 days or more in a year due to overseas business trips or the like, you may fail the residence requirement and be highly likely to be denied.

However, even with 100 days or more outside Japan in a year, if there are reasonable grounds for the departures, there is a possibility of approval, so for those with frequent long-term departures due to overseas business trips, it is important to properly explain the reasons and purposes in writing.

④ When There Are Deficiencies in the Written Statement of Reasons or Attached Documents

At the time of a Permanent Residence application, you describe the reasons you wish to obtain Permanent Residence in writing. However, if there are contradictions between this content and the application documents, or if you include unnecessary material, you may end up at a disadvantage in the review. In addition, as described above, if there are insufficient explanations of reasons or background for matters such as frequent departures, along with supporting materials, applications that could otherwise have been approved may end up being denied.

A Permanent Residence application is a review that decides whether to grant Japan’s Permanent Residence, so the Immigration Bureau also exercises extremely careful judgment. The requirements for Permanent Residence cover a wide range, and to obtain Permanent Residence, you must satisfy all the requirements and be judged as a person to whom Japan’s Permanent Residence may safely be granted.

Our Office’s Permanent Residence Visa Support Plans

Permission for Permanent Residence application (When the applicant is a company employee)	120,000 yen + tax
Permanent Residence visa application (When the applicant is a company officer)	130,000 yen + tax
Per additional family member	+40,000 yen + tax

Services Provided

Our office has a refund policy: in the unlikely event that your Permanent Residence application is denied, we will fully refund the fees. * Some exceptions apply.