What Documents Does the Personal Guarantor Need for a Permanent Residence Application?

What Is a Personal Guarantor in a Permanent Residence Application?

A Permanent Residence application requires a personal guarantor. So, what kind of person can serve as a guarantor, and what responsibilities do they bear? Furthermore, what kinds of documents does the guarantor submit to the Immigration Bureau?

This page explains the personal guarantor in a Permanent Residence application.

Who Can Serve as a Personal Guarantor in a Permanent Residence Application

The only people recognized as personal guarantors for a foreign national applying for Permanent Residence are “Japanese nationals and Permanent Residents.” The relationship between the applicant and the guarantor can be that of family or friend.

A fundamental premise is that the guarantor must have stable, continuous income. Even a “Japanese national or Permanent Resident” who has no income does not satisfy the requirements for a guarantor. Therefore, you need to have a “Japanese national or Permanent Resident” who has stable, continuous income serve as your guarantor.

The reason the guarantor is limited to “Japanese nationals and Permanent Residents” is that someone residing in Japan over the long term is considered desirable for this role.

In other words, no matter how much income or how many assets a person may have, someone who only stays in Japan for a short period cannot serve as a personal guarantor.

Also, no matter how long someone has resided in Japan on a Status of Residence other than Permanent Resident, they will not be recognized as a personal guarantor. The guarantor must always be a “Japanese national or Permanent Resident.”

Note that a relative can also serve as a personal guarantor.

Therefore, when foreign nationals such as Spouses or Children of Japanese Nationals, Spouses or Children of Permanent Residents, or Dependent visa holders apply for Permission for Permanent Residence (Permanent Residence rights), the applicant’s spouse or other relatives can serve as personal guarantors if they are “Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents with income or assets.”

If a relative meets the requirements for a guarantor, having that relative serve as guarantor is the smoothest course. If no relative meets the requirements, you will need to ask a colleague, supervisor at work, or a friend.

The Responsibilities of a Personal Guarantor in a Permanent Residence Application

Under the Immigration Control Act, since the personal guarantor vouches for the foreign national’s character and standing, the role is filled by Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents who have stable income in Japan and have properly fulfilled their tax obligations. The matters the guarantor vouches for are the following three.

However, under the Immigration Control Act, the personal guarantor’s responsibility is moral in nature, and the three items pledged to the Minister of Justice are not considered legally enforceable. As a result, although there may be cases where the guarantor ends up fulfilling these as a moral responsibility, they are not, for example, legally obligated to bear repatriation expenses.

Furthermore, even if the foreign national loses their job and ends up receiving livelihood protection, there is no legal compulsion requiring the guarantor to bear the foreign national’s living expenses.

Documents the Personal Guarantor Submits for a Permanent Residence Application

When you serve as a personal guarantor for a foreign national applying for Permanent Residence, you must submit documents to the Immigration Bureau. The documents that the guarantor submits are summarized below for reference.

Documents Related to the Personal Guarantee

(1) Letter of Personal Guarantee

* Forms are available at Regional Immigration Services Bureaus. They can also be obtained from the Immigration Bureau’s website.

(2) The Following Documents Concerning the Personal Guarantor

Please submit (a) through (c) below.

a. Documents Proving Occupation

A certificate of employment, etc. For officers and the like, a certified copy of the company’s commercial registration is also acceptable.

b. Documents Proving Income for the Most Recent Period (Past 1 Year)

A resident tax taxation certificate, a copy of the withholding tax statement, or similar documents.

* These are issued by the municipality where you reside.
* For the above, either of the two is acceptable, provided the certificate shows both the total annual income and the tax payment status (whether taxes have been paid).

c. Certificate of Residence (1 Copy)

* If a relative of the Permanent Residence applicant serves as guarantor, the certificate of residence may overlap with that of the applicant; in such cases, submitting a single combined copy is sufficient.

* The Individual Number (My Number) should be omitted.

Since the documents the guarantor submits include the most recent 1 year’s taxation certificate and tax payment certificate, the guarantor is required not only to have sufficient income but also to have properly fulfilled their tax obligations.

Key Points on the Documents Required of the Personal Guarantor in a Permanent Residence Application

This page has explained the personal guarantor in a Permanent Residence application. The key points are:

These are the 4 key points.

If you are having difficulties with the personal guarantor for your Permanent Residence application, please feel free to contact our office.