How to Obtain Permanent Residency from a Long-Term Resident Visa

What Is a Long-Term Resident Visa?

A Long-Term Resident visa is a Status of Residence under which the Minister of Justice grants residence to individual foreign nationals in consideration of special circumstances, and it requires humanitarian or other special reasons. Examples of those who reside in Japan on this visa include third- and fourth-generation Japanese descendants, the dependent children of those married to a Japanese national, the divorced or bereaved spouses of Japanese nationals, and the biological children of Permanent Residents.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan on a Long-Term Resident visa generally have deep ties with Japan, and many have lived in Japan since childhood and wish to continue living here on a long-term, stable basis. For this reason, it is likely that many holders of this visa have at some point considered applying for Permanent Residence.

This page explains the key points for obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident visa.

Requirements for Obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident Visa

There are six requirements for obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident visa, as follows:

① Regarding the Period of Stay

As a general rule, an applicant for Permanent Residence must have resided in Japan continuously for 10 years or more. However, a person residing in Japan on a Long-Term Resident visa can satisfy this residence requirement with 5 or more years of residence in Japan. That said, the approach to departures from Japan is the same as for Permanent Residence applications from other Statuses of Residence: if departures are frequent, the count toward the continuous 5-year requirement may be reset. A single departure of 90 days or more, or departures totaling more than half a year within one year, will be treated as a negative factor in the Permanent Residence review.

② The applicant must be residing under the longest period of stay prescribed in Appended Table 2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act for the Status of Residence currently held.

This requirement demands that the period of stay currently granted under the Long-Term Resident Status of Residence be the longest. In other words, even if you hold a Long-Term Resident Status of Residence, this requirement is not satisfied if the period of stay granted is only 1 year. The periods of stay available under the Long-Term Resident Status of Residence are 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years. While one might assume that a 5-year period is required, a period of stay of 3 years or more is sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

③ The applicant must have sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living.

When obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident visa, the conditions concerning income are largely the same as for applications from other Statuses of Residence. We are often asked how much income is required, but the standard varies depending on individual circumstances. As a guideline, an annual income of 3 million yen or more is required, with an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yen for each dependent.

Holders of a Long-Term Resident visa tend to have many relatives living together with them in Japan, so particular care should be taken regarding the number of dependents being claimed. Income is assessed based on the taxation certificate issued by the municipality, and the period to be submitted is the most recent 5 years — the same as for applications from other Statuses of Residence.

④ The applicant must not be a burden on public funds in daily life, and based on their assets, skills, etc., must be expected to lead a stable life in the future.

If you are receiving public assistance and have become a burden on public funds, obtaining Permanent Residence will be difficult. Holders of a Long-Term Resident visa need to pay particular attention to this requirement. The reason is that even if the applicant themselves is not receiving public assistance, the Permanent Residence application can still be affected if a relative living in Japan is receiving it.

This is because Japanese law imposes a duty of support — if there are relatives in financial difficulty, the applicant is obligated to support them. However, the mere fact that a relative is receiving public assistance does not automatically result in denial of the Permanent Residence application. The decision is made comprehensively, taking into account factors such as the applicant’s income and the amount they actually contribute to household living expenses.

⑤ The applicant must be of good conduct.

This means complying with the law and leading a life as a resident that is not socially criticized in daily life.

The review here covers past imprisonment, fines, and traffic violations. If you have received imprisonment or a fine in the past, we recommend waiting a period of time after the date of disposition before applying. The length of time to wait varies depending on the severity of the sentence and the amount of the fine paid, but as a general guideline, it ranges from 5 to 10 years.

For traffic violations, the treatment differs depending on whether an administrative penalty or a criminal penalty was imposed. Minor violations such as failing to stop at a stop sign fall under administrative penalties, and a few such instances are generally not a problem. Drunk driving and serious speeding fall under criminal penalties, and if you have committed such an offense, we recommend waiting a period of time after the date of disposition before applying.

⑥ The applicant must not have received a fine, imprisonment, or similar penalty. The applicant must have properly fulfilled public duties (payment of taxes, payment of public pension and public health insurance premiums, notification obligations stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc.).

Resident tax and pension premiums must have been paid at the appropriate times. Unpaid amounts are out of the question; even if payments have been completed, any delays past the payment deadlines will make it difficult to obtain approval. A Permanent Residence application requires that the appropriate taxes have been paid at the appropriate times.

Key Points for Obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident Visa

This page has outlined the key points for obtaining Permanent Residence from a Long-Term Resident visa. While residing in Japan on a Long-Term Resident visa somewhat eases the residence requirement, the other requirements are essentially the same as for applications from other Statuses of Residence.