Permanent Resident Visa

Eligibility Quiz

What's Happening

Coming up

Mar 31, 2027

Transitional grace period expires for applicants holding 3-year work visas; after this date, applicants must hold a 5-year visa to qualify for permanent residency applications (strict enforcement begins April 1, 2027).

japantimes.co.jp ↗

Mar 31, 2027

Deadline for implementing new permanent residency application fee structure; actual fees will be determined by Cabinet ordinance before this date, with implementation expected before end of fiscal year 2027.

japantimes.co.jp ↗

Today

Japan's permanent resident visa pathway is significantly tightening as of March 2026, with stricter visa duration requirements (5-year maximum stay now mandatory), substantially higher application fees (expected to rise 20-30 fold), stricter financial compliance scrutiny, and a transitional grace period ending March 31, 2027 for applicants holding 3-year visas.

Apr 1, 2026

Japan tightened citizenship (naturalization) requirements, doubling the minimum residency period from 5 years to 10 years and extending tax payment verification from 1 year to 5 years and social insurance verification from 1 year to 2 years.

japantimes.co.jp ↗

Mar 10, 2026

Japan's Cabinet approved a bill to dramatically increase immigration fee caps for the first time since 1982, raising the permanent residency application fee ceiling from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000 (expected actual fee around ¥200,000) and visa extension fees from ¥6,000 to up to ¥100,000.

japantimes.co.jp ↗

Mar 9, 2026

New mandatory pledge requirement took effect for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa holders, requiring both dispatching companies and client companies to submit formal written pledges confirming work duties align with visa status.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp ↗

Feb 24, 2026

Japan's Immigration Services Agency revised permanent residency guidelines, requiring applicants to hold the maximum period of stay (typically 5 years) for their visa category at time of application, ending the previous practice of accepting 3-year visas.

japantimes.co.jp ↗