Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You submit your permanent residency application in person at the Immigration Bureau (Nyūkan) office that covers your residence area in Japan. The process involves gathering extensive documentation, submitting it for initial review, and then waiting for a decision while your current visa remains valid.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility and Visa Status
Before preparing documents, verify that you meet the three core legal requirements: good conduct (observing Japanese laws), financial self-sufficiency (stable income), and conformity with national interests (which includes residence duration, public obligation compliance, and visa period requirements).
Check which eligibility route applies to you based on your current visa status:
- Spouse of Japanese national or permanent resident: 1 year of continuous residence required
- Child of Japanese national or permanent resident: 1 year of continuous residence required
- Long-Term Resident (定住者): 5 years of continuous residence required
- Highly Skilled Professional with 80+ points: 1 year of continuous residence required
- Highly Skilled Professional with 70–79 points: 3 years of continuous residence required
- Standard work visa or other status: 10 years total residence, with at least 5 consecutive years under work or residence-based status
- Recognized refugee: 5 years of continuous residence required
Critical deadline: If you hold a 3-year visa, apply before March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, you must hold a 5-year visa to be eligible. If you hold a 3-year visa as of March 31, 2027, you have a grace period to apply under current rules within that visa's validity.
Step 2: Verify Public Obligation Compliance
Review your payment records for the past 4–5 years. You must have:
- Never been sentenced to a fine or imprisonment
- Paid all resident taxes on time (even one late payment within the past 4 years can result in rejection)
- Paid all income taxes on time
- Maintained health insurance continuously and paid all premiums on time (no gaps or late payments within the past 2 years)
- Paid pension contributions on time (no non-payment within the past 2 years)
Obtain official payment certificates from your municipal government office (市役所 or 区役所) and pension provider. These documents are essential and will be scrutinized strictly.
Step 3: Gather Income and Employment Documentation
Collect 3–5 years of income documentation depending on your visa status:
- Employment certificate from your current employer stating your position, salary, and employment period
- Recent payslips (past 3–6 months)
- Tax return documents (確定申告書) or income tax withholding certificates (源泉徴収票) for all required years
- Bank statements showing regular deposits (optional but helpful)
Your annual income should be at least ¥3 million for a single person, ¥4 million for a couple, or ¥4.5 million for a couple with a child. Income must be consistent across all required years—any year below the threshold significantly increases rejection risk.
Step 4: Prepare Your Residence and Travel Record
Gather evidence of your time in Japan:
- Residence card (在留カード) and passport
- Re-entry permit stamps or travel records showing your entry and exit dates
- Proof of residence (rental contract, property deed, or utility bills in your name)
You must have spent significant time physically in Japan—generally more than 6 months per 12-month period. If you have spent more than approximately 100 days per year abroad, prepare supplementary documentation explaining the reason (business travel, family care, etc.).
Step 5: Secure a Guarantor
Identify a guarantor who is either a Japanese national or a foreign national holding permanent resident status. The guarantor's role is moral support—they assist you in complying with Japanese laws, paying taxes and social insurance properly, and supporting your daily life when needed. There is no legal liability for the guarantor.
Obtain a written statement from your guarantor confirming their willingness to support you.
Step 6: Prepare Your Application Form and Photograph
Complete Form 34 (永住許可申請書), the official permanent residency application form. You can download it from the Immigration Services Agency website or obtain it at your local Immigration Bureau.
Prepare a 3 × 4 cm photograph taken within the past 3 months. The photo must show your face clearly against a white or light background.
Step 7: Translate All Documents into Japanese
All documents must be in Japanese or accompanied by certified Japanese translation. If your employment certificate, payslips, tax documents, or other records are in English or another language, arrange for professional translation. Many immigration law offices and translation services in Japan offer this service.
Step 8: Compile Your Complete Document Package
Organize your documents in the order specified by the Immigration Services Agency. The exact checklist varies by visa status, but typically includes:
- Completed application form (Form 34)
- Photograph (3 × 4 cm)
- Passport and residence card (copies)
- Employment certificate
- Payslips and income statements
- Tax payment certificates (resident tax and income tax)
- Pension contribution certificates
- Health insurance premium payment certificates
- Family register (戸籍謄本) if applicable
- Guarantor's written statement
- Proof of residence
- Travel records or re-entry permits
Verify the specific checklist for your visa status on the Immigration Services Agency website or contact your local Immigration Bureau.
Step 9: Submit Your Application In Person
Visit your local Immigration Bureau office in person. Postal submission is not permitted. Bring your complete document package and your passport.
Staff will review your documents on-site. If no issues are found, you will receive a receipt containing your application number and submission date. Keep this receipt—you will need it to check your application status.
Important: Submit your application before your current residence permit expires. If your visa expires while your application is under review, you must renew your current visa as usual.
Step 10: Maintain Compliance During Review
While your application is being reviewed (typically 4–6 months, but often longer):
- Continue renewing your current visa on schedule if needed
- For trips under one year, use the Special Re-Entry Permit (再入国許可) system to preserve your status
- Avoid long stays abroad during the review period
- Continue paying all taxes, insurance, and pension contributions on time
- Do not change jobs if possible; frequent job changes can delay or jeopardize your application
Step 11: Receive Your Decision
The Immigration Services Agency will notify you of the decision by mail. If approved, you will be instructed to visit the Immigration Bureau to receive your Permanent Resident Certificate (永住者証明書) and have your residence card updated.
If rejected, you will receive a refusal notice. Your current visa status is not affected by rejection. Visit the Immigration Bureau for an interview to understand the reasons for refusal, then address those issues and reapply after several months to one year.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Permanent Residency Application (current, as of April 1, 2025) | ¥10,000 |
| Permanent Residency Application (expected, after new legislation takes effect) | ~¥200,000 |
| Residence Card Renewal (every 7 years after approval) | Free |
| Professional Immigration Lawyer Service (optional) | ¥100,000–¥150,000 |
| Document Translation (if needed) | ¥5,000–¥20,000 per document |
Total estimate: ¥10,000–¥170,000 for government fees and professional services combined (current rates). After the fee increase takes effect, expect approximately ¥200,000–¥350,000.
Does not include: Costs for obtaining official documents from your home country (passport renewal, birth certificate, etc.), notarization or apostille fees, courier services, or travel to the Immigration Bureau office.
Processing Time
Standard review period: 4–6 months from submission to decision notification.
Actual processing times: Often exceed one year in major cities like Tokyo, depending on application complexity, documentation completeness, and case clarity.
Pre-application preparation stage: Often takes 1–3 months to gather documents, arrange translations, and prepare your case thoroughly. Weak preparation is a major cause of downstream delays.
Residence card validity during review: Your current residence card remains valid during the review period. If your visa expires before a decision is made, you must renew your current visa as usual.
Re-entry permit validity: If you hold a Special Re-Entry Permit for trips under one year, ensure it does not expire while your application is under review. Missing the re-entry permit deadline can cause your status to lapse.
After approval: Once notified of approval, visit the Immigration Bureau to receive your Permanent Resident Certificate and have your residence card updated. This final step typically takes 1–2 weeks.