Permanent residency in Japan: stricter rules from April 2027

Permanent residency changes: dates in 2026 and 2027

The fee rose on 1 October 2026, and the stricter guideline applies to applications from 1 April 2027.

Permanent residency requirements

From the Immigration Services Agency's guideline revised 24 February 2026. The revision of 1 October 2026 replaces it for applications from 1 April 2027 (see Changes in 2027):

• In principle, 10 years living in Japan without a break, including 5 years on a work or residence status (Technical Intern Training (技能実習, ginou jisshuu) and Specified Skilled Worker (i) (特定技能1号, Tokutei Ginou 1-go) do not count)
• Good conduct: you follow the law and live without social reproach
• Enough income or skills to live without being a public burden
• No fines or prison sentences, and taxes, pension, health insurance and immigration notifications all paid and filed properly
• Your current status must have the longest period of stay allowed for it. Until 31 March 2027, a 3-year period of stay counts as the longest.

Paying late counts against you even if you paid before applying. (Immigration Services Agency)

Shorter routes to permanent residency

From 1 April 2027 the spouse route is longer: Spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident: 5 years of marriage and 3 years in Japan. Their children: 3 years in Japan.

Highly Skilled Professional points for permanent residency

These points decide which Highly Skilled Professional route under shorter routes you qualify for. The table covers specialized and technical work. Researchers and business managers have their own columns on the agency's points sheet.

The status needs at least 70 points in total, and for specialized or technical work an annual salary of at least ¥3 million. Sources: Ministry of Justice ordinance (in Japanese), points sheet; both read on 3 October 2026. The sheet lists every bonus item.

How to apply

• Apply at the regional immigration office for your address
• A guarantor is usually a Japanese national or permanent resident living in Japan
• Standard processing time: 4 to 6 months. Actual average for permits issued in July 2026: 310.2 days.
• If your current stay expires while you wait, apply to extend it separately
• There is no appeal against a refusal

Sources: application procedure, processing times (Immigration Services Agency).

Fees from 1 October 2026

• Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee (¥10,000), even if approved later
• From 1 October 2026: ¥200,000, paid at the counter
• A reduced ¥20,000 fee exists only for spouses or children of Japanese nationals and permanent residents who meet hardship criteria

Visa extension and change of status also cost more

Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee, ¥6,000 at the counter or ¥5,500 online, even if granted later. From 1 October the fee depends on the period of stay you are granted:

Online payment is by convenience store or bank only, plus a handling fee. Source: Immigration Services Agency fee notice.

Changes coming in 2027

Revocation for unpaid taxes and insurance (law passed)

• From 1 April 2027, permanent residency can be revoked for willfully not paying taxes or social insurance
• People who cannot pay because of illness or unemployment are not the target
• In most cases the status is changed to Long-Term Resident, not removed
• You can apply for permanent residency again later

Stricter requirements (final guideline, from 1 April 2027)

The Immigration Services Agency published its final permanent residency guideline on 1 October 2026. The guideline applies to applications from 1 April 2027. The income test and the test of not being a burden on public funds also apply to applications filed from 1 April 2026 that were still pending on 1 October 2026. The guideline lists factors the agency considers, and each decision stays discretionary.

Income and pension

• Household income that stays above the average income of Japanese households of the same size
• Income of family members on a status that is not a work status, such as Dependent, is not added to the household income
• Relatives you support add to the household size even if they live abroad, and a household of 5 or more gets a higher income level
• Expected pension at the level of 30 years of employee pension at that income level
• A pension shortfall can be covered by financial assets, and the amount needed is lower the younger you are

Japanese and Japan's rules

• Japanese at B1 (intermediate) level or higher on Japan’s national framework for Japanese-language ability
• No B1 test for Highly Skilled Professionals and their families, for people with 6 or more years of Japanese elementary or secondary school, or for Japan-born children of permanent residents whose parent has B1, among other cases
• A check of your understanding of Japan’s rules, based mainly on the Life and Work Guidebook, by a method the agency’s Commissioner will set

Time in Japan and family

• Without a reasonable reason, one trip abroad of 6 months or more, or 2 years 6 months or more abroad in total in the past 10 years, counts against you
• The 5 years on a work status do not count Technical Intern Training, Employment for Skill Development, Specified Skilled Worker (i), Intra-company Transferee or some Designated Activities
• For applications filed from 1 April 2027, a 3-year period of stay counts as the longest only if you had it on 31 March 2027, it is your first application from that date, and it is decided before that stay ends
• Children of compulsory school age must be attending elementary or junior high school

The guideline text gives no yen figure for the income level or for the savings that can cover a pension gap, and it does not say how the B1 check will be done.

Source: permanent residency guideline, revised 1 October 2026 (Immigration Services Agency).

After permanent residency

Some card companies look at your period of stay, so compare credit cards that accept foreign residents. If you are still working toward it, Japanese lessons help with the B1 level.

If you leave Japan instead, part of your pension payments may be refundable, but claiming erases those months of coverage: see the pension refund guide.