Permanent residence in Japan: requirements, the new fee and how to apply

Rules and fees change often. Last checked: 7 November 2026. Always confirm with the official sources below before you apply.

Permanent residence (永住者, eijūsha) is a status with no limits on the kind of work you do and no fixed period of stay. You apply from inside Japan, at the regional immigration bureau for your address. There is no appeal if you are refused.

Big changes in 2026–2027. (1) The fee rose from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 for applications received from 1 October 2026; applications received by 30 September 2026 pay ¥10,000, even if approved later (ISA permanent residence page). (2) From 1 April 2027, a permanent resident’s status can be cancelled for intentionally not paying taxes and social charges, for not following duties under the Immigration Act, or for a prison sentence for certain crimes. (3) ISA revised the permanent residence guideline on 1 October 2026. Which version applies depends on when you apply: see Which guideline applies to you below.

Which guideline applies to you

• Applied by 31 March 2026: the guideline revised on 24 February 2026.
• Apply between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027: the 24 February 2026 guideline, except for income. Two parts of the new guideline already apply to you: the household income level and “not being a burden on the public”.
• Apply from 1 April 2027: the whole revised guideline (1 October 2026). On 31 March 2027, the separate guideline for people with “contributions to Japan” is abolished; the 5-year route for contributions stays inside the new guideline.

Who it is for

People who have built a long, stable life in Japan: for example, people on work statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, their families, and spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents.

Requirements

The law has three requirements: good conduct, independent living, and that your permanent residence is in Japan’s interest. Both guidelines explain them the same way in most points:

• Good conduct: you follow the law and live without causing social problems.
• Independent living: you are not a burden on the public, and your income, assets or skills promise a stable future.
• Long stay: in principle 10 years or more of continuous stay in Japan, including at least 5 years on a work status or a residence status. Years on Technical Intern Training and SSW (i) do not count toward the 5.
• Clean record and duties: no fines or prison sentences; taxes, public pension and public health insurance paid properly; immigration notifications (such as your address) made.
• Longest period of stay: you must hold the longest period of stay for your current status. For applications up to 31 March 2027, a 3-year period is treated as the longest. After that, it still counts once: if you held a 3-year period on 31 March 2027, it is your first application from 1 April 2027, and the decision comes before that 3-year period ends.

Paid late is not paid on time. Even if everything is paid when you apply, payments made after the original due date are, in principle, counted against you. Under the revised guideline, past tax arrears and past breaches of notification duties count against you even if they were fixed later.

Spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents do not need to meet the good conduct and independent living requirements.

Income and pension (new)

• Income (already applies to applications from 1 April 2026): your household’s yearly income must continuously reach the average income of Japanese households of the same size. The guideline does not give a yen amount. Relatives you support count in the household size, even if they live abroad. A family member on the Dependent status counts as a household member, and their part-time income is not added.
• Pension (from 1 April 2027): ISA estimates the pension you can expect. It should reach the level of about 30 years in the employees’ pension at that income. If it does not, savings that can cover the gap count instead. The savings needed depend on your age.

Other new points from 1 April 2027

• Japanese at B1 level is a factor (see Japanese level below).
• Rules of life in Japan: ISA checks that you understand Japan’s systems and rules, mainly the contents of its “Life and Work Guidebook”, by a method ISA sets.
• School-age children you raise must attend primary or junior high school.
• Time abroad: in the last 10 years, one absence of 6 months or more, or 2 years 6 months abroad in total, counts against you unless there was a reasonable reason.
• What counts as a work status: Technical Intern Training, ESD, SSW (i), Intra-company Transferee and some Designated Activities do not count toward the 5 years.

Shorter routes

• Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident: a real marriage for 3 years or more and 1 year in Japan (24 February 2026 guideline). From 1 April 2027: 5 years of marriage and 3 years in Japan. Their biological children: 1 year in Japan, 3 years from 1 April 2027.
• Long-Term Resident status: 5 years of continuous stay.
• Refugees and people granted complementary protection: 5 years after recognition.
• People recognised for contributions to Japan (diplomacy, society, economy, culture): 5 years.
• Highly skilled foreign professionals: 70 points kept for 3 years, or 80 points kept for 1 year.

You also need a guarantor, usually a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident living in Japan. The full checklist is in Who is eligible below.

Japanese level needed

For applications up to 31 March 2027, the guideline sets no Japanese requirement. From 1 April 2027, ISA looks at whether you have Japanese at B1 level of Japan’s national reference framework for Japanese education. The guideline does not name a specific test. It does not apply, for example, to highly skilled professionals and their families, to people who had 6 years or more of primary or secondary school education in Japan, or to children of permanent residents born in Japan whose parent has B1 Japanese.

B1 is far above N5, so start early. Our JLPT N5 course is the first step for you and your family.

How to apply, in short

First, fill in ISA’s self-check sheet for your status. ISA says that one “No” makes refusal likely, and that all “Yes” answers do not guarantee approval. Then collect the documents on ISA’s list for your status and apply in person at the regional immigration bureau for your address, before your current period of stay ends. The standard processing period is 4–6 months. The fee is paid only if you are approved. The detailed steps are in How to apply, step by step below.

Working rules

Permanent residents have no limits on the kind of work they do. You can change jobs, work part-time or run a business without changing your status.

Family

Your spouse and children can live in Japan on the “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” status. Through the shorter route, a spouse can apply for permanent residence after 3 years of real marriage and 1 year in Japan (from 1 April 2027: 5 years of marriage and 3 years in Japan). Family members on the Dependent status use the work-status document list. See our Dependent visa guide.

How long you can stay

Permanent residence has no period of stay. You must still keep your residence card valid, report a new address at your city or ward office within 14 days of moving, and follow ISA’s re-entry rules when you travel. From 1 April 2027, ISA can cancel the status for the reasons in the notice above.

Changing or losing status

• Cancellation reasons from 1 April 2027: not following duties under the Immigration Act, intentionally not paying taxes and public charges, or a prison sentence for certain crimes.
• A change instead of cancellation: in these cases, unless ISA finds it is not suitable for you to stay in Japan, the Minister can change you to another status on its own initiative instead.
• Already today: permanent residence can be cancelled for a false address, for not reporting a new address within 90 days of moving out, or if it was obtained by fraud.
• ISA issued a guideline on cancelling permanent residence on 1 October 2026 to explain how these rules will be used. A decision depends on each case.

Common mistakes and scams to avoid

• Late pension or health insurance payments. Even if you pay later, late payments count against you in principle. Check your records first.
• Applying with a short period of stay. You need the longest period of stay for your status. Until 31 March 2027, 3 years is treated as the longest.
• Long trips abroad. From 1 April 2027, one absence of 6 months or more, or 2 years 6 months abroad in total in the last 10 years, counts against you unless there was a reasonable reason.
• Letting your current status expire. The 4–6 month wait does not protect your current status. Apply for an extension separately if it ends.
• Counting years that do not count. Years on SSW (i) or Technical Intern Training are not part of the 5 years on a work status.
• “Guaranteed approval” agents. No one can guarantee permanent residence. Apart from you, only certain people may submit your application: for example a legal representative, staff of your employer or school approved by the bureau, or lawyers and administrative scriveners registered with it.
• Paying before approval. The ¥200,000 fee is paid with revenue stamps only when you are approved, not when you apply.

Free official help. The Immigration Services Agency’s information centre answers questions about forms and documents: 0570-013904 (from IP phones or overseas: 03-5796-7112).