Permanent Residency in Japan: Requirements Explained

[Summary] The principal requirements for obtaining Permanent Residence in Japan are: good conduct, sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood, and that the applicant’s permanent residence is deemed to be in the interests of Japan. Note that spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, or special permanent residents are not required to meet the first two requirements.

On Good Conduct

Applicants must demonstrate good conduct by complying with Japanese laws and social norms and leading a life that is not subject to social criticism.

On Independent Livelihood

Although no explicit financial threshold has been officially indicated, applicants are generally expected to have stable income and/or sufficient assets to support themselves independently.

The proposed revision of the Permanent Residence Guidelines, published in August 2026, sets out the following criteria (see the public comment page of the Immigration Services Agency):

• Income Requirement: Annual household income exceeding the average income of Japanese households.
• Pension Requirement: Expected pension benefits reaching the level that would be received after 30 years of enrollment in the Employees’ Pension Insurance system.

The proposal further indicates that applicants who possess sufficient assets to supplement any shortfall in these two areas may be considered as meeting the requirement.

On National Interest

The applicant’s permanent residence must be deemed to serve the interests of Japan. Specifically, the following factors are considered.

Length of Residence

• General Rule: Continuous residence in Japan for at least 10 years, including at least 5 years under a work-related or residence-based status of residence.
• Spouses of Japanese Nationals or Permanent Residents: Generally, at least 3 years of marriage and at least 1 year of residence in Japan. Similar special provisions may apply to children residing with their parents.
• Highly Skilled Professionals: Exceptions are available depending on the applicant’s point score — 70 points or more: eligible after 3 years; 80 points or more: eligible after 1 year.

Taxes, Pension, and Health Insurance

The assessment period ranges from one to five years, depending on the visa status. Authorities examine not only whether required payments have been made, but also whether they were made on time.

Under the proposed guideline revisions, Japanese language proficiency and understanding of Japanese systems, rules, and social norms are also identified as relevant considerations.

A Note from TSUBASA

In practice, applicants have faced increasingly lengthy processing times and stricter examinations in recent years. In addition, the proposed guideline revisions introducing new requirements and evaluation criteria suggest that obtaining permanent residence in Japan is becoming more challenging than before.

We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on the details of the proposed guideline revisions on this website.

For how long the review itself takes, see How Long Does Permanent Residency Take in Japan?.

Consultation

If you are unsure whether you satisfy the requirements, or if you would like a professional assessment of your likelihood of approval, we invite you to apply for a free consultation. We would be happy to discuss your circumstances and help you evaluate your options.

Note: The section of this article discussing the proposed revisions to the Guidelines is based on information that had been made public as of August 2026. The guidelines currently in effect are the “Guidelines for Permanent Residence Permission” (revised on February 24, 2026). We will continue to update this website with the latest information regarding the proposed revisions as it becomes available.