Permanent Resident Visa

What is a Permanent Resident visa? Application process, required documents, points for a Permanent Resident visa, etc.

For customers who

☑ Want to have a stable life in Japan
☑ Don’t want to be subject to restrictions on the period of stay or activities in Japan.
☑ Want to access financial institutions (for loans) and social credit and loans in Japan.

What is a Permanent Resident visa?

Unlike other statuses of residence, where you are granted permission to study or work in Japan, a Permanent Resident visa is a visa that you can obtain by demonstrating a good and peaceful status of residence through long years of activities in Japan, and submitting it with legal procedures. This is a status of residence that allows you to stay in Japan with no restrictions on the period of stay or the content of your activities, such as the type of work, on the condition of being approved by the Minister.

When Applying for a Permanent Resident visa, the number of years required and the documents to be submitted vary depending on the status of residence at the time of application. Additionally, you must apply during the period of your existing status of residence.

It takes a considerable period to demonstrate a good and peaceful status of residence, and a long period of examination is required to obtain permission for the residence status of “Permanent Resident.”

Permanent residence visa conditions

There are three main conditions that must be met when applying for a Permanent Resident visa.

1　Applicant’s good behavior
2　Having sufficient assets or skills to earn an independent living
3　The person’s Permanent Resident is recognized to be in the interests of Japan.

All of these conditions must be met.

Number of years lived in Japan

Regarding permission to apply for a Permanent Resident visa, in principle, the applicant must have continuously lived in Japan for at least 10 years, and the applicant’s current residence status is valid for a period of 3 or 5 years. You will need to meet these two requirements.

Regarding “living in Japan for 10 years or more,” there are special exceptions that may differ depending on the applicant’s residence history and current status of residence.

• If you came to Japan on a student visa and then worked on a work visa

❶ The applicant must have continuously lived in Japan for more than 10 years.
❷ For the past 5 years or more, you must have a residence status that allows you to work (skilled visa or Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa etc.) and are currently working.

• Example of period of stay that meets the conditions

 

You can apply for a “workable residence status” even if your work visa type has changed during the period of 5 years or more. For example, the first three years are on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, and the following two years are on a Business manager visa (Specific skill visas and Technical Intern Training visas are not eligible).

• Example of period of stay that does not meet the conditions

 

You must have a workable residence status, have lived in the country for 5 years or more, and be engaged in that activity.
As mentioned above, even if you have lived in Japan for 10 years, if you have been working for less than 5 years, you cannot apply for a Permanent Resident visa.

Special Exception for 10-Year Residency Requirement

As we have explained, the general requirements for obtaining permission for a permanent residence visa include the applicant having lived continuously in Japan for 10 years and the current residence status of the applicant being granted for a period of 3 or 5 years. However, concerning the Special Exception for 10-Year Residency, specific cases have been outlined. Let’s take a look at the cases that qualify for this exception:

Cases falling under the Special Exception include the following:

For spouses of Japanese nationals, spouses of Permanent Residents, etc.

In this case, a “Spouses of Special Permanent Resident visa” is also included.

❶ Be married to your spouse for 3 years or more
❷ Living in Japan with your spouse for the past year or more

• Example of period of stay that meets the conditions

 

Even if your current residence status is a working visa such as an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, if you meet the above conditions after marrying a Japanese person or a Permanent Resident, this provision will take precedence and apply in such cases.

This special provision applies even if you do not necessarily hold a “spouse of a Japanese national” “spouse of a Permanent Resident” or “spouse visa of a Special Permanent Resident” or even if you do not have a year of residence history. as long as you meet these requirements.

For long-term resident status (long-term resident visa)

❶ You must have lived continuously in Japan for 5 years or more since you were issued with the “Long-Term Resident Status (Long-Term Resident Visa)”

• Example of period of stay that meets the conditions

 

Unlike the case of spouses of Japanese nationals, spouses of Permanent Residents, etc., it does not depend on whether there is a status relationship that would allow them to obtain a long-term resident visa, but if they have lived continuously in Japan for 5 years or more holding a “long-term resident visa”.

In the case of a “biological child” or “special adopted child” of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident, or Special Permanent Resident

❶ Must have lived in Japan for more than one year

For highly skilled professional visas

❶ If you have 70 points or more, you must have lived in Japan for more than 3 years.
❷ If you have 80 points or more, you must have lived in Japan for more than 1 year.

• Period of stay that meets the conditions

 

Even if you do not hold a “Highly Skilled Professional Visa” at the time of application, you must have 70 points as of three years ago, or 80 points as of one year ago, and at the time of application. If you can prove that you meet the points requirement, you can receive a Permanent Resident visa without obtaining a highly skilled professional visa.

Public obligations in Japanese life

“Public obligations” mean that you can confirm your history of paying social insurance premiums such as taxes, pensions, and health insurance without delay and that you comply with other laws and regulations. The documents required for the procedure also focus on confirming the history of tax payments, etc. “History” is an important point, so if you have missed payments in the past, you will be evaluated very harshly. However, it is said that these are currently being reviewed for the respective review periods.

As we have seen so far, “behavior” means that there are no problems in daily life, “financial ability” means that you have enough income to live independently, and “national interest” means that you have lived in Japan for the designated period, and the fact that you have paid taxes and pensions without any problems have no problems with your daily life. These three conditions are necessary to apply for a Permanent Resident visa.

In particular, if you have been out of work for a period of time, or if you did not take exemptions or deferrals while you were a student, you need to be careful about your health insurance, pension, etc. enrollment and payment history.

Application for Permanent Resident

We will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the application process, the required documents for each status of residence, and the average review period when applying for a Permanent Resident permit.

Application flow

Now, let’s take a look at the specific application process for actually applying for a Permanent Resident permit.

For more information on the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Bureau) and the Immigration Agency (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency), please click here(currently in preparation) for a detailed explanation.

Required documents for application

We will guide you through the basic required documents for applying for a Permanent Resident permit (Permanent Resident). The required documents for applying for a Permanent Resident permit vary depending on the applicant’s current residence status. Here, we will provide information on the documents required when applying for a Permanent Resident permit for those whose current residence status falls under the following.

• Work visas (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker visa , business manager visa, etc.)
• Dependent visa

The required documents listed below are basic, and additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

In particular, individuals holding status-based residency, specifically those who are spouses of Japanese citizens, permanent residents, or special permanent residents (spouse visa), or those who meet the criteria even without a visa, are not required to submit a “Letter of Reason”. Additionally, when applying under the Special Exception for 10-Year Residency requirement, the required documents and the required years of residency may vary.

In many cases, specialized knowledge and experience are required to gather the necessary documents tailored to the applicant’s situation. Rather than spending a lot of effort and time and receiving undesired results, it is safer to consult a specialist (please feel free to contact our office and utilize our Free consultation).

*1 Please check the following precautions.
　・Please write in free form the reason why you need a Permanent Resident permit.
　・If written in a language other than Japanese, a translation is required.

*2 Please omit the personal number (My Number), but do not omit any other information.

*3 If you are self-employed, you must prove your occupation by yourself.

*4 If both the applicant and his or her spouse are unemployed, please state this in the explanation form (free format) and submit it.

*5 Please check the following precautions.
　・It is issued by the ward office, city hall, or government office of the municipality where you live.
　・As long as the certificate shows both your annual gross income and tax payment status (whether or not you paid taxes), either one is acceptable.
　・If certificates for the most recent three years are not issued at the ward office, city hall, or government office of your municipality, please submit certificates for the longest period issued.
　・If you have just arrived in Japan or have moved, and the certificate is not issued by your local ward office, city hall, or government office, please contact the nearest regional immigration office.

*6 Please check the following precautions.
　・If there is a period in the last three years in which resident tax was not specially collected (deducted from salary), please submit information for that period.
　・For those whose resident tax has been specially collected (deducted from their salary) for the past three years, the documents in (a) are not required. Please submit only the materials listed in A.
　・A copy of your web passbook screen (something that shows your transaction history) is acceptable. However, this is limited to items that have been printed in a way that cannot be modified (excel files etc. are not accepted).

*7 Please check the following precautions.
　・It is issued by the tax office that has jurisdiction over the place of residence. For more information, including the location of the tax office and how to make a claim, please check the National Tax Agency website.
　・The tax payment certificate (part 3) certifies that there are no unpaid taxes as of the certification date for the tax item for which you are seeking certification, so there is no need to specify the target period.
　・Please submit tax payment certificates for all 5 tax items.

*8 A copy of your web passbook screen (something that shows your transaction history) is also acceptable. However, it must be printed without any modification (excel files etc. are not accepted).

*9 Please check the following precautions.
　・For documents that include your Basic Pension Number, please make sure that the Basic Pension Number cannot be restored, such as by blacking out the part of the number, before submitting.
　・If you are enrolled in a pension other than the national pension (employee’s pension, etc.), please submit the documents in A or B.
　・If you have been enrolled in the National Pension System for the past two years, please submit the documents listed in (c) in addition to the documents in (a) or (b).
　・If you have continued to participate in the National Pension for the past two years, please submit the documents listed in (c). If it is difficult to submit the documents in (c) for the most recent two years (24 months), please submit a statement stating the reason and the materials in (a) or (b).

*10 Please check the following precautions.
　・For those who have received the Nenkin Regular Mail in a sealed letter from the Japan Pension Service (35th, 45th, and 59th birthday month), please be sure to check the “○Nenkin Regular Mail” in the

of the enclosed documents. Please submit all documents listed in the box provided in the “Please confirm” column.　・Although there is a postcard-style regular mail sent every year, it cannot be used as a submission document as it is not possible to check all the periods. 　・You can apply for the “Nenkin regular mail” (displaying pension record information for the entire period) by contacting the contact information of the Japan Pension Service. (It will take about two months).

*11 Please check the following precautions.
　・Please note that “Nenkin Net” only supports Japanese and does not support foreign languages.
　・You can register on Nenkin Net from Japan Pension Service Homepage. Please note that the registration process takes up to 5 business days.
　・For those who have been insured by the National Pension in the last two years at the time of application, the “National Pension Record (payment status for each month)” can be found in the “Monthly Pension Record”. Please also submit the printed screen.

*12 Please check the following precautions.
　・If you have been enrolled in the National Pension Plan in the last two years, please submit all receipts (copies) for that period. If you have difficulty submitting your application, please submit a written statement stating the reason.
　・If you have been enrolled in the National Pension for the entire period of the last two years and can submit a copy of your National Pension Insurance premium receipt (copy) for the last two years (24 months), there is no need to submit A or B.

*13 When submitting documents (including copies) that have the insurer’s number and insured person’s symbol/number written on them, please make sure that the insurer’s number and insured person’s symbol/number cannot be restored, such as by blacking out the part of insurer’s number and insured person’s symbol/number.

*14 Please check the following precautions.
　・If you are currently enrolled in health insurance, please submit it.
　・If you have continued to enroll in health insurance for the past two years, documents (b) to (d) are not required.

*15 Please submit if you are currently enrolled in National Health Insurance.

*16 If you have been enrolled in National Health Insurance within the past two years, please submit.

*17 If you have been enrolled in National Health Insurance for the past two years, please submit all receipts (copies) for that period. If you have difficulty submitting your application, please submit a written statement stating the reason.

*18 If the business is covered by a health insurance association and it is difficult to provide the insurance premium receipt (copy) in (a), in addition to the social insurance premium payment certificate or social insurance premium in (b) issued by the Japan Pension Service, document verifying the payment status of health insurance premiums under the jurisdiction of the health insurance association issued by the relevant health insurance union need to be provided.

*19 Records (copy) of all receipts for the entire duration during which the applicant (business owner) has been engaged as a business owner in the last two years. If receipts for any period within this timeframe cannot be provided, please submit (b)

*20 Please get more information regarding the application form and application method from Japan Pension Service Homepage.

*21You can request to issue the registration certificate online from Legal Affairs Bureau HP.online from here.

*22 If you are unable to present your passport or certificate of residence status, please submit a written statement stating the reason.

*23 If a person other than the applicant is applying for permanent resident on behalf of the said applicant, please ensure that the person brings a copy of the applicant’s residence card when visiting the office. Additionally, individuals who have been granted Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted should also present the relevant permission document.

*24 For individuals other than the applicant (please refer to This page for those eligible to submit application documents) submitting the application documents, this is necessary to confirm they are eligible to do so. Additionally, even when someone other than the applicant is submitting the application documents, it is necessary to provide the applicant’s passport and residence card as specified in items 8 and 9.

You can also download documents such as the “Permanent residence permit application ” (PDF・Excel), “Letter of guarantee” (PDF), “Letter of guarantee (English)” (PDF), “Letter of understanding” in various languages from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s website. Please check for further details.Also, there is no specified format for the ‘Letter of Reason’ and it can be made in any format. You can download a sample ‘Letter of Reason’ from our website’s document download section, so please feel free to make use of it.

Required documents for application from visas such as “Spouse of Japanese National” etc.

Please visit here for further information. (Includes cases where the individual is a spouse, biological child, or special adoptee of a Japanese national or permanent resident, even without a visa)

Required documents for application from “Long Term Resident Visa”

Please visit here for further information.

Required documents for application from “Highly Skilled Professional Visa”

Please visit here for further information.

• For those who have 70 points or more and have been residing in Japan for 3 years or more, please visit here.

• For those who have 80 points or more and have been residing in Japan for more than 1 year, please visit here.

 

Highly skilled professional visas have preferential treatment that Permanent Resident visas do not have. When deciding whether to change to Permanent Resident, we recommend that you carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of the highly skilled professional visa and the Permanent Resident visa, depending on your individual life and situation.

Average review period

The standard examination period for a Permanent Resident visa is approximately 4 to 6 months. This is just a standard, and the examination period will vary depending on the applicant’s application details and circumstances, as well as the congestion status of the application reception at the Immigration Bureau/Immigration Bureau.

Frequently asked questions about Permanent Resident visas

The examination of applications for Permanent Resident permits is becoming more and more strict year by year. As mentioned above, health insurance and pension enrollment status and payment status are checked particularly rigorously.

In order to ease the worries and anxieties of those who are thinking about applying for a Permanent Resident visa and those who are applying for it, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the frequently asked questions regarding Permanent Resident visas.

What is the difference between “Permanent Resident visa” and “Permanent Resident”?

“Permanent resident” is just one status of residence. Therefore, once the residence status of “Permanent Resident” is granted, a residence card will be issued, and that residence card must be renewed every seven years. Also, since it is a status of residence, it is possible that the status of residence may be revoked due to criminal activity. On the other hand, regarding “Permanent Resident”, there is currently no system of “Permanent Resident” in Japan. Generally, just because a person is allowed to apply for a Permanent Resident permit is referred to as “obtaining a right of Permanent Resident,” this does not mean that the right to “Permanent Resident” is guaranteed.

What kind of conditions are judged to be “poor behavior” in the examination?

If you have ever been sentenced to imprisonment or a fine, in other words, if you have committed a criminal act that warranted punishment. If you have received a punishment such as a prison sentence or imprisonment, you will not be sentenced to a fine or penalty until 10 years have passed since the expiration of the sentence (in the case of a suspended sentence, 5 years from the expiration of the suspended sentence). A Permanent Resident visa will not be granted until 5 years have passed since the payment.
In addition, repeated traffic violations will have a negative impact on the examination, and cases where a family member on a dependent visa is working more than the 28-hour limit per week or working part-time in a place where they are not allowed to work, such as in an entertainment business. If you do so, you will receive a negative evaluation during the review.

The period of stay under my current visa/residence status is one year, but I have been living in Japan for over 10 years.Can I apply for a Permanent Resident visa?

Unfortunately, you cannot apply.
One of the conditions for applying for a Permanent Resident visa is that the current period of stay is permitted for a period of 3 or 5 years. Therefore, in order to apply for a Permanent Resident visa, the period of stay of your current visa/residence status must be approved for 3 or 5 years.
For example, if you hear “Ms. B, a foreign woman who is married to a Japanese man A and has lived in Japan for more than 3 years,” it seems likely that B will be able to apply for a Permanent Resident visa, but B If your current residence status (such as “Japanese spouse visa”) has a period of stay of one year, you will not be able to apply for a Permanent Resident visa.

I am planning to change jobs. Will my permanent residency application be affected?

The “stability of income” is one crucial aspect in applying for a permanent resident visa.
Therefore, changing jobs can significantly impact the permanent residency application, so you might need to be more careful in this regard. .

 

Changing Jobs Before Application
If you change jobs and immediately apply for a permanent residency visa, there is a risk of being perceived as having an unstable employment situation. Even if the job change results in an improvement in income, your stability in the new workplace might be in doubt, especially if the change occurred recently.

This is particularly relevant during probationary periods or if the contract duration is less than one year, as concerns may arise about the possibility of continued employment. If you are planning or have recently changed jobs, it is advisable to wait for about a year to demonstrate stability before applying for permanent residency.

 

Changing Jobs During Application
Similar to the above, changing jobs during the application process is not ideal from the perspective of income stability, so it is advisable to avoid it as much as possible.
However, there may be cases of job changes or resignations due to company reasons. Additionally, considering the potentially long duration of the permanent residency review process, there might be attractive job opportunities that you do not want to miss. For these cases, if you change jobs during the application, please notify the immigration office accordingly. They may request documents related to your new employment, so be prepared to provide the necessary information.

Is it possible to apply for permanent residence even if I have frequently changed jobs?

Having a history of multiple job changes doesn’t necessarily mean the examination will be affected negatively. Even if you have changed jobs several times, if income remains stable, there is a considerable possibility, particularly regarding the financial aspect. However, it’s essential to note that for a permanent resident visa application, factors such as ‘income stability’ and ‘compliance with public obligations’ are critical points. If frequent job changes result in not meeting these requirements, it could potentially affect the application in a negative way, so it is better to be more cautious.

 

For example, if job changes lead to income instability, with extremely low annual income in certain years, it could be difficult to obtain permanent residence. In such cases, it may be advisable to apply after consistently meeting a certain income level for each assessment period.

Moreover, if you’ve recently changed jobs, as mentioned in the previous question, your stability in the new workplace might be in doubt, therefore, usually it is recommended to wait for about a year after the job change to demonstrate stability before applying for permanent residence.

Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that administrative processes related to job changes, such as the transition of social insurance are done accurately, and are properly paied. If you hold a work visa, filing a ‘Notification of Employer’ to the immigration office is mandatory. Incomplete or incorrect procedures in such matters could negatively impact the permanent residency examination, so attention to detail is essential.

The period of stay on a Permanent Resident visa is unlimited, but is it necessary to extend it?

For Permanent Resident visas, it is necessary to update the “validity period of the residence card”.
A Permanent Resident visa is a status of residence with an unlimited period of stay in Japan, so unlike other visas, there is no need to go through the procedure to extend the period of stay (application for permission to extend the period of stay). However, you must apply for renewal of your residence card’s validity period every seven years.
This procedure must be completed between two months before the expiration date of the residence card and before the expiration date. Alternatively, if your residence card expires on your 16th birthday, you must complete this procedure from 6 months before your 16th birthday.
If there is a reason why you are unable to complete the renewal procedure within this application period (such as being unable to re-enter the country within the application period due to being abroad for a long period of time due to a business trip or study abroad), please apply during the application period. You can apply for renewal of the validity period even before the application.

I am living separately from my Japanese spouse, can I apply for a Permanent Resident visa?

The actual state of married life in Japan will also be subject to examination when applying for a Permanent Resident permit.
When changing from a Japanese spouse visa to a Permanent Resident visa, the actual state of marital life, which is a prerequisite for the status of residence, will also be subject to examination. If the reality of your marriage is such that you cannot adjust to Japanese customs (such as living separately), there is a higher possibility that your application will be refused.

Although I pay taxes, I am not enrolled in the Japanese pension system.

A condition for applying for a Permanent Resident permit is that you must pay taxes, pensions, and social insurance premiums. If you are not enrolled in a pension plan, you must be sure to have a track record of paying by the payment deadline for at least two years after enrolling in a pension plan. Even if you have only one year of experience, you may not be able to apply by submitting a written explanation of why you were not enrolled and your remorse for not enrolling, but if you have only one year of experience, you may not be able to apply. This will be treated very unfavorably compared to your enrollment and payment history.
In addition, many people who are enrolled in the National Pension are also likely enrolled in the National Health Insurance, but there is a track record of paying this insurance premium on time without being late. This is important, so please pay attention to it.

 

Those who run companies in Japan with Business Manager Visa are required to comply with various laws and regulations, not only for themselves but also for the company they run, such as fulfilling the obligation to participate in various social insurance programs and paying insurance premiums. If you are a corporate manager, you will be required to confirm your participation in this social insurance not only when applying for a Permanent Resident permit, but also when extending your Business Manager visa, so be sure to enroll in every social insurance and pay your insurance fees.

How much annual income do I need to apply for a Permanent Resident visa?

Although there is no clear standard for the applicant’s annual income, and the standard is not specified, please consider it to be approximately 3 million yen or more. However, this amount of 3 million yen or more applies if the applicant has no dependents. If you have a family to support, each person will likely need to pay an additional 700,000 yen to 800,000 yen. Additionally, this income must be stable over the past several years, not just in the year you apply.

If my individual income seems insufficient, would my family’s income be considered to be helpful?

As mentioned earlier, there is no specific income requirement, but a certain level of income is still required for the permanent resident application. For details, please refer to this Q&A. In cases where family members are employed, there are two possible scenarios:

 

① If the family members are working part-time with ‘Dependent Visa’:
If the individual applying for permanent resident holds a work visa and the family members are staying on a ‘Dependent Visa’ with ‘Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence,’ the part-time income of the family members is generally not considered as household income for the permanent residency application.
This is because the ‘Dependent Visa’ is originally intended for non-working purposes, and it is assumed that the foreigner who invited them is supposed to provide support. Additionally, the part-time work under such permission is limited to 28 hours per week, and exceeding this limit may have a negative impact on the evaluation of the permanent residency application.

 

②If the applicant is on a ‘Spouse Visa”
When a foreigner applying for permanent residency holds a ‘Spouse Visa,’ there are no work restrictions, it is allowed to work as either a full-time employee or a part-time employee without limitations on job type or hours. Therefore, the income of family members can be included as household income for the calculation of annual income.
Furthermore, if the foreigner is married to a Japanese national or a permanent resident and residing in Japan, they are deemed to have a stronger social connection to Japan, leading a settled life in the country. This aspect is considered a positive factor in the examination process.

 

However, if both the foreigner and their spouse are exempt from resident taxes, obtaining permanent residence may become challenging (there should be no issue if one of them is taxed). Additionally, there are cases where the family members, despite having sufficient income and working hours and not meeting the requirements for dependent family members, claim as dependents for receiving tax deductions, or inadvertently claim family members as dependents even though they are not financially supporting them actually.. Regarding such dependency deductions, the permanent resident application will become significantly stringent, so it is advisable to accurately declare dependent family members.

Can I apply for permanent residence with my whole family?

If a foreign national (applicant) planning to apply for permanent resident visa is living with their family, including a spouse and children, they can apply for permanent residency together under certain conditions.

 

There is a special exemption for the Special Exception for 10-Year Residency Requirement in the permanent residency examination for the ‘spouse and children of a permanent resident.’
Assuming the applicant’s permanent residency is approved, their family members can also meet the requirements as ‘spouses and children of permanent residents,’ allowing them to apply for permanent residency simultaneously. This applies even if the family members are residing under a different residence status such as ‘Dependent’ or ‘Long term Resident’ at the time of the application.

 

This is because, at the point when the individual is granted permanent residency, their family is considered as ‘spouses and children of permanent residents.’ When applying for the transition from ‘spouses and children of permanent residents’ to ‘permanent residents,’ Special Exception for 10-Year Residency Requirement is applied, leading to a reduction in the residency requirements.

 

However, in the case of a permanent resident application utilizing 80 points or more for highly skilled professionals, the applicant, who is a highly skilled foreign professional, may be granted permanent residency in the shortest stay of 1 year. However, for their family members, operationally, if they are also on a stay of approximately 1 year, similar to the primary highly skilled foreign professional, simultaneous permanent residency may not be granted. Instead, several years of residence in Japan may be required for family members.

 

Therefore, the conclusion is that if you want to apply for permanent residency for your family simultaneously, it is possible if your family has “been married for over three years and has been residing in Japan for more than one year.

What documents are required when changing from a Highly Skilled Professional visa to a Permanent Resident visa?

The required documents differ depending on whether the total score for the highly skilled professional point calculation is 70 or more or 80 or more. A highly skilled professional visa is a status of residence that provides preferential conditions when applying for a Permanent Resident visa. Among the Highly Skilled Professional visas, the required documents differ depending on whether the total point calculation is 70 points or more or 80 points or more. For more information, see above Required documents for Application for “Highly Skilled Professional Visa”

What is a personal guarantor, and who is qualified to be a personal guarantor?

”A personal guarantor” might be considered as a somewhat negative connotation by many people. However, in the context of a permanent residency application, a personal guarantor does not assume the legal responsibilities associated with typical guarantees or joint guarantees.

 

The role of a personal guarantor in the context of permanent residency is to provide guidance to the foreigner to ensure compliance with Japanese laws, fulfill public obligations appropriately, and adhere to instructions from immigration authorities when necessary. In essence, it is a form of assurance that the foreigner will be guided to adhere to legal requirements and directives. Therefore, even if the foreigner were to encounter issues or commit a crime, the personal guarantor would not be subject to penalties or bear liability for damages.

And individuals who can become personal guarantors are limited to Japanese citizens or permanent residents. Before June 2022, tax certificates and employment certificates of the personal guarantor were required documents. However, currently, the submission of such documents is no longer necessary, and it is not believed that the income or other factors of the personal guarantor significantly affect the application.

 

However, if the personal guarantor has previously served as a guarantor for another permanent resident who was deported for legal violations or had their permanent residency revoked, or in cases involving unscrupulous guarantor businesses, the individual may be deemed ‘unsuitable as a personal guarantor,’ and they might be difficult to become personal guarantor anymore.

Therefore, it is advisable to ask company supervisor, friend, spouse, or relative for such requests in normal circumstances

I don’t have much time until my current visa expires, can I change to a Permanent Resident visa during that time?

Please note that “special provisions for period of stay” do not apply when applying for a Permanent Resident visa.
“Special provisions for period of stay” means that if you apply for renewal or change before the expiry date of your visa, you will have to wait two months from the expiration date until the application is disposed of (approval/disapproval). This is a system that allows you to legally stay in Japan until the earliest of these two dates.
Currently, the standard review period for a Permanent Resident permit application is about four months, but this is just a standard and it may take longer depending on the applicant’s circumstances and circumstances. If your current visa expires while you are applying for a Permanent Resident visa, you will overstay, so when applying for a Permanent Resident permit, be sure to balance the validity period of your current visa with the examination period. please note.
If there is a possibility that your current period of stay may expire, we recommend that you apply for a Permanent Resident permit at the same time as renewing your period of stay.

Once I become a Permanent Resident, can I continue living permanently without having my residence status revoked?

Even if you are a “Permanent Resident” who has been approved to apply for a Permanent Resident permit, your status of residence may be revoked if you come into contact with the “grounds for cancellation” stipulated by the Immigration Control Act.
A Permanent Resident visa is just one of the statuses of residence. Furthermore, the Immigration Control Act stipulates that the status of residence will be revoked, and as long as it is a status of residence, if this provision is violated, there is a possibility that it will be revoked. For example, failure to notify your new address within a set number of days after moving is one of the reasons for cancellation.

Here, we have provided explanations in FAQ format, focusing on frequently asked questions regarding Permanent Resident visas.However, whether it is the content here or other content, the process of applying for a Permanent Resident visa depends on the circumstances and circumstances of each individual. There may be different things to consider. Please feel free to contact our office to resolve your concerns and worries, and to ensure that you can live in Japan with peace of mind.

Permanent residence visa support and costs

The support and fees for Permanent Resident visa are as follows.

When applying for a visa, you need to decide and manage what materials are needed and what materials are not needed, as well as schedules and preparations such as what materials must be prepared by when. There are many things, such as management, that are difficult to do without specialized knowledge or experience.
Also, even if you spend a lot of time and effort on something difficult like this, there are many cases where you are not able to get the results you want.

At our office, we support these types of visa applications in a kind, courteous, and speedy manner while carefully listening to the applicant’s situation, providing support with the peace of mind and satisfaction that only professionals can provide.

In order to better resolve applicants’ problems, as necessary, our legal group provides one-stop legal services in collaboration with administrative scriveners, lawyers, judicial scriveners, and other professionals.
We also have foreign staff who can speak English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Nepali.

Please feel free to contact our office for a consultation.
For consultations, please use the “Free Consultation” service, where you can consult with a specialist free of charge (for the first time only) from here.

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