The Japanese government has announced a draft revision of the Permanent Residence (PR) Guidelines.
Although these changes have not yet been finalized, the draft indicates that PR applications will be examined more carefully than before. This is because Permanent Residence is considered the most stable immigration status in Japan, allowing a person to live in Japan permanently without restrictions on activities or the period of stay.
Main Proposed Changes
The draft includes the following important changes:
Higher Income Requirements
Applicants will be expected to maintain an income that is higher than the average income of a Japanese household of the same size.
Future Pension Benefits
Immigration authorities also plan to consider an applicant’s expected future pension benefits. If the expected pension amount is insufficient, financial assets such as savings may also be taken into account.
Japanese Language Ability
Applicants may be required to prove Japanese language ability at approximately CEFR B1 level.
Understanding of Japanese Society
Applicants who do not have a sufficient understanding of Japan’s laws, social systems, and everyday rules may receive a negative evaluation.
Children’s School Attendance
If an applicant has children of compulsory school age (6-12 yeras old), failure to send them to school may negatively affect the PR application.
Changes to the Spouse Exception
The special eligibility requirements for spouses of Japanese nationals and Permanent Residents are also expected to change.
| Current Guideline | Proposed Guideline |
|---|---|
| Maintained a genuine marital relationship for at least 3 years and continuously resided in Japan for at least 1 year. | Maintained a genuine marital relationship for at least 5 years and continuously resided in Japan for at least 3 years. |
Effective Date
According to the draft:
・Applications submitted on or after October 2026:
Certain changes, including the revised income requirements, are expected to apply if the ・application is still under review when the revised guidelines take effect.
・Applications submitted on or after April 1, 2027:
The revised Permanent Residence Guidelines are expected to apply.
Please note that these proposed changes have not yet been finalized and may change.
Thinking About Applying for Permanent Residence?
If these proposed changes are implemented, obtaining Permanent Residence in Japan may become more difficult.
If you already meet the current Permanent Residence requirements, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible, before the proposed guidelines take effect. Applying under the current requirements may increase your chances of avoiding the additional eligibility criteria that could be introduced under the revised guidelines.
At WITH IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICE, we carefully assess your eligibility, prepare the necessary documents, and provide full support throughout the Permanent Residence application process.
If you are considering applying for Permanent Residence in Japan, please feel free to contact us.
