Please tell me about the guarantor for the permanent residence application./Visa Application Service

Once you have this visa, Japan will become your second home and you will be free to choose any job you want. You can enjoy Japan's beautiful four seasons all year round, from cherry blossoms in spring to snow in winter.

However, in order to obtain this permanent residence visa, you must meet certain Criteria.

Let's take a closer look.

General Conditions for Obtaining Permanent Residence

The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence visa are clearly described in the "Guidelines for Permanent Residence Permit" published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and Residence Management Agency.

（１） Good conduct.
You must obey the law and fulfil all legal obligations such as paying taxes and penshion etc.

（２） Possess sufficient assets or skills to earn an independent living.
Those who do not become a burden on the public in their daily lives, and who are expected to lead a stable life in the future based on their assets or skills.

（３）The person's permanent residence is recognized to be in the interests of Japan.

ア　In principle, the applicant must have continued to reside in Japan for 10 years or more. However, during this period, the applicant must have continued to stay in the country for five years or more with a working status (excluding the residence status "Technical Intern Training" and "Specified Skilled Worker No. 1") or residence status.

イ　The applicant must not have been sentenced to a fine or imprisonment. Properly fulfill public obligations (obligations such as tax payments, payment of public pension and public medical insurance premiums, and notification obligations stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act).

ウ　With respect to the current status of residence, the applicant must be residing for the maximum period of stay specified in Attached Table 2 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

エ　There is no risk of harm from a public health perspective.

出典：永住許可に関するガイドライン（令和５年４月２１日改定）

1.Good conduct

This can also be said to help you win the trust of the Japanese community. For example, following traffic rules and not getting into legal trouble.

2.Having sufficient assets or skills to earn an independent living.

The question is whether you have the ability to support your life in Japan. For example, do you have a stable income and sufficient assets?

The income and assets referred to here include not only your annual income but also your family's income status. The Immigration Bureau does not have a clear minimum line, but a general guideline is an annual income of 3 million yen or more for a family of two.

In addition, the period of income that is subject to examination for a permanent residence visa application is, in principle, the most recent five years of income.

3.The person's permanent residence is recognized to be in the interests of Japan.

Aside for certain exceptions you are in principle required to have lived continuously in Japan for 10 years. Of these 10 years you must have also held a working visa for at least 5 years and have fulfilled all legal obligations.

These legal obligations include paying all applicable taxes, health insurance and pension premiums etc.

A common question we receive is about the requirement to have the longest possible visa for your type.

Under the current Immigration Control Act, most statuses of residence are for a maximum of 5 years, but is it possible to apply for permanent residence if you do not have a visa with a 5-year period of stay?

In addition, if dependent family members are applying for Permanent Residence at the same time the requirement for them to have a 3-5-year visa is generally waived.

Those for whom the above 10-year residence conditions are relaxed

1. Those who have the residence status of Japanese, permanent residents, and spouses of special permanent residents.

As a spouse of a Japanese national or a permanent resident, if you meet both of the following conditions, you can apply for a permanent residence visa.

The period of 3 years or more of actual marriage is not limited to marriage in Japan. Even if you lived abroad, it is included in the number of years. Therefore, it is possible to move to Japan and apply for a permanent resident visa one year after living abroad for more than two years.

Furthermore, a real marriage means that there is no doubt that it is a fake marriage.

Naturally, it will be difficult to apply for permanent residence if you live separately or frequently return to your parents' home overseas.

2.Persons with long-term resident status

This applies if you have continued to reside in Japan for 5 years or more after obtaining a long-term resident visa. However, if you previously held a spousal or other type of visa before obtaining long- term residency it may be possible to apply before 5 years as long as you have 10 years of continuous residency.

3. Those who have been recognized as refugees

The condition is that you have stayed in Japan for 5 years or more after being recognized as a refugee. However, any time lived in Japan during your application for refugee status does not count towards this.

4.Those who have made special contributions to Japan

The condition is that the applicant falls under the category of "contribution to Japan" based on the immigration guidelines and has stayed in Japan for more than 5 years without any problems. Specifically, this applies to people who have been awarded the Nobel Prize or the National Honor Award, or who have performed similar activities, so there are very few cases in which the general public falls under this category.

5. Contributors at institutions in specific regions

The condition is that you have resided and contributed to an organization in a specific area based on the Regional Revitalization Act for three years or more. This is also very rare so there are very few cases in which this applies.

6.Highly skilled professionals with a score of 70 or above

The important point here is that even those who do not currently have a status of residence of highly skilled professional will fall under this special provision if they clear the requirements for highly skilled professional points and residence requirements.

For example, if a person who currently has a residence status of Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, or International Services clears 70 points when calculating the points, and this situation has continued for three years, can apply for permanent residence.

Compared to the general permanent residence requirements of 10 years stay and 5 years or more stay with work status, the stay requirements are considerably relaxed.

7.Highly skilled professionals with a score of 80 or above

For those who have over 80 points, the requirements are further relaxed and they are able to apply for permanent residence in as little as one year.

Q&A Supervisor

ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office
Representative Administrative Scrivener
Makoto Sano

1998 Graduated from Aoyamagakuin University
2001 Registered as an administrative scrivener

He has Over 20 years of experience as an international administrative scrivener, specializing in foreign employment consulting and residence procedures for foreign residents in Japan.

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