Can You Apply for Japan Permanent Residency Before 10 Years? Requirements and Exceptions【2026 Edition】

2. Using Highly Skilled Professional Points for Earlier Permanent Residency

If you are applying under the general route from a work status such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, the basic rule is normally at least 10 continuous years in Japan, including at least five continuous years under an eligible work status or residence-based status.

If you meet the highly skilled criteria, you may be eligible to apply after three years or one year instead of waiting for the general 10-year period. It is important not only to have the required points on the filing date, but also to prove the relevant points at the required earlier date and that the criteria continued to be met during the applicable period.

The “Longest Period of Stay” Rule Changes from April 2027

The Permanent Residence guidelines generally require an applicant to hold the longest period of stay available for the current status of residence. Under the current transitional treatment, a three-year period of stay is treated as satisfying this requirement through March 31, 2027.

From April 1, 2027, this treatment changes. As a general rule, applicants will need to hold the actual longest period of stay set for their status of residence. A transitional measure applies to certain people who hold a three-year period of stay as of March 31, 2027, when the first PR decision is made within that period of stay. See the Immigration Services Agency of Japan's Permanent Residence Permission (Article 22 of the Immigration Control Act) page for details.

If you would like to calculate your Highly Skilled Professional points, see the following page.

Permanent Residency Through Highly Skilled Professional Points

Information for applicants using the Highly Skilled Professional points system to seek Permanent Residence in Japan.

3. What “Continuous Residence” Means for Japan Permanent Residency

Permanent Residence is not based only on the number of years you have been in Japan. The requirement that you have continuously resided in Japan also matters. In practical terms, your residence in Japan should have continued in substance, and Japan should remain your actual base of life.

1. Your Residence in Japan Should Not Be Substantially Interrupted

If your status of residence expires because you fail to renew it, or your residence in Japan is otherwise substantially interrupted, your previous residence history may not be treated as continuous residence in the same way. The result depends on the individual history, so it is more accurate to review the facts than to assume that every interruption automatically “resets” all years to zero.

Keep track of your expiration dates, renewal filings and travel history so that the continuity of your residence can be properly explained.

2. Japan Should Remain Your Main Base of Life

Even if your status of residence itself remains valid, long or frequent periods outside Japan may raise questions about whether your residence in Japan has truly continued.

Numbers such as “100 days abroad in a year” or “90 days in a single trip” are sometimes discussed as practical reference points, but the Immigration Services Agency does not publish 100 days or 90 days as uniform approval or denial thresholds in the Permanent Residence guidelines.

Instead, the purpose, length and frequency of your travel, your home and employer in Japan, where your family lives, and other circumstances may be considered together. If you spent a long period abroad for an overseas assignment, childbirth, family care, study or extended business travel, it is useful to organize documents that explain both the reason for the trip and your continuing base in Japan.

4. If You Are Using the General 10-Year Route

The general Permanent Residence rule requires at least 10 years of continuous residence in Japan. A personal reason for wanting PR early—for example, an upcoming overseas transfer or a mortgage application—does not by itself shorten that requirement.

If you have not yet reached 10 years, first check whether you fall under a recognized exception such as a spouse route, Long-Term Resident route or Highly Skilled Professional route.

Other factors reviewed in a Permanent Residence application include:

• Your status-of-residence history and whether renewals and changes have been handled appropriately
• Proper fulfillment of tax, pension and public health-insurance obligations
• Stable income and the ability to maintain a stable life without relying on public assistance
• Good conduct and compliance with laws, including traffic and criminal matters where relevant

If you are waiting to reach 10 years, use that time to maintain a clean record. In particular, resident tax, pension and public health-insurance obligations should be properly fulfilled by their due dates. It is not enough to look only at whether there are unpaid amounts on the application date; the payment history itself may also be reviewed.

In short, if you are applying under the general route, the normal approach is to apply after you satisfy the 10-year continuous residence requirement. If you are not there yet, confirm whether a shorter exception applies.

5. Japan Permanent Residency Before 10 Years: Q&A

As a general rule, you must have continuously resided in Japan for at least 10 years. Of those years, you normally need at least five continuous years under an eligible work status or a residence-based status. Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker (i) do not count toward that five-year work-status portion. Certain applicants, including qualifying spouses, Long-Term Residents and highly skilled professionals, can use shorter residence-period exceptions.

The main exceptions include:

• Spouse of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident or Special Permanent Resident: genuine marriage for at least 3 years + at least 1 continuous year in Japan
• Qualifying child or descendant of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident or Special Permanent Resident: at least 1 continuous year in Japan
• Long-Term Resident: at least 5 continuous years under the Long-Term Resident status
• Highly Skilled Professional points 70+: at least 3 years meeting the 70-point standard
• Highly Skilled Professional points 80+: at least 1 year meeting the 80-point standard
• Special Highly Skilled Professional (J-Skip): certain cases after at least 1 year of continuous residence
• Recognized refugee or person granted complementary protection: at least 5 continuous years after recognition

Other exceptions may apply, including certain cases involving contributions to Japan. All other PR requirements are still reviewed separately.

It is important that your residence in Japan has continued in substance, not merely that you kept a valid status. Long or frequent travel abroad may be reviewed based on the reason, duration and frequency of travel and your home, employer and family circumstances in Japan. “100 days per year” and “90 days per trip” are not uniform approval or denial thresholds published by the Immigration Services Agency.

There is no uniform statutory waiting period before reapplying. First confirm the reason for denial as far as possible and then consider reapplication after you can address or explain the issue. In some cases, the competent regional immigration office can provide information about the reason for denial.

The most important starting point is to prove which shorter-residence exception applies to you. Documents vary by route and current status of residence.

• Spouse / child route: official documents proving the marriage, parent-child relationship and family composition
• Highly skilled route: point calculations for the filing date and the relevant date three years or one year earlier, plus supporting documents for education, work history, income and qualifications
• Long-Term Resident or other route: documents showing the status of residence and required period of continuous residence
• Common documents: records relating to income, resident tax, pension, health insurance and residence history

The Immigration Services Agency publishes document lists by current status of residence, and additional documents may be requested depending on the individual case.

Through March 31, 2027, a three-year period of stay is treated as the “longest period of stay” for this requirement. From April 1, 2027, the treatment changes and applicants will generally need the actual longest period available for their status. A transitional measure applies to certain people who hold a three-year period as of March 31, 2027.

As of August 17, 2026, the government fee is JPY 10,000 upon approval. The Immigration Services Agency has published a draft proposal to raise the fee to JPY 200,000 from October 1, 2026. As of this update, the proposed amount has not yet been treated on this page as a finalized fee. . The Immigration Services Agency lists a standard processing period of four to six months, although actual processing time can vary by case and filing period. See the official Permanent Residence Permission Application page for filing information.

As of 2026, Permanent Residence permission applications are not covered by the online residence application system. In principle, you file with the regional immigration office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence.

A pending Permanent Residence application does not automatically extend your current period of stay. If your current period will expire while the PR application is being reviewed, you must separately apply for an extension of your current status of residence.

A Part of the Permanent Residence System Is Scheduled to Change in April 2027

Provisions concerning the proper administration of Permanent Residence status under the 2024 amendments to the Immigration Control Act are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027. New grounds for revocation will include certain cases involving intentional failure to pay taxes or other public charges.

However, an unpaid tax or social-insurance balance does not automatically result in immediate revocation of Permanent Resident status. The Immigration Services Agency has explained that circumstances such as the amount and duration of non-payment, the background, response to payment demands, illness or unemployment are considered individually.

6. Examples of Approved Permanent Residence Cases

The following are examples from ACROSEED involving applicants who obtained Permanent Residence after different residence histories.

	Case 112: Client R (China)
	Ongoing support: from Spouse status to Long-Term Resident and then Permanent Residence

	Client Review
	Visitor → Work Status → Spouse Status → Permanent Residence

	Case 80: Client Z (China)
	Permanent Residence approved after a previous denial related to unpaid taxes

More client reviews and case examples

7. Summary: Applying for Japan Permanent Residency Before 10 Years

Japan Permanent Residency normally requires at least 10 years of continuous residence, but there are important exceptions that allow some applicants to apply earlier. These include qualifying spouses and children, Long-Term Residents, Highly Skilled Professional applicants, certain J-Skip applicants, and recognized refugees or persons granted complementary protection.

Applicants using the general route normally need at least 10 continuous years in Japan, including at least five continuous years under an eligible work status or residence-based status. If you have not reached 10 years, first identify whether a recognized exception applies.

If you are waiting to become eligible, continue to maintain the following:

• Pay resident tax, pension and health-insurance obligations properly and by their due dates
• Maintain income, assets and employment circumstances that support a stable life
• Keep records of travel and be able to explain that Japan remains your continuing base of life
• Renew your status of residence properly and continue activities consistent with that status

The treatment of the “longest period of stay” changes on April 1, 2027. Even if you are considering an application during 2026, check how your current period of stay and the transitional measure may affect your case.

PR is assessed on more than residence years. Conduct, fulfillment of public obligations, financial stability and other circumstances are reviewed together. Neither “under 10 years means you cannot apply” nor “meeting the shorter period guarantees approval” is correct in every case.

8. ACROSEED Support

A Permanent Residence application is not decided simply by checking whether a document list has been completed. Immigration reviews the applicant's residence history, stability of life, public obligations and overall circumstances.

At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we review the applicant's residence history, income changes, job changes, family circumstances, tax and social-insurance history, and other points that may require explanation before filing. Where there are potentially unfavorable facts, we help organize the background and supporting documents so the application can present the circumstances clearly and consistently.

Nationwide support: We can manage cases primarily by email and online communication.

English and Chinese support: Consultation is available in multiple languages.

Progress visibility: Our online system helps clients track application status and required documents.

Complex cases: We also handle reapplications after denial and other cases that require careful review.

Clear fees: Our fee structure is designed to be easy to understand.

Support after denial: Our service includes support for reapplication under the terms of our service.

Information security: Personal information is managed under ISO 27001-based operations.

9. Related Japan Permanent Residency Guides

Japan Permanent Residency Guide

Complete overview of residence requirements, income, taxes, pension, insurance, filing procedures and common issues.

Permanent Residency from a Work Visa

Requirements and practical points for work-status holders applying for Japan PR.

Permanent Residency Through Highly Skilled Professional Points

Guide to the 70-point and 80-point routes for earlier Permanent Residence.

Permanent Residency for Spouses of Japanese Nationals

Residence requirements, documents and common issues for spouse-based PR applications.

Reapplying After a Permanent Residency Denial

What to review after a denial, when to reapply and what evidence may be needed.

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