[2025 Updated] How Days Abroad Affect Your Permanent Residency Application in Japan｜How Many Days Can You Be Away?

2. Practical Benchmarks and Evaluation of Days Abroad

In practice, the Immigration Bureau tends to consider the following benchmarks (as a general trend only):

Assessment is always made comprehensively. While “days abroad” is an important factor in permanent residency applications, it alone does not determine approval or denial.

For instance, if your overseas stay was for legitimate reasons such as business necessity, childbirth, or medical treatment, those reasons will be considered fairly.

It is also important to prove that your life base in Japan is well maintained — through evidence such as housing, tax payments, social insurance contributions, and employment records.

Moreover, immigration officers review not only the most recent year but also the accumulated pattern over several years, to confirm whether Japan has been your true center of life.

3. Important Notes by Case

1. Work Visa Holders with Frequent Business Trips

Many foreign professionals under a work visa frequently travel abroad for business meetings, technical guidance, or support for overseas branches. Such frequent business trips are common in global companies.

In these cases, immigration officers pay special attention to whether “the trips are indispensable to the applicant’s employment duties.”

Therefore, it is extremely important to prove in writing that each trip was a necessary business assignment ordered by the employer. Prepare organized evidence such as travel orders, business trip reports, and schedules that clearly show the purpose, duration, and details of each trip.

Additionally, presenting evidence that salaries were continuously paid, social insurance and taxes were regularly fulfilled, and the residence in Japan was maintained strengthens proof that Japan remains your primary base of living.

If your annual days abroad exceed 100, the presence or absence of persuasive documents demonstrating the necessity of those trips will greatly affect the outcome of your permanent residency application. The more days abroad you have, the more carefully you should prepare supporting materials.

2. Temporary Return for Childbirth (Spouse Visa, etc.)

It is also common for holders of a Spouse or Dependent visa to return to their home country for an extended period due to childbirth. In most cases, the reason is related to medical care or family support, which are generally recognized as reasonable causes.

However, when the period abroad becomes lengthy, increasing the total number of days abroad, immigration may question whether Japan remains the applicant’s true life base.

In such cases, submit a medical certificate showing the necessity of overseas childbirth and explain that family support abroad was essential for health and safety.

At the same time, it is crucial to prove that your life base in Japan was continuously maintained — for example, by showing that your Japanese spouse continued to reside in Japan, that your rental contract remained active, and that health insurance, pension, and tax payments were properly made.

Furthermore, clearly presenting your post-return life plan — such as scheduled health checkups or vaccinations for your child and preparation for childcare in Japan — demonstrates your intent to continue living in Japan, which can significantly support your permanent residency approval.

3. Long-Term Stay Abroad Due to COVID-19

Since 2020, many residents have been forced into long-term stays abroad due to the pandemic — flight cancellations, border restrictions, or quarantine were beyond individual control. Such unavoidable circumstances are considered during the permanent residency review.

It is important to retain documentation proving these causes, such as airline cancellation notices, government-issued travel restrictions, medical certificates, or negative test results, to clearly explain the reasons for extended stay abroad.

If you can also show that your employment, tax payments, and social insurance obligations in Japan continued during this period, it will help prove that Japan remained your actual home base, increasing the likelihood of approval.

Given the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, immigration officers tend to assess such cases carefully. By explaining your situation clearly and preparing evidence properly, you can minimize any negative impact on your permanent residency application.

4. Strategic Timing for Application (If You Have Many Days Abroad)

For applicants with frequent overseas travel, the timing of your permanent residency application can significantly affect the outcome. In particular, immigration places heavy emphasis on the most recent one year. If the number of days abroad in that period exceeds 100, the review will likely become more stringent. Therefore, whenever possible, aim to keep your days abroad within 60 per year during the year before applying.

It is also important to ensure that your current visa status is for the longest permitted period. For example, if you currently hold a 1-year status, applying for permanent residency after obtaining a 3-year or 5-year status can greatly strengthen your evaluation.

Moreover, proper payment of taxes, social insurance, and pension contributions is one of the core criteria in the review. Any inconsistency or unpaid period may negatively affect your score. Obtain official certificates in advance and confirm your payment records.

To demonstrate that your main living base remains in Japan, keep your resident registration, lease contract, and utility payments up to date. These are often questioned for applicants who spend long periods abroad, so ensure you can present objective evidence proving your residency in Japan.

By strategically adjusting your timing and preparing necessary documentation regarding days abroad and residence status, you can significantly increase your chances of permanent residency approval. If you feel your current situation poses risks, consider taking time to improve before applying, and consult with ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer’s Office early for professional advice.

※Consider upcoming events like job transfers, childbirth, or family care when planning. Also, calculate backward considering the processing time.

5. Q&A on Permanent Residency Application and Days Abroad

There is no explicit legal standard for the number of days abroad in a permanent residency application. However, in practical examination, if your total days abroad are within 60 days per year, immigration officials often judge that your primary base of living is in Japan, and this is generally considered a safe level.

On the other hand, if your annual days abroad are in the range of 60–100 days, you will need to explain the reasons for travel and the actual situation of your life in Japan in more detail. When the total exceeds 100 days per year, the review tends to be more cautious, and the number of refusal cases increases.

That said, the final decision is based on a comprehensive assessment of multiple factors such as “reasons for travel,” “residence, tax, and employment status in Japan,” and “cumulative days abroad over several years.” A higher number of days abroad does not automatically mean your permanent residency application will be rejected. If you are concerned, it is advisable to consult an expert early.

Yes, in many cases it is still possible to obtain approval.

It is important to clearly prove with objective documents that your trips were business trips required by your employer, such as travel orders, business reports, and employment certificates.

Even if you have many days abroad, if you can show that your salary has been continuously paid from Japan, that you have properly fulfilled your obligations for taxes, social insurance, and pension contributions, and that you maintain a residence in Japan, immigration will recognize that you actually use Japan as your primary base of living.

The more frequently you travel, the more critical advance preparation and document organization become for the result. If you are unsure, consider consulting a professional.

In many cases, childbirth and childcare make it necessary to return to your home country to receive support from family or appropriate medical care. Such reasons are generally given considerable weight during examination.

By providing a medical certificate or written explanation that clarifies the necessity of giving birth abroad, and by showing that your residence in Japan was maintained, your spouse continued to live in Japan, and that taxes and social insurance premiums were properly paid, you can minimize any negative evaluation.

In addition, if you clearly present your post-return life plan in Japan (such as vaccination schedules and childcare plans for your child), it becomes easier for the examiner to understand that your long-term life base continues to be in Japan.

Yes, immigration typically looks not only at the “number of days abroad in each year” but also at the “cumulative days abroad and stay pattern over the most recent several years.”

Even if the number of days abroad in a single year is relatively small, if you have many overseas stays over several years, immigration may judge that your actual life base in Japan is weak.

For this reason, it is very useful to create a summary table showing days abroad per year and total cumulative days based on the entry/exit stamps in your passport.

This requirement includes not only the formal continuity that your residence status has not lapsed, but also the substantive continuity that “Japan is in reality your main base of living.”

Even if your residence status remains valid, if you frequently spend long periods abroad, immigration may consider that your life base has shifted outside Japan. If you have many days abroad, you need to explain carefully that your life base is still in Japan, by providing evidence such as your actual residence, tax payment records, and employment history.

6. Summary: Permanent Residency Application and Days Abroad

In permanent residency examinations, your days abroad are one of the key factors reviewed.

As a practical benchmark, if your annual days abroad are within 60 days, the situation is generally considered relatively safe. When your days abroad are between 60 and 100 days, you will need to explain carefully the reasons for travel and your life base in Japan.

When the number exceeds 100 days, the review tends to be more cautious. However, immigration does not decide solely based on days abroad. The decision is made through a comprehensive assessment of factors such as reasons for travel, your residence in Japan, tax and pension payment status, and whether you hold the longest possible period of residence.

Even if you have many days abroad, you can increase the likelihood of approval by preparing supporting documents thoroughly and adjusting the timing of your application. If you have concerns, please feel free to consult us. We will listen to your situation and provide a tailored list of required documents, suggested timing, and potential risks for your permanent residency application.

7. Popular Pages Related to Permanent Residency Applications

Japan Permanent Residency Application Guide

A comprehensive overview of permanent residency applications in Japan: key requirements (income, years of stay, taxes / pension compliance), typical patterns by status of residence, and how to respond to refusals.

Permanent Residency Guide from a Work Visa

An up-to-date guide for those who aim to obtain permanent residency in Japan from a work visa. Includes a self-check tool for work-visa holders on PR requirements.

Obtaining a PR Visa via Highly Skilled Professional Points

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Permanent Residency Guide for Spouses of Japanese Nationals

For applicants moving from a spouse visa to permanent residency, this guide explains requirements, documents, and common refusal cases, with a PR self-check tool for spouse visa holders.

Permanent Residency Requirements Self-Check Tool

A 30-second self-diagnosis tool to check whether you meet Japan’s permanent residency requirements: Highly Skilled 70/80 points, work visa, spouse visa, and Long-Term Resident.

Reapplication Guide After Permanent Residency Refusal

What to do if your PR application is refused and how to prepare for reapplication.

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