Traffic Violations and Permanent Residency in Japan｜Will Fines or Tickets Affect Approval?
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Many people worry whether they can apply for Permanent Residency in Japan if they’ve received speeding tickets or paid parking fines in the past.
In fact, traffic violations are considered during the screening process to evaluate whether your behavior is “socially good and law-abiding.” Depending on the severity, you may need to wait several years before reapplying.
This page explains how traffic offenses and fines affect Permanent Residency applications, the difference between administrative and criminal penalties, and what level of violations may influence approval. We also discuss how your days spent abroad and lifestyle factors are evaluated. Be sure to review this before submitting your application.
1. Types of Traffic Violations
When you commit a traffic violation while driving in Japan, there are generally two types of penalties: administrative penalties and criminal penalties.
1. Administrative Penalties
These apply to relatively minor traffic offenses, usually resulting in less than six demerit points. The Public Safety Commission (a government authority) imposes these administrative penalties. Since they are administrative and not criminal, they do not result in a criminal record.
2. Criminal Penalties
Serious traffic violations that result in six or more demerit points fall under criminal punishment. In such cases, you will be summoned to court, and if found guilty, you may be fined, imprisoned, or sentenced to jail. Even if the court imposes only a fine, it still constitutes a criminal conviction, resulting in a criminal record.
For details on traffic violation points, please refer to the official Metropolitan Police Department’s website below.
Traffic Violation Point Table (Metropolitan Police Department)
Traffic tickets in Japan are categorized into three types: Red, Blue, and White tickets, as explained below:
Blue Ticket – For minor violations requiring payment of a non-criminal penalty (fine).
White Ticket – Only demerit points are applied, no payment of fines required.
For instance, serious violations like drunk driving result in a “red ticket,” while minor violations such as parking infractions or seatbelt violations result in a “blue ticket.” In some rare cases, a “white ticket” is issued when only demerit points are recorded without any fine.
Tell us about your traffic violation history, and we’ll assess whether it affects your Permanent Residency application and advise on the best countermeasures.
Available in English and Chinese.
Contact us by email 03-6905-6371
2. Impact of Traffic Violations on Permanent Residency Application
The color of your ticket—red, blue, or white—does not directly determine approval or denial of your Permanent Residency. However, receiving a red ticket generally makes approval extremely difficult, as red tickets involve criminal penalties.
Let’s review the official conditions for applying for Permanent Residency in Japan.
The requirements for obtaining a Permanent Residency visa are clearly listed in the “Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence” published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
(1) Good Conduct
The applicant must observe Japanese laws and maintain a socially acceptable lifestyle without engaging in behavior subject to social criticism.(2) Sufficient Assets or Skills for Independent Living
The applicant must have sufficient assets or skills to live independently without becoming a public burden and maintain a stable lifestyle in the future.(3) The Person’s Permanent Residence Must Benefit Japan
A. In principle, the applicant must have continuously resided in Japan for 10 years or more, including at least 5 years under a work or residential status (excluding “Technical Intern Training” and “Specified Skilled Worker (i)”).
B. The applicant must not have received any criminal punishment such as a fine or imprisonment and must have properly fulfilled all public obligations, including tax, pension, and health insurance payments, and notifications required under the Immigration Control Act.
C. The applicant must be residing under the longest period of stay permitted for their current visa status.
D. The applicant must not pose any threat to public health.※Spouses or children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, or special permanent residents are exempt from requirements (1) and (2). Recognized refugees are exempt from (2).
Source: Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (Revised April 21, 2023)
As seen above, section (3)(B) explicitly states that applicants must not have received criminal punishment such as fines or imprisonment.
Therefore, those who have been subject to a criminal fine are generally not eligible for Permanent Residency.
However, if more than five years have passed since paying the fine (and no further offenses occurred), the conviction is considered nullified under Japanese law. In that case, past violations usually will not disqualify your application.
Blue tickets represent minor administrative offenses. Paying the fine does not constitute a criminal punishment.
Therefore, minor violations—such as speeding less than 20 km/h over the limit, not wearing a seatbelt once, or a single parking violation—usually do not directly cause denial, though they may slightly affect the review.
However, repeatedly committing even minor blue-ticket violations can lead to a perception of poor conduct, making Permanent Residency approval difficult. Repeated offenses, even with only one demerit point each, may raise doubts about your character.
3. If You’re Concerned About Past Violations
Some applicants worry about how many traffic violations they have or when they occurred.
If you’re unsure of your record, you can request a “Driver Record Certificate” (運転記録証明書) to review your driving history from the past five years.
The certificate can be obtained from the Safe Driving Centers located in every prefecture. We recommend checking your record before submitting your Permanent Residency application.
List of Safe Driving Centers in JapanTraffic violations also affect naturalization applications (Japanese citizenship) in similar ways. Permanent Residency applications are filed with the Immigration Bureau, while naturalization is submitted to the Legal Affairs Bureau, but both are ultimately decided by the Minister of Justice.
Tell us about your traffic violation history, and we’ll assess your eligibility and provide practical strategies for your Permanent Residency application.
Available in English and Chinese.
Contact us by email 03-6905-6371
4. Q&A on Permanent Residency Applications and Traffic Violations
If you have received a criminal penalty such as a criminal fine, your Permanent Residency application will, in principle, not be approved.
In particular, offenses that result in a red ticket, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or serious signal violations, are treated as criminal punishment and are considered inconsistent with the “good conduct” requirement.
On the other hand, for minor violations that result in a blue ticket (such as parking violations or not wearing a seatbelt), there is still a chance of approval if it happened only once. However, if such violations are repeated, they will be viewed unfavorably in the examination of your Permanent Residency application.
Once five years have passed since you paid the criminal fine, the conviction is treated under Japanese criminal law as if the sentence had not been pronounced. Therefore, if you spend more than five years without further misconduct, you may apply again for Permanent Residency.
However, if you commit similar violations again, or if you have issues such as unpaid taxes or unpaid social insurance premiums, there is still a high possibility that your application will be denied.
Generally speaking, if you have received a red ticket (criminal punishment) within the past five years, you should postpone your application.
In addition, if you have received multiple blue tickets within the last one to two years, it is safer to wait until those violations disappear from your Driver Record Certificate. Because your traffic history for the past five years is shown, you should always confirm the details before submitting your Permanent Residency application.
You can confirm your traffic history for the past five years by applying for a Driver Record Certificate (unten kiroku shoumeisho) at the Safe Driving Center.
It is safer to obtain this certificate before filing your Permanent Residency application and check whether there are any violations and when they occurred. If you have multiple minor violations, it is usually better to wait at least one to two years before applying.
The following types of violations are considered very disadvantageous in the examination process:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drunk driving (red ticket)
- Driving without a valid license or driving during a license suspension
- Hit-and-run or serious accidents involving fleeing the scene
- Repeated excessive speeding (30 km/h or more over the limit)
If you have such a history, even after more than five years you may be required to submit detailed written explanations and supporting documents about your individual circumstances when applying for Permanent Residency.
5. Summary: How Traffic Violations Affect Permanent Residency Applications
Even if you have traffic violations on your record, there are cases where a Permanent Residency application is still possible, depending on the type of violation and how many years have passed. What matters most is the seriousness and frequency of the violations, and whether you are now leading a stable life, faithfully fulfilling your public obligations such as taxes and social insurance, and properly managing your days spent abroad.
If you have received a criminal penalty such as a fine, you should, in principle, wait at least five years before considering an application. On the other hand, even minor blue-ticket violations can be evaluated negatively if they are repeated within a short period, so you should be cautious.
To proceed with your Permanent Residency application as smoothly as possible, it is important to first obtain a Driver Record Certificate, confirm your violation history, and adjust the timing of your application if necessary.
Even applicants with traffic violations may still be approved if they submit appropriate explanations and supplementary documents tailored to their situation. If you are unsure about your own case, it is advisable to consult a Permanent Residency specialist at an early stage.
Tell us about your traffic violation history, and we’ll advise you on the best strategy for your Permanent Residency application, including how to handle your days spent abroad.
Available in English and Chinese.
Contact us by email 03-6905-6371
6. 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
A service for those who wish to obtain a Highly Skilled Professional visa or permanent residency in Japan using the Highly Skilled Professional points system.
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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Representative Administrative Scrivener
Makoto Sano
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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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