Many foreign nationals who plan to live in Japan for an extended period seek to obtain permanent resident status. Once they acquire this status, they are no longer required to go through renewal procedures. Since only the reissuance of the residence card every seven years is necessary, the burden on foreign residents is significantly reduced.
Permanent residency is often sought by foreigners who wish to live in Japan permanently as the spouse of a Japanese national, or by those whose professional and personal lives are firmly established in Japan—for example, e」ntrepreneurs who have achieved success in Japan.
While the detailed requirements should be checked on the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, particular attention should be paid to the following points:
First, applicants must have a stable foundation for living independently—for instance, an annual income of around 3 million yen or higher—and must be fulfilling their obligations regarding tax payments and social insurance contributions.
In reality, it is not uncommon for some individuals to fall behind on insurance or pension payments, so this requires careful attention.
Second, applicants must have lived in Japan continuously for at least ten years, of which at least five years must have been spent working.
However, this requirement is relaxed for spouses of Japanese nationals: if the marriage has lasted for at least three years and the applicant has lived in Japan for at least one year, the condition may be considered fulfilled.」
Third, the applicant must currently hold a residence status with a period of stay of three or five years.
This demonstrates that the applicant’s current residence status is stable. In many cases, if the person’s employment or income is unstable, they may only be granted a one-year period of stay.
Fourth, the applicant must have a guarantor.
Many foreigners actually struggle with this point. Although the guarantor is not a financial sponsor, misunderstandings are common. For those who have few or no Japanese acquaintances, this requirement can become an obstacle.