Reviewed by the XROSS HOUSE team — a Tokyo-based operator of share houses and furnished apartments across 11 prefectures in Japan, with more than 50,000 residents housed to date.
- Permanent residency generally needs 10 years of continuous residence in Japan, including 5 or more years on a work or residence-based status. Shorter routes exist for spouses of Japanese nationals, long-term residents, refugees and Highly Skilled Professionals.
- Which guideline applies depends on your filing date. Applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 fall under the October 1, 2026 guideline in full.
- The new guideline adds a household income test, a pension projection, a Japanese ability check at around CEFR B1 and a review of your knowledge of the rules for living in Japan.
- The application fee for permanent residence permission rose to 200,000 yen for applications filed at the counter on or after October 1, 2026 (it was 10,000 yen).
- Taxes, health insurance, pension and address reports are all checked, so a stable address and on-time payments matter every year.
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What is Japan permanent residency?
Permanent residency is a status of residence with no limit on your period of stay. Your activities in Japan are not limited to one type of work, and you no longer renew your status at set intervals. It is not citizenship, and you keep your nationality.
Searches such as "japan pr" and "japan permanent residency visa" point to the same thing. The authorities call it permission for permanent residence, and it is granted by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA). This guide follows the ISA pages linked in each section.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Permanent Residence procedure (as of October 2026)
Japan permanent residency requirements
The Immigration Control Act (Article 22) sets three legal requirements:
- Good conduct. You have a record of acting lawfully and responsibly in daily life.
- Enough assets or skills to make an independent living.
- Japan's interests. Granting permanent residence to you is in the interests of Japan.
Spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents are exempt from the first two requirements.
The ISA guideline then explains how these are judged in practice. Here are the main points.
Years of residence
As a general rule, you need 10 or more years of continuous residence in Japan, and 5 or more of those years must be on a work status or a residence-based status. Holding the longest period of stay available for your status is also considered.
Time spent outside Japan counts too. In the 10 years before you apply, a single trip abroad of 6 months or more, or a total of 2 years and 6 months or more abroad, without a reasonable cause, is in principle viewed negatively. This wording appears in the October 2026 guideline.
Taxes, insurance and pension
You are expected to pay taxes, public health insurance and public pension properly and on time. Past delinquency is in principle viewed negatively. For the basics, see our guides to Japanese taxes for foreigners and National Health Insurance.
Residence card duties and your record
Duties tied to your residence card, such as reporting an address change, are checked, and violations are viewed negatively. Criminal penalties, including fines, are also viewed negatively.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026) (as of October 2026)
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Shorter routes to permanent residency
The October 2026 guideline lists special cases with shorter residence periods. The table shows the main ones.
| Route | Residence period in the guideline |
|---|---|
| Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident | A genuine marriage continued for 5 or more years and 3 or more years of continuous residence in Japan. For biological children, 3 or more years of residence. This is the version applied to applications from April 1, 2027 |
| Long-term resident status | 5 or more years |
| Refugees and complementary protection | 5 or more years after recognition |
| Highly Skilled Professional | 70 or more points maintained for 3 or more years, or 80 or more points for 1 or more years |
| Special highly skilled professional | 1 or more years |
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026) (as of October 2026)
The spouse figures above apply to applications filed from April 1, 2027. The timing table in the next section decides which version of the guideline applies to you, so check the guideline itself before you plan.
We cannot judge whether a particular person qualifies. The immigration authorities decide each case.
Which guideline applies to you
The guideline was revised twice, and your filing date decides which one is used.
| Filing date | Guideline that applies |
|---|---|
| Up to March 31, 2026 | The guideline revised on February 24, 2026 |
| April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 | The February 24, 2026 guideline, except that the income-related parts of the October 1, 2026 guideline apply |
| On or after April 1, 2027 | The October 1, 2026 guideline in full |
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Permanent Residence procedure (as of October 2026)
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What changed in the October 2026 guideline
A household income rule
Your household income must have been continuously above the average income of Japanese households of the same size. A household means the people who share a residence and finances. The income of family members on non-work statuses, such as Dependent, is not counted, and dependents living abroad are added to the household size. The guideline does not give a yen figure.
Other points added from April 2027
- Pension outlook: your projected public pension is expected to reach a set level. Depending on your age, a shortfall can be covered by financial assets.
- Japanese ability: around CEFR B1 under the "Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education" is considered. There are exceptions, for example Highly Skilled Professionals and their families, and people with 6 or more years of primary and secondary schooling.
- Rules for living in Japan: your understanding of the rules in the government's "Guidebook on Living and Working" is checked.
- Children: school-age children are expected to attend elementary or junior high school.
The separate guideline for "contributions to Japan" will be abolished on March 31, 2027.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026) (as of October 2026)
Permanent residency fees in 2026
The fee changed on October 1, 2026. For applications filed on or after that date, permission for permanent residence costs 200,000 yen when filed at the counter. It was 10,000 yen before. Applications received by September 30, 2026 pay the old fee even if they are approved later. The fee is paid when permission is granted.
Fees for extending or changing your status now depend on the period granted. Online payment is by convenience-store or bank payment instead of revenue stamps, plus a separate payment fee.
| Period granted | Counter | Online |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 33,000 yen | 27,000 yen |
| 3 years to less than 5 years | 64,000 yen | 56,000 yen |
| 5 years or more | 75,000 yen | 65,000 yen |
Reductions and exemptions exist for economic hardship. See the ISA page for details.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Fee revision (as of October 2026)
The higher fee makes it worth planning your costs early. Our cost of living guide can help you build a yearly budget.
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How to apply
You apply at the regional immigration bureau that covers your address. The required documents differ by status, so read the ISA document list for your case first.
- Check which guideline applies to your filing date.
- Find your regional immigration bureau and the document list for your status.
- Collect your documents, such as tax and pension records, which you may need to request from offices in advance.
- File your application and keep copies of everything you submit.
- Pay the fee when permission is granted.
If your case is complicated, you can consult the regional immigration bureau or a licensed administrative scrivener (immigration specialist). XROSS HOUSE does not handle visa applications. We help with where you will live.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Required documents (as of October 2026)
After you get permanent residency
You will no longer have a period of stay, but the residence card itself must be renewed periodically. If you travel abroad, you need a re-entry permit or a special re-entry permit. Permanent residency is not citizenship, and you keep your nationality.
If you are still on a work visa, our Japan work visa guide explains the options. Newcomers can start with our guide to moving to Japan from the US, and readers from India may like our guide for Indians in Japan.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Permanent Residence procedure (as of October 2026)
Why your address and payment history matter
The permanent residency path rewards a stable address and on-time payments, because officials look at your tax, insurance and pension record year after year. When you move, you must notify your new address at the city or ward office within 14 days of moving in. This is a residence card duty, and failing to do it is viewed negatively.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (as of October 2026)
If you have just arrived on a work visa and permanent residency is a long-term goal, your first home is where that record starts. Many newcomers, and people who move cities when they change jobs, choose a furnished home with a flexible contract. It keeps early costs low and gives you a registered address from your first weeks.
XROSS HOUSE offers two options:
- Furnished apartments: your own home with a private kitchen and bathroom. Furniture and appliances are already in the room. You set up your own internet.
- Share houses: a private room in a shared home. This is the lower-cost option, and free shared Wi-Fi comes with it.
Start-up costs compared with a typical rental
| Item | Typical Japanese rental | XROSS HOUSE |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit and key money | Often around one month's rent each | No deposit. The only one-time payment at move-in is the initial fee below |
| Agency fee | Typically charged | No agency fee |
| Initial fee | Not applicable | Share house: ¥30,000. Furnished apartment: ¥30,000 during the current campaign (normally ¥50,000) |
| Furniture and appliances | Usually you buy your own | Included in furnished apartments |
Individual contracts also involve a guarantor company, which is explained in the next section. Contracts are online, online viewings are available, and the earliest move-in is 7 days after applying. See our fees page for current details.
Get an estimate for your next home
Guarantor and guarantee company
- No personal joint guarantor is needed.
- Individual contracts generally require joining a rent guarantee company. An initial guarantee fee and a monthly guarantee fee are charged separately, on top of the initial fee. The amounts are given in your estimate.
- If you pay everything from the initial costs through to the move-out costs in full at move-in, you do not need to join a guarantee company.
Ask for a written estimate so you can see the total for your stay. It lists every cost from move-in to move-out, including the initial fee, monthly fees, guarantee fees and move-out costs, before you sign.
FAQ: Japan permanent residency
How many years do you need to live in Japan for permanent residency?
In principle, 10 or more years of continuous residence, with 5 or more years on a work status or a residence-based status. Shorter periods apply to special cases such as spouses of Japanese nationals, long-term residents, refugees and Highly Skilled Professionals. See the ISA guideline (as of October 2026).
Does time on a student visa count toward permanent residency?
Student years count toward the 10 years of residence, but they do not count toward the 5 years that must be spent on a work or residence-based status. Check the guideline for how your own history is counted (as of October 2026).
How much does Japan permanent residency cost now?
For applications filed on or after October 1, 2026, permission for permanent residence costs 200,000 yen when filed at the counter. It was 10,000 yen before. The fee is paid when permission is granted. See the ISA fee page (as of October 2026).
Do I need to speak Japanese for permanent residency?
The October 2026 guideline, applied in full from April 2027, considers Japanese ability at around CEFR B1. There are exceptions, for example Highly Skilled Professionals and their families, and people with 6 or more years of primary and secondary schooling (as of October 2026).
Is permanent residency the same as Japanese citizenship?
No. Permanent residency removes the limit on your period of stay, but you keep your nationality. The residence card itself must still be renewed periodically.
Can I leave Japan after getting permanent residency?
Yes. You need a re-entry permit or a special re-entry permit when you travel. Check the ISA page for the rules that apply to your trips (as of October 2026). Before filing, note that long absences can be viewed negatively.
Can I rent a place in Japan without a guarantor?
At XROSS HOUSE, no personal guarantor is needed. Individual contracts generally require joining a rent guarantee company, with an initial and a monthly guarantee fee charged separately. If you pay everything from the initial costs through to the move-out costs in full at move-in, joining is not required. More answers are on our FAQ page.
Talk to our English-speaking team about your home
Permanent residency depends on your years of residence, your record and the guideline that applies on your filing date, so read the ISA pages first. While you build that record, a steady home helps. If you are looking for a furnished place in Japan, XROSS HOUSE can help you find a home. Feel free to contact us.
