This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
Once you become a permanent resident, you no longer need to go through the procedure to renew your period of stay, and the restrictions on work are lifted. Your standing in society rises, and the base of your daily life becomes more stable. On the other hand, it does not give you Japanese nationality, and you still need to renew your 在留カード, and the requirements for applying are set strictly.
This article is for people thinking about obtaining 在留資格「永住者」. It sets out what the status is, its advantages, and the points to watch.
It lets you stay in Japan with no time limit, and you no longer need to renew your period of stay.
A permanent residence visa (在留資格「永住者」) is a status that lets you stay in Japan with no time limit. Unlike other statuses of residence, you no longer need to go through the procedure to renew your period of stay. This lets you put your life in Japan on a more stable footing.
One thing is easily misunderstood because of the word "permanent": a permanent residence visa does not give you Japanese nationality. You keep your foreign nationality and gain the right to live in Japan permanently.
The limits on your period of stay and on work are lifted, which leads to greater standing in society and a more stable base for your life.
The biggest advantage is that you no longer need to go through the procedure to renew your period of stay. With a work visa or a 家族滞在 (Dependent) visa you have to go to the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) to renew from time to time, but once you have a permanent residence visa you are free of that procedure.
With a work visa you may work only within the scope that has been permitted, but with a permanent residence visa you can work freely, with no restriction on the type of job or on working hours. You can take on a wider range of work, and your career options widen.
It leads to a high level of trust in Japanese society. Screening for a home loan, or an application for a credit card, may become easier to pass. Some companies also treat holding a permanent residence visa as one of their conditions for hiring.
With no worries about your period of stay and no restrictions on work, it becomes easier to plan your life over the long term. You can build a more stable base for your life, for example by buying a home or starting a business.
For the spouse and the children of a permanent resident, it may become easier to obtain 在留資格「永住者の配偶者等」 (Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident). This can open a path for your family to live together in Japan.
The 再入国許可 (Re-entry Permit) is valid for longer than with an ordinary status of residence (up to 5 years). And if you use the みなし再入国許可 (Special Re-entry Permit) system, you do not need to obtain a 再入国許可 for a temporary trip abroad of 1 year or less.
It does not give you Japanese nationality, you still need to renew your 在留カード, and the bar for applying is set high.
A permanent residence visa is only a status of residence; it does not give you Japanese nationality. To obtain Japanese nationality, a separate 帰化許可申請 (Application for Naturalization) is needed.
Even after you obtain a permanent residence visa, if you break Japanese law or act in a way that is socially problematic, you may become subject to deportation. Even as a permanent resident, you need to observe Japanese laws and rules.
You no longer need to renew your period of stay, but the 在留カード is valid for 7 years. Before that validity period ends, you need to go through the procedure to renew the 在留カード.
Strict requirements apply to an application for a permanent residence visa. You need to meet many conditions: the number of years of continuous residence, good conduct, the ability to make an independent living, being in the interests of Japan, and more. The documents to be submitted also cover a wide range, and preparing them can take time and effort.
It is important to understand both the advantages and the points to watch, and then to decide in the light of your own situation.
A permanent residence visa is a status of residence that makes life in Japan more stable and allows a high degree of freedom in what you do. But you need to meet certain requirements to obtain it, and it remains important to observe Japanese law afterwards.
When you are thinking about applying, it is important to understand the advantages and the points to watch properly, and to decide carefully in the light of your own situation. If anything about the application worries you or is unclear, please consult a specialist such as a 行政書士 (certified administrative procedures legal specialist, gyoseishoshi) who is familiar with residence procedures.
No. A permanent residence visa is only a status of residence; it gives you the right to live in Japan permanently while keeping your foreign nationality. To obtain Japanese nationality, a separate 帰化許可申請 is needed.
Yes. With a work visa you may work only within the scope that has been permitted, but with a permanent residence visa you can work freely, with no restriction on the type of job or on working hours.
They do not become unnecessary. The 在留カード is valid for 7 years, and you need to go through the renewal procedure before that validity period ends.
Not necessarily. If you use the みなし再入国許可 system, you do not need to obtain a 再入国許可 for a temporary trip abroad of 1 year or less. Where you do obtain a 再入国許可, it is valid for up to 5 years.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.