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）
This is not a decided change to the system. It is an outlook based on the direction of the discussion. If screening does become stricter, the focus is thought to be on how far back and how deeply the carrying out of public duties is checked, how much room is allowed for minor breaches of the law, and showing that the household as a whole can support itself.
This is for people who are thinking of applying and are concerned about what will happen to screening for permanent residence in future.
It is not a decided system. It sets out an outlook based on the direction of the discussion.
The "stricter screening" described in this article is not a change to the system that has been decided at this point. It draws together an outlook that can be inferred from the direction of the discussion now taking place about making screening for permanent residence and naturalisation stricter. For the actual screening criteria, please check what the Immigration Services Agency of Japan publishes.
The period checked may become longer, and a history of paying after the deadline may be treated more seriously.
The discussion repeatedly stresses that permanent residents should be expected to carry out social responsibilities and duties to the same degree as Japanese nationals, or beyond.
In screening for permanent residence as it stands, payment of public duties (taxes, pension, health insurance) is checked for the last few years. In future, it may be that the question becomes whether these duties have been carried out faithfully over your whole period of residence in Japan, and not only over the most recent period.
Paying pension or health insurance contributions after the deadline is already said to be a factor leading to denial in practice. In future, screening may become stricter still, so that even a single instance of paying after the deadline means having to wait for a long time.
The room allowed may narrow further, and the number and frequency of breaches may be looked at more seriously.
In meeting the good conduct requirement, minor breaches of the law such as traffic offences already affect screening today. The discussion about stricter screening points towards narrowing this room further.
As a guide in practice, even 2 or 3 offences over the past 5 years may, depending on what they were and how often they occurred, more easily be judged to show "a low level of awareness of compliance with the law". It becomes all the more important to obtain a driving record certificate before you apply, so that you know your own history.
It may be looked at for the household as a whole, including dependants, rather than the income of a single person.
The current screening criteria contain no clear rule on annual income, but the discussion suggests a direction in which concrete guide figures for annual income according to the make-up of the household would be set, so that the ability to support yourself is shown objectively. The more family members you support (a spouse or children), the higher the bar for the household income needed may become, and it may no longer be possible to clear it on the income standard for a single person.
If a high proportion of your means comes from something other than your own or your spouse's earnings from work, such as money sent from abroad, it may be judged that you are not able to support yourself on a lasting basis.
Stability of employment may be assessed over a longer term, and not only immediately before the application.
Changing jobs immediately before applying already counts against you today, but in future "lasting stability of employment" is thought likely to be assessed from a longer-term point of view.
If you have changed jobs repeatedly over short periods, you may be seen as not having stable employment, and denial may become more likely on the ground that there is no prospect of you settling in Japan over the long term.
3 kinds of preparation help: checking your public records, showing how your income has moved, and explaining points of concern.
Even if screening does become stricter, that does not make the procedure impossible. What is being asked for is supporting material showing that you are carrying out your responsibilities.
It is not a decided system. It draws together an outlook that can be inferred from the direction of the discussion about making screening for permanent residence and naturalisation stricter. For the actual screening criteria, please check what the Immigration Services Agency of Japan publishes.
In practice, paying after the deadline is already said to be a factor leading to denial. In future it may be treated more strictly still, so that even a single instance in your record means having to wait for a long time.
You can. We recommend obtaining a driving record certificate before you apply, so that you know your own history of offences.
The current screening criteria contain no clear rule on annual income, but it has been pointed out that the more family members you support, the higher the bar for the household income needed may become, and that it may no longer be possible to clear it on the income standard for a single person.
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Get a free consultationThis article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.