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）
Screening for permanent residence is decided not by the day you apply, but by the preparation that began several months to a year or more before it. Rushing just before you apply will not change your past record. For the 3 points of carrying out your public duties, being able to make an independent living, and good conduct, the best thing you can do is to start building a record today and to check what is on it.
A guide to preparing in advance, for people who are thinking of applying for permanent residence.
Build up a record of paying pension and health insurance contributions, and taxes, within the deadline.
In the past some people understood it as simply "as long as you are not in arrears", but it is now said to be strongly expected that for the past 2 years (or 3 years) you have paid on the due date, without going past the payment deadline.
If your record of National Pension or National Health Insurance contributions shows unpaid amounts or late payments, this may count against you when you apply. If there is a history of late payment, you need to discuss the timing of your application with a gyoseishoshi and decide how to put things right, for example by explaining the situation in a 理由書 (written explanation).
Check that there are no arrears on any of your taxes — resident tax and income tax of course, and, if you run a company, corporate enterprise tax and so on. It is essential to obtain the 納税証明書 (tax payment certificate) and 課税証明書 (certificate of tax payment status) that you will submit with your application in advance, and check whether any past arrears appear on them.
The period of "the past 2 years (or 3 years)" is stated as a guide figure in practice. It is not a published standard.
Adjust the timing of any job change, and check the balance against the number of family members you support.
Changing jobs immediately before applying for permanent residence is a major factor in your basis for living being seen as unstable, and in screening taking longer or going against you. If you are planning to change jobs, it is said to be preferable to be settled and working stably at the new workplace at least 1 year before you apply. If this cannot be avoided, you need to take steps that back up your stability, such as submitting your employment contract and payslips as supplementary material.
In screening for the ability to support yourself, what matters is not simply meeting a guide figure of "an annual income of X yen", but the balance against the number of family members you support. The more dependants you have, the higher the annual income expected of the household as a whole. Before you apply, check whether the income of the household as a whole meets the guide figure.
2 things: your record of traffic offences, and carrying out the duties to notify under the 入管法.
Being of good conduct is an essential condition for permanent residence. "Conduct" here covers not only a criminal record but also how you keep to the law in everyday life. Even for minor speeding or parking offences, if they are frequent or numerous there is a risk of being judged to have a low level of awareness of compliance with the law.
When you apply, obtain a driving record certificate from the police station so that you know your own history of offences. If you have several offences on your record, it is important to submit a 理由書 that clearly sets out your regret and the steps you have taken to prevent it happening again.
As well as keeping track of the expiration date of your period of stay, you need to make a final check that you have carried out all the duties to notify under the 入管法 (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act), such as notifying a change of address within 14 days and notifying the organisation you belong to when you change jobs. Missing these notifications can also be a cause of denial.
Preparation goes in 3 stages: a year or more before, 3 months before, and just before you apply.
A gyoseishoshi does not only prepare documents on your behalf. They analyse your past record objectively, identify the risks that could lead to denial, and prepare a 理由書 that explains those risks.
At least 1 year before you apply. Put your record of carrying out public duties in order, and make your basis for living stable by avoiding a job change or a move. If you start just before applying, you cannot change your past record.
In practice, it is said that what is looked at is not only whether there are arrears, but whether you have paid on the due date without going past the payment deadline. The past 2 years (or 3 years) is said to be the guide figure.
Your basis for living may be seen as unstable, and this is a factor in screening taking longer or going against you. It is said to be preferable to be settled and working stably at the new workplace at least 1 year before you apply.
If they are frequent or numerous, there is a risk of being judged to have a low level of awareness of compliance with the law. Please obtain a driving record certificate from the police station so that you know your own history of offences.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.