Japan’s Immigration Services Agency recently revised its guidelines for Permanent Residency (PR). Starting April 1, 2027, the requirements regarding an applicant's "period of
stay" will become stricter.
What is Changing?
Under the Immigration Control Act, the "longest period of stay" required for a PR application is technically defined as 5 years.
Historically, however, the Ministry of Justice has applied this rule flexibly; operationally, holding a 3-year visa has been considered sufficient to satisfy the "longest period
of stay" requirement for a PR application.
This flexible application is coming to an end. The government announced on February 24, 2026, that they will begin strictly enforcing the 5-year requirement from April 1,
2027.
Please note that the granting of a 5-year visa remains at the discretion of the Immigration Services Agency, based on factors such as residency stability and tax history.
| The Transition Timeline | |
| Period | Requirement for PR Application |
| Until March 31, 2027 | A 3-year visa is still acceptable as the "longest period of stay.". |
| From April 1, 2027 | You must generally hold a 5-year visa to apply. |
Transitional Measure
To mitigate the impact on current residents, a special provision has been made:
Individuals holding a 3-year visa as of March 31, 2027, will continue to be treated as holding the "longest period of stay" for the first PR decision (disposition) they receive within that specific visa’s validity period.
Permanent Residency Granting Rate
Permanent residency granting rate consistently hovered between 50,000 and 60,000 from 2011 to 2022, before showing an upward trend starting in 2023.
The approval rate remained around 70% until 2016. However, it declined significantly to 56.9% in 2017 and, while it showed signs of recovery between 2022 and 2024, the rate dipped again to 56.93%
in 2025.
Given these fluctuating trends and tightening regulations, it is essential that your application is prepared with extreme care.
