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On October 1, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) officially revised its Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (永住許可に関するガイドライン).
A draft was published on August 4, 2026, followed by a public comment period until September 4. The final version keeps the main points of the draft. The guidelines have grown from a short one-page summary into a detailed document that explains how each requirement is assessed.
Some of the new rules already apply to applications under review. Others start with applications filed on or after April 1, 2027. If you are planning to apply for permanent residence (PR), please check the timing carefully.
In addition, the fee for permanent residence rose to ¥200,000 on the same day. The fee is paid only when PR is granted (see our article Fees for Change of Status, Extension of Stay, and Permanent Residence to Increase from October, 2026).
When the new rules apply
What matters is the date you submit your application.
| Application date | Which rules apply |
|---|---|
| Before April 1, 2026 | Current rules |
| April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (and still under review on October 1, 2026, or filed after that date) | Current rules, plus the new household income standard and the rule on not being a public burden |
| On or after April 1, 2027 | All of the revised guidelines |
In other words, if you applied in or after April 2026 and are still waiting for a decision, the new income standard can already be applied to your case.
The main changes
1. Household income above the Japanese average
Your household income must continuously reach a level above the average income of Japanese households of the same size.
- Household income means the combined income of you and the family members who share your living expenses.
- Income of family members whose status is not for work, such as Dependent (家族滞在), is not counted.
- Relatives you support, including relatives living abroad, are added to your household size, even if they do not live with you. This raises the income level you need.
- For households of 5 people or more, an extra amount for living costs is added to the required level.
As of October 2026, the ISA has not yet announced the exact amounts. Please check the ISA’s latest information before you apply.
2. Pension
The ISA will look at the pension you are expected to receive in the future. The benchmark is the pension a person would receive after working 30 years at an income above the Japanese household average while enrolled in the Employees’ Pension Insurance (厚生年金).
If your expected pension is below that level, you can still meet this point if you have financial assets to cover the shortfall. The amount of assets needed depends on your age at the time of application.
3. Japanese language: B1 level
In principle, you need Japanese ability at B1 level or above under the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education (日本語教育の参照枠). The ISA will confirm it by a method that it designates. As of October 2026, the method has not yet been announced.
B1 is not required for some people, including:
- Highly skilled foreign professionals (points-based) and their family members
- People who received a total of 6 years or more of primary or secondary education under Japan’s School Education Act
- Children of permanent residents who were born in Japan, if the parent raising them has B1-level Japanese
4. Understanding of Japanese rules
The ISA will check whether you understand Japan’s systems and rules, mainly the contents of the Guidebook on Living and Working (生活・就労ガイドブック).
5. School attendance of children
If you have children of compulsory school age, the ISA will check whether they attend elementary or junior high school.
6. Taxes and social insurance, including the past
Any unpaid taxes, pension or health insurance premiums count against you. Even if everything is paid at the time you apply, a past record of late payment, such as having received a delinquency disposition (滞納処分), can be assessed negatively.
7. Time spent outside Japan
Within the 10 years before your application, the following count against you in principle, unless there is a reasonable reason:
- A single absence from Japan of 6 months or more, or
- Absences adding up to 2 years and 6 months or more in total
8. Spouses and children of Japanese nationals and permanent residents
The special rules for spouses and children become stricter.
| Before | Revised guidelines | |
|---|---|---|
| Spouses of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents | 3 years of marriage, and 1 year of continuous residence in Japan | 5 years of genuine married life, and 3 years of continuous residence in Japan |
| Biological children (実子) and others of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents | 1 year of continuous residence in Japan | 3 years of continuous residence in Japan |
The other special rules remain: for example, 5 years on the Long-Term Resident (定住者) status, and 3 years (70 points) or 1 year (80 points) for highly skilled professionals.
Reminder: the “longest period of stay”
As explained in our earlier article New “5-Year Visa” Requirement for Permanent Residence (PR), a 3-year period of stay is treated as the “longest period of stay” for applications filed by March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, you will generally need a 5-year period of stay.
The transitional measure remains in the final guidelines: if you hold a 3-year period of stay on March 31, 2027, it is still treated as the “longest period of stay” for your first PR application on or after April 1, 2027, as long as the decision is made before that period of stay expires. See the earlier article for details.
Are current permanent residents affected?
The revised guidelines apply to new PR applications. They do not cancel PR that has already been granted.
However, the ISA has also issued separate guidelines on the revocation of permanent residence (永住者の在留資格の取消しに関するガイドライン). From April 1, 2027, PR can be revoked if, for example, a permanent resident deliberately does not pay taxes or social insurance, or seriously fails to meet obligations such as those related to the residence card. People who cannot pay because of illness, unemployment or other unavoidable reasons are not the intended target. Even when PR is revoked, the person is in principle given another status, such as Long-Term Resident, instead of being asked to leave Japan.
What you can do now
- ☐Check your application date. Rules differ before and after April 1, 2027.
- ☐Calculate your household income, without counting family members on the Dependent status.
- ☐Check your pension record (ねんきんネット or your pension statement) and your savings.
- ☐Study Japanese toward B1, unless you fall under an exception.
- ☐Pay all taxes and social insurance on time, and keep your receipts.
- ☐Count your days outside Japan over the last 10 years.
- ☐Spouses and children: check your years of marriage and residence under the new rules (5 years of marriage and 3 years of residence for spouses, 3 years of residence for children).
For an overview of all PR requirements, the revised guidelines and our eligibility checklists, see our Permanent Residence page.
Note: Do not rush an application only to beat the April 2027 deadline. If other requirements are not met, the application may be denied, and a denial stays on your immigration record. Depending on the reason for the denial (for example, unpaid taxes or social insurance), you may also be given a shorter period of stay than your current one at your next renewal.
Summary
- Japan’s PR guidelines were officially revised on October 1, 2026.
- The household income and public burden standards already apply to applications filed from April 1, 2026 and still under review.
- From April 1, 2027, applicants must also meet new points on pension, Japanese (B1), understanding of rules and children’s schooling, and spouses need 5 years of marriage and 3 years of residence (children: 3 years of residence).
- Long absences from Japan and past late payments can count against you.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. It is based on the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026) published by the Immigration Services Agency. Details, such as exact income amounts and how Japanese ability will be tested, may be announced later. Please check the ISA’s website before you apply.