Contents
Key points
- Since October 1, 2026, the ISA considers whether your household income has continuously exceeded the average for Japanese households of the same size.
- The ISA has not published the amounts, the statistics used, or how many years “continuously” means.
- Our reference range is, for example, JPY 5.4–6.8 million for two people and JPY 7.7–9.2 million for four (before tax).
- Spouses and children of Japanese nationals and permanent residents are exempt from this requirement.
Please read first
The figures on this page are our own reference estimates based on public government statistics. They are not amounts published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA), and they are not the ISA’s screening criteria. Having an income above these figures does not mean your application will be approved, and having an income below them does not mean it will be denied.
1. What the revised guidelines say
The “Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence” (永住許可に関するガイドライン), revised on October 1, 2026, state that, as a rule, the ISA will consider whether your household’s annual income has continuously reached a level exceeding the average income of Japanese households of the same household size.
This household income standard applies to applications filed on or after October 1, 2026, and to applications filed on or after April 1, 2026 that were still pending on October 1, 2026.
It applies to applicants who must meet the “independent livelihood” requirement, such as working visa holders, business managers and HSP holders. Spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents are exempt from this requirement by law.
2. What has not been published
The guidelines do not state:
- the specific amount for each household size;
- which statistics the ISA uses;
- how many years “continuously” means; or
- the additional amount for households of five or more.
It is not known whether the ISA will publish these details, so the exact figure used in screening may never be made public. However, many of our clients ask for a rough idea of the level. We have therefore prepared a reference range based on public statistics.
3. How we estimated
We used three methods, each based on official statistics, and show the range between the lowest and highest results.
| Method | Data source | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| A | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2025, Income, Table 36 (income in 2024) | Average income per household, by number of household members, as published |
| B | Same survey, all households (average income JPY 5.752 million; average household size about 2.22) | The overall average adjusted by household size using the square-root scale (average × √(household size ÷ 2.22)) |
| C | Statistics Bureau, Family Income and Expenditure Survey 2025, households of two or more, Table 3-1 | Average monthly income of employee households (before tax, including bonuses) × 12. No figure for one-person households |
All figures are before tax and social insurance deductions. We did not adjust for age, because the guidelines do not mention age.
4. Reference range by household size
Our own estimate — not an official ISA figure
| Household size | Method A | Method B | Method C | Reference range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3.18 million | 3.86 million | — | JPY 3.1 – 3.9 million |
| 2 persons | 5.45 million | 5.46 million | 6.74 million | JPY 5.4 – 6.8 million |
| 3 persons | 7.85 million | 6.69 million | 7.72 million | JPY 6.6 – 7.9 million |
| 4 persons | 9.10 million | 7.72 million | 8.90 million | JPY 7.7 – 9.2 million |
| 5 persons | 10.06 million | 8.63 million | 8.72 million | JPY 8.6 – 10.1 million |
| 6 or more | 10.29 million | 9.46 million | 8.43 million | JPY 8.4 – 10.3 million |
5. How to read this table
- It is a range, not a line. Depending on the statistics and method, the result differs by more than JPY 1 million for some household sizes. The ISA may use different data or a different method.
- Compare using your gross income. The statistics show income before tax. Compare them with the “salary income” (給与収入) on your tax certificate or the “payment amount” (支払金額) on your withholding slip, not with the “income” (所得) after the employment income deduction.
- Who counts as your household. Under the guidelines, the incomes of household members who share a residence and living expenses are combined. Dependents living abroad are counted in the household size. The income of family members whose status is not for work purposes (for example, a “Dependent” visa holder working part-time) is not counted.
- “Japanese households.” The Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions covers households in Japan in general, and the Family Income and Expenditure Survey excludes foreign households. Neither publishes figures limited to Japanese households.
- Larger households. The guidelines add an amount for households of five or more, but the amount has not been published.
- Income is only one factor. The ISA also considers your residence history, tax and social insurance payment records, period of stay and other factors. From April 1, 2027, pension, Japanese language ability and other requirements will also be considered.
Tip: which number to use
Use 給与収入 (salary income) or 支払金額 (payment amount) — the figure before the employment income deduction.
6. If your income is close to or below the range
This table alone cannot tell you whether an application will be approved or denied. Income is only one of the factors the ISA considers, together with your residence history, payment records and other circumstances.
Important
Please never adjust or misstate your income or household information in an application. For the latest official information, please check the ISA website.
Related guide
For an overview of all PR requirements, see our Permanent Residence page.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency, “Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026)” (Japanese)
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2025, Income, Table 36 (e-Stat)
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Summary Report of the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2025 (Japanese)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Family Income and Expenditure Survey 2025, Table 3-1 (e-Stat)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Outline of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (Japanese)
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only and is not legal advice on any individual case. The reference figures are our own estimates based on the statistics listed above as of October 2, 2026, and may differ from the standard the ISA actually applies. Laws, guidelines and their application may change without notice. TKG Immigration Consulting Office accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of this information. In case of any difference between our English descriptions and the original Japanese texts, the Japanese texts prevail.