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"Permanent Resident" visa grants permanent residence to foreign nationals.
Holders of this visa can stay in Japan without any restrictions on the length of their stay.
How to apply for a "Permanent Resident" Visa (Spouses of Japanese nationals and Permanent Residents)
Here's how to prepare for a "Permanent Resident" visa application if you are the spouse of a Japanese national, a Permanent Resident or a Special Permanent Resident. If you are looking for the spouse visa itself, see "Spouse of Japanese National."
Preparation steps
1. Check your eligibility
Make sure that you meet the requirements for the "Permanent Resident" visa. You can check them with our basic checklist for spouses.
We do not recommend applying without carefully reviewing the requirements. Not only may your application be denied, but problems in your records, especially the payment of taxes and social insurance premiums, may also affect your current status at your next visa renewal.
The main requirements for spouses change depending on when you apply:
| Applications filed by March 31, 2027 | Applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage and residence | Married for 3 years or more, and residing in Japan for 1 year or more | Substantive married life of 5 years or more, and continuous residence in Japan of 3 years or more |
| Period of stay | A 3-year period of stay is accepted as the "longest period of stay" | A 5-year period of stay is generally required (with a transitional measure). Details |
| Other | Current rules | Japanese language ability (CEFR B1), understanding of Japanese rules and children's school attendance are also considered |
*If you were granted Special Permission to Stay or Special Permission to Land because you fell under a ground for denial of landing, the shortened requirements for spouses do not apply. In principle, you need 10 years or more of residence after the permission.
The ISA also provides a self-check sheet for spouses (永住許可申請セルフチェックシート（「日本人の配偶者等」、「永住者の配偶者等」用）). The ISA asks applicants to submit it together with the application documents. Self-check sheet (Excel, Japanese)
2. Prepare certificates and official documents
Obtain the following documents. Documents marked "if applicable" are needed only in the situations described.
- Certificates issued in Japan must be submitted within 3 months of the date of issue.
- Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation.
- Black out your basic pension number, insurer number and insurance number/code on all documents.
- Income, tax and payment documents are required for you and the person who supports you (usually your spouse).
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse's family register (戸籍謄本（全部事項証明書）) and a marriage certificate issued by an authority of your country | Spouses of Japanese nationals | 1 each. The family register is issued by the municipal office of your spouse's registered domicile. |
| Marriage certificate, or other documents proving your marital relationship | Spouses of Permanent Residents / Special Permanent Residents | 1 copy. |
| Certificate of residence (住民票) for all household members | All | 1 copy. "My Number" must be omitted; all other items must be shown. Available at your municipal office. |
| Proof of occupation of you or your spouse | All | Company employee: certificate of employment (在職証明書). Self-employed: copy of the tax return (確定申告書控え) and business license (if any). Other cases (including when both of you are unemployed): a written explanation and supporting documents. |
| Certificate of taxation (課税証明書) and certificate of tax payment (納税証明書) for Residence Tax for the past 3 years | All | 1 each per year, stating total annual income and payment status. If one certificate shows both, that one is enough. Obtain them from each municipality where you lived. |
| Proof that Residence Tax was paid on time (receipts, passbook copies, or printed web passbook screens) | If applicable | Only for periods in the past 3 years when Residence Tax was not deducted from your salary. |
| Certificate of tax payment (No. 3) for the five national taxes (納税証明書（その３）) | All | Covers withholding income tax, self-assessed income tax, consumption tax, inheritance tax and gift tax (each with the related special/local taxes). Available at your tax office. National Tax Agency guide (Japanese) |
| Proof of income or assets | All | Copy of your passbook, or printed web passbook screens showing transactions. |
| Public pension records for the past 2 years | All | One of: (a) 被保険者記録照会回答票, 被保険者記録照会（納付Ⅰ） and 被保険者記録照会（納付Ⅱ） from a pension office; (b) the full-period "Nenkin Teikibin" (ねんきん定期便, sealed-letter version, not the postcard); or (c) printed "Pension record for each month" screens from Nenkin Net (Japanese only). |
| Copies of all National Pension premium receipts (国民年金保険料領収証書) for the past 2 years | If applicable | If you were enrolled in the National Pension during the past 2 years. With Nenkin Net, also print the "National Pension record (monthly payment status)" screen. |
| Proof of health insurance enrollment | All | Copy of the health insurance card (or National Health Insurance card) for all household members, or, if your card has expired or you changed insurer, a screenshot from Myna Portal showing the date you joined (資格取得年月日, within 3 months), or a copy of your Eligibility Confirmation Certificate (資格確認証). |
| Certificate of payment (納付証明書) and copies of all receipts for National Health Insurance premiums (tax) for the past 2 years | If applicable | If you were enrolled in National Health Insurance during the past 2 years. Available at your municipal office. |
| Social insurance premium receipts or certificate (社会保険料納入証明書) of your business | If applicable | Only if you are the owner of a business enrolled in social insurance at the time of application. |
| List of relatives (親族一覧表) | All | Required if your status is "Spouse or Child of Japanese National" or "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident" as a spouse. Form (PDF, Japanese) |
| Submission checklist (提出書類チェックシート) and self-check sheet | All | Choose the checklist for spouses of Japanese nationals or for spouses of Permanent Residents / Special Permanent Residents on the ISA website. |
*Additional documents for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 (for example, for Japanese language ability) have not been announced yet.
*The ISA may ask for documents not listed here during the review. Please check the latest list on the ISA website before applying.
3. Fill out an application form
Download and complete the application form (永住許可申請書) from the ISA website. The ISA also publishes an example of how to fill it out (PDF, Japanese).
Here is an example of how to fill it out for spouses.
Attach your photo to the application form. The photo must meet the following requirements:
- Size: 4 cm high and 3 cm wide
- Facing front, without a hat or cap
- Plain background with no shadows
- Clear and sharp
- Taken within 6 months of the submission date
- Your name written on the back
4. Prepare a letter of guarantee
The guarantor is usually your spouse. Download the letter of guarantee (身元保証書) from the ISA website, and ask your guarantor to fill it out and sign it: Japanese / English
Also prepare a document proving the guarantor's identity (a copy of their driver's license, etc.).
Note: The letter states, "In connection with the person applying for permission for permanent residence above, I hereby guarantee to provide him/her with necessary support to fulfill his/her civic duty and to abide by Japanese laws and regulations during his/her stay in Japan." This does not mean that your guarantor has legal responsibility. The guarantor has only moral responsibility.
The Immigration Services Agency explains on its website: A guarantor under the Immigration Control Act is a person who promises to the Minister of Justice that they will provide financial guarantees, daily life guidance for compliance with laws and regulations, as necessary, so that foreign nationals can stably and continuously achieve their intended purpose of entry into Japan. Regarding the nature of the letter of guarantee, the guaranteed matters promised to the Minister of Justice are not legally enforceable against the guarantor. Even if the guaranteed matters are not fulfilled, the authorities will only guide the guarantor to fulfill the promise. If the guarantor fails to fully fulfill their responsibilities, they will be considered unsuitable as a guarantor in subsequent immigration applications, and will lose social credibility. Therefore, it can be said that this imposes a moral responsibility. (Source: Q52 of "Immigration Q&A" on the website of the Immigration Services Agency. TKG Immigration Consulting Office translated it into English.)
5. Sign an acknowledgment form
Download and sign the acknowledgment form (了解書): Japanese / English. Other language versions are available on the ISA website. In this form, you acknowledge that you will promptly inform the immigration office if certain matters change while your application is under review, such as your employment or family situation (for example, a divorce).
6. Submit your application
Submit your application documents to the regional immigration services bureau that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. You can check the jurisdiction on the ISA website.
Present your passport and residence card at the time of submission. If you have a permission to engage in activity other than that permitted (資格外活動許可書), present it as well.
*For questions about the application form and required documents, the ISA's Immigration Services Center (外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター) is available: 0570-013904 (from IP phones or abroad: 03-5796-7112).
Disclaimer
- The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and is based on information published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan as of October 2, 2026. It is not legal advice on any individual case.
- Required documents and procedures may change without notice. Please check the latest information on the ISA website before applying.
- The English descriptions of Japanese documents and terms on this page are our own translations. In case of any difference, the original Japanese texts prevail.
- TKG Immigration Consulting Office accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of the information on this page.