2025-05-20

Permanent residency is an attractive status for foreigners residing in Japan. There are no restrictions on the period of stay and basically no restrictions on employment. However, there are some requirements to obtain permanent resident status, and we will explain the “annual income requirements” here.

What is permanent residence?

Permanent residence is one of the many types of status of residence, and literally means “the right for a foreigner to reside permanently in Japan.

For example, let us assume that Mr. A, a foreign national, has a work visa and works for a Japanese company. If Mr. A marries Ms. B, who has Japanese nationality, he can change his current work visa status to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”. This status of residence is generally referred to as “permanent residence.

Once a permanent resident status is obtained, there are no restrictions on the period of stay. In addition, there are basically no restrictions on the type of work one can do. Therefore, you can lead a life similar to that of a Japanese national.

What are the requirements to obtain permanent residence?

The first requirement to obtain permanent resident status is to have stayed in Japan for a long period of time. Specifically, the applicant must have resided in Japan for at least 10 years, and must have been in Japan for at least 5 years with work or residence status.

Other requirements include not having violated any laws or regulations or failed to pay taxes (good conduct requirement), having assets or skills sufficient to earn an independent living (independent livelihood requirement), or having been specially approved by the Minister of Justice (national interest Tei requirement).

What is the required annual income?

Of the above requirements, I will explain the independent livelihood requirement, or in other words, how much annual income is required to meet the requirement.

There is no published rule regarding the required annual income. However, based on past cases in which permanent residence was granted, it is generally said that the annual income should be 3 million yen, plus 700,000 to 800,000 yen per dependent family member.

However, this amount varies depending on the situation of the foreigner who wishes to apply for permanent residence. Let us consider the situation by dividing it into “area of residence,” “number of family members and dependents living with you,” and “presence or absence of a Japanese spouse.

First, regarding “area of residence,” even if the annual income is the same at 3 million yen, whether or not you can make a living depends on whether you live in a large city such as Tokyo or Osaka, or in a rural area.

Next is the “number of family members and dependents living with you.” For example, a single person and a person with three dependents will have different annual incomes to maintain their livelihood. If you have enough annual income to make a living and have a reason to live in Japan permanently, there is no need to be pessimistic about your chances of obtaining permanent residence.

Lastly, “Japanese national marital status” is a factor. If you are married to a Japanese national or have a child with a Japanese national, you have a stronger reason to stay in Japan permanently, and this will work in your favor. In addition, while annual income for the past five years is usually the criterion for screening, if you have a Japanese spouse, annual income for the past three years is basically the criterion.

Conclusion

It is generally said that to obtain permanent residence, an annual income of 3 million yen, plus 700,000-800,000 yen per dependent family member is required. However, this amount also differs depending on the area of residence of the applicant for permanent residence, family structure, and the presence or absence of a Japanese spouse.