2025-05-102025-05-12

Once a foreign national obtains permanent resident status, there are no restrictions on the period of stay and basically no restrictions on the type of work he or she can do. Because of this, the screening process is very strict, and if the applicant is in arrears of public pension or taxes, the chances of being approved are quite low. So what if the applicant’s spouse is in arrears of pension payments?

What is permanent residence?

Permanent residence is a status of residence that allows a foreign national to have “the right to reside permanently in Japan while maintaining his/her nationality.

For example, let us assume that Mr. A, who has a foreign nationality, has a work visa and is working in Japan, and Mr. A marries Ms. B, who is Japanese, he/she can change his/her status of residence from work visa to “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”. This status of residence is generally known as “permanent residence.

Once a foreign national has “permanent resident status,” there are no restrictions on the period of stay and basically no restrictions on employment. This means that they can lead a life similar to that of Japanese nationals, and is therefore a desired status of residence for foreign nationals who wish to continue living in Japan.

Requirements for Permanent Resident Status

There are several requirements to apply for and be approved for permanent residence. First, you must have a record of long-term residence in Japan. Specifically, you must have been in Japan for at least 10 years, and in addition, you must have been in Japan for at least 5 years with a status of residence (work or residence status).

Next, there is the “good conduct requirement,” which states that there are no violations of laws or regulations. In addition, there is the “independent livelihood requirement,” which states that the applicant has the assets and skills to earn a livelihood independently. In addition, there is the “National Interest Pavilion Requirement,” which requires special recognition by the Minister of Justice.

If the spouse has not paid the pension

As explained in the above requirements, the “good conduct requirement” includes not being in arrears of public pension or public medical care. For example, it is important to have already paid the national pension, as well as to have paid it in a proper and timely manner, i.e., no history of delinquency, etc. In other words, even if you have paid your pension, it will be difficult to obtain permanent residence if you are late in paying it.

When applying for permanent residence, the following documents must be submitted for “documents related to pension”.
(1) Proof of pension payments for the most recent two years
A printout of the “Pension Record for each month” on Pension Net
(2) If you have been a member of the National Pension Plan for a period of time within the last two years
Receipt of National Pension Insurance premiums (copy)

Although the applicant’s (foreign national) own documents are required to apply for permanent residence, if the applicant’s spouse, the Japanese spouse, has any arrears or non-payment of public pension, will it affect the permission for permanent residence?

In this case, since it is not the applicant’s own delinquency or non-payment, many people think that there is no significant impact on the granting or denial of the right of permanent residence. However, since the Japanese spouse and the applicant share the same livelihood, it cannot be said that they are completely unrelated. This point should be taken into consideration when making an application.

Summary

The examination for permanent residence is basically based on the applicant’s (foreign national’s) compliance with laws and regulations. Therefore, if the applicant has not paid or is in arrears of public pension, the possibility of being granted is greatly increased. In addition, if the applicant’s spouse has non-payment or arrears of public pension, it will also have no small influence on the permission.