2025-06-29

As the name suggests, a Permanent Resident Visa is a status of residence that allows permanent residence in Japan. While other visa statuses have a set “period of stay,” the Permanent Resident Visa does not. There are several other advantages to the Permanent Resident Visa, which we will explain below.

What is a Permanent Resident Visa?

A Permanent Resident Visa is, as the name suggests, a status of residence that allows permanent residence in Japan. Unlike other residence statuses, there are basically no restrictions on employment.

To obtain a permanent resident visa, a person who falls under any of the following categories must submit an application and necessary documents to the Immigration Bureau and obtain permission.
Spouse of a Japanese national
・ Spouse of a permanent resident
・ Spouse of a special permanent resident
・ Biological child of a Japanese national (including special adoption)
・ Biological child of a permanent resident and special permanent resident

However, obtaining a Permanent Resident Visa does not change one’s nationality to Japanese. The nationality remains that of a foreign national, and the acquisition of a Permanent Resident Visa only confers the right to reside permanently in Japan.

Requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa

There are four requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa.

The first is that you must have continuously resided in Japan for at least 10 years. The first requirement is that you must have lived in Japan continuously for at least 10 years. Also, if that “10 or more years of residence” includes a period of schooling, the period of employment must be at least 5 years.

Second, there must be no problems with the applicant’s background. For example, no delinquent tax payments, no criminal record, no traffic violations, etc. In other words, the applicant must have a good attitude toward life. However, traffic violations, etc., may not be a problem if a certain period of time has passed.

Third, the applicant must be able to live in Japan with his/her own assets and income. Of course, it is also important that the applicant has been working for the company for a long time and can expect a stable income in the future.

Merits of a Permanent Resident Visa

The first merit of a Permanent Resident Visa is that there is no limit to the period of stay. However, the period of validity is seven years, so it is necessary to renew the visa before the expiration of that period.

Another advantage is that the visa holder can freely choose his/her occupation. While other visa statuses limit the types of work you can do, there are basically no restrictions on the type of occupation you can do with a permanent residence visa.

Furthermore, with a Permanent Resident visa, you can continue to live in Japan even if you divorce your Japanese spouse. On the other hand, if your status of residence is “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, you will lose your status of residence if you divorce your Japanese spouse, and you will have to switch to another status of residence, in which case you will return to your home country.

By obtaining a permanent resident visa, even if his/her spouse or child is a foreign national, he/she can obtain the status of residence “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, etc.” and the work restrictions will be eliminated. Under other visa statuses, if the spouse or child is a foreign national, the visa status will be “Family Resident” and the visa holder can work only 28 hours per week.

Summary

Once you obtain a Permanent Resident Visa, not only is your period of stay eliminated, but there are also basically no restrictions on the type of work you can do. In addition, a foreign national married to a Permanent Resident Visa holder or a child born to a Permanent Resident Visa holder can obtain the status of “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National”.