2025-08-07

Permanent residence is, as the term implies, the right to reside permanently in Japan. Unlike other statuses of residence, it does not have a period of stay, work restrictions, etc., but it does have some disadvantages. If you are considering applying, please refer to the following information.

What is permanent residence?

Permanent residence is literally “the right for a foreign national to reside permanently in Japan.

For example, let us assume that Mr. A, a foreign national, is working for a Japanese company on a work visa. If Mr. A has been in Japan for more than 10 years and has had the status of residence for more than 5 years, he can apply for a “permanent residence permit”.

If approved, the applicant will have what is called “permanent resident status”. If this happens, there will no longer be any restrictions on the period of stay that existed until then. In addition, there are basically no restrictions on the type of work they can do. In other words, you will be able to lead a life almost the same as a Japanese national.

Advantages of Permanent Residency

There are three main advantages of permanent residency.

The first is that the period of stay becomes indefinite, and there is no need to go through the renewal process. Other than permanent residence, other statuses require renewal of the period of stay every few months to a few years. Each time you renew your status of residence, you must go to the Immigration Bureau to complete the necessary procedures.

The renewal procedure is subject to examination each time, and if the status of residence you actually have does not match the work you are currently doing, your application will be rejected. In other words, this procedure does not guarantee that you will be granted renewal.

In light of the above, once you obtain permanent resident status, you will not have to go through the renewal procedure each time and, of course, your residence in Japan will not be disapproved.

Second, there will no longer be any restrictions on activities. Most foreigners residing in Japan are restricted in the activities they can perform in Japan according to their status of residence.

However, by acquiring permanent resident status, there are no restrictions on activities in Japan. In other words, you are free to open your own business or engage in your favorite profession.

Third, your social credibility will increase. To obtain permanent resident status, you must basically have lived in Japan for at least 10 years and have had resident status for at least 5 years. In addition, you must be of good conduct and not have been fined or imprisoned.

In other words, having a permanent residence visa is an “endorsement” that the person has lived in Japan for many years and has not committed any crimes or had any other problematic behavior.

Disadvantages of Permanent Residence

The disadvantages of permanent residence are only relevant to those with advanced professional status of residence. In other words, permanent residence does not require the accompaniment of a parent. On the other hand, the status of highly specialized professional residence allows parents to accompany their children.

In other words, by having permanent residence status, those with advanced professional status who were previously allowed to have a parent accompany them will no longer be allowed to do so.

Under the current system, the parental accompaniment (bringing a parent from one’s home country to Japan) of a foreign national residing in Japan is not permitted for those with a status of residence for employment purposes. However, the following two cases are permitted under certain conditions.

(1)When bringing up a child (including an adopted child) under 7 years of age of an advanced foreign worker or his/her spouse.

(2)When taking care of the pregnant spouse of an advanced foreign worker or the advanced foreign worker herself during pregnancy.

(3) Cases where the advanced foreign worker is a spouse of a pregnant foreign worker

In other words, if a person with advanced professional status of residence obtains permanent residence, the above advantages will be lost.

Summary

The advantages of permanent residence are that there will be no restrictions on the period of stay, no restrictions on the occupation in which one may work, and an increase in social credibility. On the other hand, for those with advanced professional status of residence, there are disadvantages such as not being able to accompany their parents.