2025-07-22

Permanent residence is a status of residence that allows foreign nationals to reside permanently in Japan. Since there are no restrictions on the period of stay or the occupations in which one can work, many foreign nationals think that they have obtained this status. However, there are cases where a foreign national may lose the permanent resident status that he/she has acquired. We will explain this point in detail.

What is permanent residence?

Permanent residence is literally “a status of residence that allows a foreigner to reside permanently in Japan. Let me explain with an example.

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

Once you obtain “Permanent Resident Status,” there are no restrictions on the period of stay. In addition, there are basically no restrictions on the type of work you can do. Therefore, you can lead a life almost the same as that of a Japanese national.

Losing permanent resident status in such cases

Permanent resident status can be lost in the following cases.

First, you leave Japan without a re-entry permit or deemed re-entry permit. Even if you have permanent resident status, you cannot re-enter Japan if you do not obtain permission before leaving Japan.

Second, if you leave Japan with a re-entry permit but do not re-enter Japan by the re-entry deadline. There are two types of re-entry permits: one that is valid only once, and one that is valid multiple times, which can be used as many times as necessary within the period of validity. The maximum period of validity is five years (six years for special permanent residents) within the current period of stay, which is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The third type of re-entry permit is for those who have departed Japan on a deemed re-entry basis and have not re-entered within one year. A deemed re-entry permit is a permit for re-entering Japan within one year and does not require the acquisition of a regular re-entry permit.

The fourth is when a person has fraudulently obtained a “landing permit” or “permanent residence permit,” failed to report a new address within 90 days, or reported a false address.

Finally, the fifth is if you are deported. For example, if you are sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment exceeding one year, if you are convicted of a drug offense, or if you are engaged in a business directly related to prostitution.

In such cases, the permanent residence permit will be revoked

Article 22-4, Paragraph 1 of the Immigration Law states that the permanent residence permit will be revoked in the following cases.

・ The applicant has obtained landing permission by falsely claiming that he/she does not fall under any of the grounds for denial of landing (Item (1)).

・In addition to item 1, the landing permission was obtained through deception or other wrongful means (item 2).

・In addition to the cases of No. 1 and No. 2, having received landing permission, etc. by submitting a document containing a false statement (No. 3).

・Failure to notify the new place of residence within 90 days of the mid- to long-term resident’s change of residence (Item 9).

・The mid- to long-term resident has reported a false place of residence (No. 10).

Summary

Conditions for losing the right of permanent residence are stipulated in the Immigration Control Act and other laws. What is common about those conditions is that the regulations are not properly observed. It is necessary to always keep in mind the matters to be observed by permanent residents not only when acquiring permanent resident status, but also after acquiring it.