Japan is preparing to tighten the rules for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency. The proposed system would introduce clearer income and pension standards, a Japanese-language requirement and longer qualifying periods for some foreign spouses.
The Immigration Services Agency has published draft guidelines as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s policy of creating what the government calls an “orderly society”, where Japanese and foreign nationals can live together while immigration breaches and illegal activity are dealt with more firmly.
The proposals are not yet final. They are open for public comment until 4 September 2026, and the changes are expected to be introduced in stages.
Permanent Residency Is Not Japanese Citizenship
Permanent residency allows a foreign national to remain in Japan indefinitely and work without the activity restrictions attached to many temporary visa categories. A permanent resident keeps their original nationality.
This is different from naturalisation, which gives a person Japanese citizenship. Under the general rule, a foreign national usually needs at least 10 years of residence in Japan before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency.
The present guidelines are built around three broad conditions. An applicant must be of good conduct, have enough assets or professional ability to support an independent life, and show that granting permanent residency would serve Japan’s interests.
The revised guidelines would keep these principles but apply more detailed tests.
Proposed Income Requirement
Applicants would be expected to maintain an annual household income above the average for Japanese households. The final benchmark would be calculated using several government data sources.
A Ministry of Health survey released on 15 July reported that average household income in Japan was 5.75 million yen in 2024. This figure gives an indication of the level under discussion, but it should not be treated as the confirmed permanent residency threshold until the authorities publish the final rules.
The income test would be a significant change because applicants would face a more clearly defined financial benchmark, rather than relying only on the wider requirement to show that they can support themselves.
Pension Benefits and Financial Assets
The agency also wants applicants to demonstrate adequate future pension provision. Projected benefits would need to be comparable to the amount payable after 30 years of contributions to Japan’s employees’ pension system, calculated according to the applicant’s income level.
An applicant whose projected pension falls below the required level may be allowed to cover the shortfall with financial assets. This means savings and other qualifying assets could become important where a person does not have a long enough pension contribution record.
Japanese-Language and Public-Interest Conditions
The proposed rules would introduce a formal Japanese-language condition. Applicants would have to show proficiency at the level of an “independent user”.
They would also be expected to understand Japanese laws and social systems, maintain good public conduct and avoid becoming a burden on public resources. These matters would form part of the wider assessment of whether granting permanent residency is in Japan’s national interest.
Stricter Rules for Foreign Spouses
The qualifying period for some spouses would also become longer. At present, the spouse of a Japanese citizen or permanent resident may qualify when the marriage has lasted at least three years and the foreign spouse has lived in Japan for at least one year.
Under the proposal, the marriage would need to have lasted five years, while the minimum period of residence in Japan would rise to three years.
Main Changes at a Glance
| Area | Current position | Proposed position |
| Household income | Applicant must show an independent livelihood | Income above the average Japanese household income |
| Pension | No specific 30-year pension benchmark in the current guidelines | Projected benefits comparable to 30 years in the employees’ pension system |
| Financial assets | Considered as part of overall financial circumstances | May cover a shortfall in projected pension benefits |
| Japanese language | No formal standard stated in the current guidelines | Proficiency at “independent user” level |
| Laws and society | Covered broadly through conduct and national-interest tests | Clearer expectation to understand Japanese laws and social systems |
| Spouse route | Three years of marriage and one year of residence | Five years of marriage and three years of residence |
| Type 2 Specified Skilled Worker stay | Six months, one year, two years or three years | A five-year period may be granted from January 2027 |
Nearly 947,000 People Hold Permanent Residency
Japan has been accepting more overseas workers as its Japanese-national population continues to decline. By the end of 2025, about 947,000 foreign nationals held permanent residency, including large numbers of people from China and the Philippines.
The growing foreign population has made permanent residency policy an important part of the wider immigration debate. The government’s proposals suggest that long-term residence will remain available, but applicants will face closer checks on financial security, pension provision, language ability and integration.
Five-Year Stay for Type 2 Specified Skilled Workers
In a related immigration reform, the agency has proposed allowing holders of Type 2 Specified Skilled Worker status to receive a five-year period of stay from January 2027.
These workers can currently receive periods of six months, one year, two years or three years, depending on their employment circumstances. Extending the maximum period to five years would bring this status into line with other visa categories and prevent workers from being placed at a disadvantage when applying for permanent residency.
The draft ordinance covering this change is also open for public comment until 4 September 2026.
When Could the New Rules Take Effect?
The timetable is divided into several stages:
| Date | Expected development |
| 4 September 2026 | Public consultation closes for the permanent residency guidelines and Type 2 skilled-worker ordinance |
| 1 October 2026 | Revised permanent residency guidelines and new immigration fee structure are expected to take effect |
| Applications filed from April 2026 | Income and public-burden assessments are expected to apply |
| January 2027 | Five-year stay period for Type 2 Specified Skilled Workers is expected to begin |
| April 2027 | Other new permanent residency conditions are expected to apply to applications |
Because the proposals remain under consultation, the final wording and application dates may still be adjusted before implementation.
Immigration Application Fees Will Also Change
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has separately announced a new immigration application fee structure from 1 October 2026. Applications submitted on or before 30 September 2026 will remain subject to the existing fees.
The material released so far does not state the new fee amounts. Applicants will therefore need to rely on the final fee schedule once it is published by the agency.
A More Demanding Route to Long-Term Residence
Japan is not closing permanent residency to foreign nationals, but it is preparing to make the route more demanding. If approved, the new framework will place greater weight on stable household income, long-term pension security, Japanese-language ability, knowledge of the country’s systems and a record of responsible conduct.
For foreign spouses, the longer marriage and residence requirements would also mean a longer wait before they can qualify. At the same time, the proposed five-year stay for Type 2 Specified Skilled Workers could give eligible workers greater stability and a fairer opportunity to build the residence history needed for permanent status.