Permanent residency in Japan (永住): requirements, timelines, how to apply

Application for permanent residence (永住許可申請)

You apply yourself at the regional immigration services bureau for your address while your current status is valid. If your status expires while the application is being examined, apply for an extension separately before it ends. A parent applies for a child under 16.

Files open from the website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA). Forms are in Japanese and English; links checked 6 Oct 2026.

For 80 and 70 points ISA has two pages each: for holders of the HSP status (高度専門職) and for people on another status who have kept enough points continuously for at least 1 year (80) or 3 years (70). The documents are almost the same; the buttons below come from the page for the HSP status.

Documents

1. First — ISA’s self-check sheet (セルフチェックシート) 永住許可申請セルフチェックシートspouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent residentIf you answer “no” to any question, the risk of refusal is high — ISA says so itself. Even with no “no”, approval is not guaranteed.self-check sheet · Excel
2. First — ISA’s self-check sheet (セルフチェックシート) 永住許可申請セルフチェックシートLong-Term Resident (定住者)If you answer “no” to any question, the risk of refusal is high — ISA says so itself. Even with no “no”, approval is not guaranteed.self-check sheet · Excel
3. First — ISA’s self-check sheet (セルフチェックシート) 永住許可申請セルフチェックシートwork status or Dependent (家族滞在), HSP: 80+ points, HSP: 70+ pointsIf you answer “no” to any question, the risk of refusal is high — ISA says so itself. Even with no “no”, approval is not guaranteed.self-check sheet · Excel
4. Check your set against the ISA checklist for your case 提出書類チェックシートspouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent residentspouse of a Japanese national · Excelchild of a Japanese national · Excelspouse of a permanent resident · Excelchild of a permanent resident · Exceldocument overview · PDF
5. Check your set against the ISA checklist for your case 提出書類チェックシートLong-Term Resident (定住者)Long-Term Resident checklist · Exceldocument overview · PDF
6. Check your set against the ISA checklist for your case 提出書類チェックシートwork status or Dependent (家族滞在)work status · Excel家族滞在 · Exceldocument overview · PDF
7. Check your set against the ISA checklist for your case 提出書類チェックシートHSP: 80+ pointsThe button is for the HSP status. If you are on another status, the checklist is on ISA page 4-(1)-イ.80 points, HSP status · Exceldocument overview · PDF
8. Check your set against the ISA checklist for your case 提出書類チェックシートHSP: 70+ pointsThe button is for the HSP status. If you are on another status, the checklist is on ISA page 4-(2)-イ.70 points, HSP status · Exceldocument overview · PDF
9. Application form for permanent residence 永住許可申請書One form for everyone; the filled-in example is for your case.
10. Photo, 4 × 3 cm 写真Following ISA’s photo rules. Not needed for children under 1.
11. Statement of reasons: why you want permanent residence 理由書Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在), HSP: 80+ points, HSP: 70+ pointsFree format.
12. Documents proving family relationship 戸籍謄本・婚姻証明書・出生証明書等spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent resident, Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在)Spouse of a Japanese national — the spouse’s family register (戸籍謄本) and the marriage certificate; child of a Japanese national — the parent’s 戸籍謄本; spouse or child of a permanent resident — the marriage or birth certificate. On a work status — only if you apply as a Dependent (家族滞在).
13. Residence certificate (住民票) — whole household, including you 住民票（世帯全員）Without the My Number (マイナンバー); everything else in full.
14. Proof of your job 在職証明書・確定申告書控え・営業許可書・職業説明書Employee — a certificate of employment. Self-employed — a copy of the tax return (確定申告書控え) and the business license. Otherwise — a free-format description of what you do.
15. Resident tax certificates for 3 years (income and tax paid) — yours and those of the person who supports you 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書（直近3年分）spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent residentChildren of Japanese nationals and permanent residents — for 1 year. From the city office of the address on 1 January of each year.
16. Resident tax certificates for 5 years (income and tax paid) 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書（直近5年分）Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在)From the city office of the address on 1 January of each year.
17. Resident tax certificates for 1 year (income and tax paid) 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書（直近1年分）HSP: 80+ pointsFrom the city office of the address on 1 January.
18. Resident tax certificates for 3 years (income and tax paid) 住民税の課税（又は非課税）証明書及び納税証明書（直近3年分）HSP: 70+ pointsFrom the city office of the address on 1 January of each year.
19. Proof that resident tax was paid on time 住民税の納付状況を証明する資料（通帳の写し・領収証書等）A copy of a bank passbook or receipts. ISA views tax paid late negatively, even if nothing is owed any more.
20. Certificate of national tax payment 国税の納税証明書（その３）Form «その3» — for income tax, consumption tax, inheritance tax and gift tax. From the tax office (税務署).
21. Proof of pension contributions and health insurance payments for 2 years 公的年金及び公的医療保険の保険料の納付状況を証明する資料（直近2年間）spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent resident, Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在), HSP: 70+ pointsChildren of Japanese nationals and permanent residents — for 1 year. Pension — the reply to a record inquiry (被保険者記録照会回答票) or the ねんきん定期便 statement; insurance — a copy of the insurance card, certificates or receipts. Company representatives — also documents on the company’s contributions.
22. Proof of pension contributions and health insurance payments for 1 year 公的年金及び公的医療保険の保険料の納付状況を証明する資料（直近1年間）HSP: 80+ pointsPension — the reply to a record inquiry (被保険者記録照会回答票) or the ねんきん定期便 statement; insurance — a copy of the insurance card, certificates or receipts.
23. List of family members 親族一覧表spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent residentSpouses only — not needed for children.form · PDF
24. Proof of assets 預貯金通帳の写し・不動産の登記事項証明書等Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在), HSP: 80+ points, HSP: 70+ pointsA copy of a bank passbook, a real-estate register extract and similar documents.
25. HSP points calculation — 80 or more 高度専門職ポイント計算表HSP: 80+ pointsYou must keep 80 points continuously for at least 1 year. If you are not on the HSP status — two calculations: as of the application day and as of the day 1 year before. You can count your points with the calculator on the HSP visa page.
26. HSP points calculation — 70 or more 高度専門職ポイント計算表HSP: 70+ pointsYou must keep 70 points continuously for at least 3 years. If you are not on the HSP status — two calculations: as of the application day and as of the day 3 years before. You can count your points with the calculator on the HSP visa page.
27. Documents for each points item ポイント計算の各項目に関する疎明資料HSP: 80+ points, HSP: 70+ pointsDiploma, income certificate, JLPT certificate and so on. If you have already submitted them to ISA, you can ask to reuse them with the form 資料転用願出書.declaration form · Word
28. Documents on your contribution to Japan — if any 我が国への貢献に係る資料（該当する場合）Long-Term Resident (定住者), work status or Dependent (家族滞在)Awards, letters of thanks, letters of recommendation.
29. Passport — show it パスポート又は在留資格証明書（提示）
30. Residence card — show it 在留カード（提示）
31. If someone else submits the documents — their ID 身分を証する文書等（提示）
32. Letter of guarantee and the guarantor’s ID 身元保証書・身元保証人の身分事項を明らかにする書類The guarantor is usually a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident living in Japan; for spouses, usually the spouse. Attach a copy of the guarantor’s ID, for example a driving licence.form · PDFEnglish · PDF
33. Acknowledgment of the conditions of permanent residence 了解書Required since 1 October 2021. ISA has 13 versions: Japanese, easy Japanese, English, two kinds of Chinese, Korean, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Nepali and Thai.Japanese · PDFEnglish · PDF
34. Fee payment form — handed in when the permission is granted 手数料納付書Revenue stamps (収入印紙) go on the form: ¥10,000 if the application was received by 30 September 2026, ¥200,000 if filed from 1 October 2026. Spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents (and refugees) in serious financial hardship can get it reduced to ¥20,000 when there are also humanitarian grounds. The fee can be higher if a specified residence card (特定在留カード) is issued.form · PDF

Immigration may ask for other documents too. Full list: the ISA checklist above and the status page.

Where to apply

The regional immigration services bureau for your address. Weekdays 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00

Fee

Paid only after approval: ¥10,000 if the application was received by 30 September 2026, ¥200,000 if received from 1 October 2026. About immigration fees

Standard processing period

4–6 months (ISA standard processing period); in practice it can take longer

Online

No — permanent residence applications are accepted only at the bureau