On February 24, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Immigration Services Agency of Japan revised the “Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence.” This revision reflects the 2024 amendment to the Immigration Control Act, and the screening criteria for permanent residence have changed significantly. This article explains the main changes and the measures to take going forward.
Background to the Revision
In June 2024 (Reiwa 6), a bill amending the Immigration Control Act was passed by the Diet. One of the pillars of this amendment is the “optimization of the permanent residence permission system.” Measures were introduced to ensure that permanent residents observe the minimum rules required to live in Japanese society (payment of taxes, social insurance premiums, etc.).
Main Changes
1. Introduction of a System for Revoking Permanent Residence
Under the amended Immigration Control Act, a new system has been established that allows permanent residence permission to be revoked where certain grounds apply.
Important: This system targets cases where a permanent resident “intentionally” fails to fulfill public obligations. Cases where payment is impossible due to unavoidable circumstances (illness, unemployment, etc.) are not covered.
2. Stricter Treatment of Payment Deadlines for Public Obligations
The change with the greatest impact in this revision is the tightening of payment “deadlines.”
| Item | Before the Revision | After the Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes and social insurance premiums | Acceptable if paid in full at the time of application | Must be paid within the payment deadline |
| Late payment | No problem as long as paid in full | Payment even one day past the deadline is, in principle, grounds for denial |
| Period checked | Most recent 3-5 years | Most recent 5 years checked strictly |
3. Transitional Measure for a “3-Year” Period of Stay
As a requirement for permanent residence, in principle the person must “currently hold the longest period of stay.” For many residence statuses the longest is “5 years,” but the revision introduced the following transitional measure.
Transitional measure: Only for applications made by March 31, 2027 (Reiwa 9), a period of stay of “3 years” is also treated as the longest period.
4. Clarification of the Scope of Exclusion for Work-Related Residence Statuses
In calculating “residence for 5 years or more continuously with a work-related residence status” under the requirement of conformity to the interests of Japan, it has been clarified that the following residence statuses are excluded.
- Technical Intern Training
- Specified Skilled Worker (i)
In other words, periods of residence under Technical Intern Training or Specified Skilled Worker (i) are not counted as the employment period required for a permanent residence application.
Comparison Table Before and After the Revision
| Screening Item | Practice Before the Revision | Practice After the Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Tax payment record | Approved if paid in full | Payment within the deadline checked strictly |
| Social insurance premiums | Approved if paid in full | Payment within the deadline checked strictly |
| Period of stay of “3 years” | Accepted in practice | Transitional measure until March 31, 2027 |
| Revocation of permanent residence | No such system | New revocation system established |
| Technical Intern Training period | Ambiguous treatment | Clearly excluded from the employment period |
Outlook and Measures Going Forward
For Those Considering an Application
- Thoroughly manage payment deadlines — We recommend switching resident tax to special collection (withholding from salary). For National Pension and National Health Insurance, direct debit is reliable.
- Consider applying early — Those with a period of stay of “3 years” should consider applying during the transitional measure period (until March 31, 2027).
- Check your past payment history — Check your payment status for the most recent 5 years right away and verify there are no delays.
For Those Who Have Already Obtained Permanent Residence
In preparation for the enforcement of the permanent residence revocation system, please make sure to pay your taxes and social insurance premiums reliably. Since “intentional non-payment” constitutes grounds for revocation, we recommend setting up direct debit or automatic payment.
Reference: Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised February 24, 2026) — Immigration Services Agency of Japan
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For consultations regarding permanent residence applications, please entrust them to Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office.
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