New “5-Year Visa Requirement” for Permanent Residence Application in Japan
Japan’s government announced an important update on February 24, 2026 regarding the requirements for foreign residents who wish to apply for Permanent Residence (PR).
Under the updated guidance, applicants must hold the longest period of stay available for their visa status, which in most cases means a 5-year visa, in order to qualify for permanent residence. This requirement will take effect on April 1, 2027.
This change is important for many foreign residents planning their long-term stay in Japan, especially those who currently hold 1-year or 3-year visas.
Previous Rule (Current Practice)
Under the PR guidelines, one requirement has always been that : “the applicant must currently hold the longest period of stay granted for their status of residence.”
However, in practice, immigration authorities often treated a 3-year visa as sufficient for this requirement.
Because of this interpretation, many applicants with a 3-year visa were able to submit PR applications and obtain permanent residence without holding a 5-year visa.
As a result, it was common to see permanent residence applications filed when the applicant held either:
a 3-year visa, or
a 5-year visa
depending on their circumstances.
New Rule (Take effect on April 1, 2027)
The Immigration of Japan has clarified that the requirement should be interpreted literally.
According to the official guidelines published by the Ministry of Justice, permanent residence applicants must hold:
“the longest period of stay currently granted for that status of residence.”
For most statuses of residence, the longest available period of stay is 5 years.
Therefore, going forward, applicants will generally be expected to hold a 5-year visa when submitting a permanent residence application.
This clarification effectively means that holding a 3-year visa may no longer be sufficient for PR applications in many cases.
(Source: Immigration Services Agency PR guidelines)
Why This Matters
This change has significant implications for foreign residents planning to apply for permanent residence.
If you currently hold:
1-year visa → you will need to obtain a longer visa first
3-year visa → you may need to renew your visa and obtain a 5-year period before applying
5-year visa → you likely satisfy this particular requirement
Because of this, many applicants may need to adjust their PR application timeline.
Why Immigration Requires a 5-Year Visa
The period of stay granted by immigration reflects the authorities’ assessment of an applicant’s stability and reliability in Japan.
When immigration grants a 5-year visa, it indicates that the applicant has demonstrated:
stable employment or business activity
proper tax payments
compliance with social insurance obligations
stable residence history in Japan
Because permanent residence is a long-term immigration status, immigration authorities want to see that applicants have already been evaluated as stable residents through the granting of the maximum visa period.
What Applicants Should Do
If you are planning to apply for permanent residence, it is important to check the period of stay on your current residence status.
If you do not yet have a 5-year visa, it may be advisable to focus first on obtaining the longest period of stay at your next visa renewal.
To improve the chances of receiving a longer visa period, you should ensure that:
taxes are fully paid
pension and health insurance contributions are up to date
your employment or business is stable
immigration notifications are properly filed
Being Eligible vs. Being Granted Permanent Residence
It is important to understand that being eligible to apply for permanent residence and actually being granted permanent residence are two different things.
Meeting the basic requirements simply means that you are allowed to submit an application. However, the Immigration Services Agency will still conduct a comprehensive review of your circumstances before making a final decision.
Even small compliance issues may affect the outcome. For example, if you changed your address but failed to notify immigration, this may be considered a violation of your reporting obligations and could negatively impact your PR application.
For this reason, it is important to carefully review your immigration history and ensure that all legal obligations have been properly fulfilled before applying for permanent residence.
If you are unsure about your eligibility or would like professional guidance before applying, please feel free to contact us for advice.