Information to prepare before a consultation

For an initial assessment, we recommend preparing:

• Current residence status and expiry date

• Date of your first entry into Japan

• Main residence history over the past 10 years

• Recent employment and annual income

• Details of your spouse and children

• Number of dependent relatives in Japan and overseas

• Resident tax and income tax payment history

• Pension and health insurance contribution history

• Evidence of highly skilled professional points for the relevant one-year or three-year period

• Education and professional experience

• Records of extended periods outside Japan

• Any traffic violations, criminal penalties or other administrative records

Key permanent residence rule changes for 2026–2027

Revised permanent residence guidelines published on October 1, 2026

• Applications submitted on or before March 31, 2026: In principle, assessment continues under the previous rules.

• Applications submitted from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027: New assessment criteria concerning income and the likelihood of becoming a public burden may already apply.

• Applications submitted on or after April 1, 2027: In principle, the revised guidelines apply in full.

Key points in the revised guidelines include:

Household income
In principle, the assessment considers whether annual household income consistently exceeds the average income of Japanese households of the same size. Overseas relatives supported by the applicant may also be included in the household size.

Pensions
In addition to contribution history, factors such as the expected amount of future pension benefits are considered comprehensively.

Japanese language proficiency
In principle, the assessment considers whether Japanese proficiency is equivalent to B1 or above. Highly skilled professionals and certain other cases may be exempt from this criterion.

Understanding of Japanese systems and rules
The assessment checks whether the applicant has a certain level of understanding of daily life, employment and social rules in Japan.

School attendance for school-age children
Where the applicant’s household includes children of compulsory school age, their actual attendance at elementary or junior high school is considered.

Key points for highly skilled professionals

Japan’s highly skilled professional points system awards points, according to the type of activity, for factors such as education, professional experience, annual income, age and research achievements.

The current main categories are:

• Advanced academic research activities

• Advanced specialized or technical activities

• Advanced business management activities

Applicants with at least 70 points may receive preferential treatment for highly skilled professionals, including a shorter residence period requirement for permanent residence.

70 points: three-year accelerated permanent residence pathway
80 points: one-year accelerated permanent residence pathway

You do not necessarily need to currently hold Highly Skilled Professional residence status to use the points-based exception. It may also apply if you can demonstrate, in accordance with official requirements, that you meet the points threshold on the application date and at the relevant earlier point in time.

Unsure which permanent residence pathway may suit you?

Tell us your residence status, years in Japan, education, income, household size and professional experience.

We can help you make an initial comparison of:

Standard permanent residence | 70-point route | 80-point route | J-Skip | Spouse and other exceptions

Permanent residence consultation →

Contact us →