On 1 October 2026, the Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission (永住許可に関するガイドライン) were revised. The draft published in August has now been confirmed as the version revised on 1 October 2026.
How the revision affects you depends on your status of residence and on when you apply.
This article is based on the two versions of the Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁): the version revised on 1 October 2026, and the version revised on 24 February 2026.
First: which standard applies depends on when you apply
Which applications the revised guidelines apply to is set out in Part 6 of the guidelines.
| When you apply | Standard used |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027 | In principle, the 24 February 2026 version. However, income (Part 2, 4(2)) and not becoming a public burden (Part 2, 5(7)) follow the 1 October 2026 version |
| On or after 1 April 2027 | The 1 October 2026 version in full |
Two things follow from this. Income and the public burden provision already apply: if you applied on or after 1 April 2026 and are still under review, these two are assessed under the new standard. Everything else changes for applications filed on or after 1 April 2027. Where this article says “from April 2027”, that is what it means.
At a glance: does applying by 31 March 2027 make a difference?
| Your situation | Does applying by 31 March 2027 make a difference? |
|---|---|
| Highly Skilled Professional, or applying with HSP points | Yes, if you apply using points without holding Highly Skilled Professional status (B1 may be required from April 2027), or you have had long absences from Japan. Otherwise, little changes |
| Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident or special permanent resident | Yes, if you meet 3 years of marriage and 1 year of residence, but not 5 and 3 |
| Intra-company Transferee | Yes, if you need your Intra-company Transferee years to reach 5 years of work-related residence |
| Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and other work-related statuses | Only for the changes that apply to everyone (time abroad, Japanese language, 3-year period of stay) |
| Designated Activities | Depends on the activities designated for you |
| Everyone | Household income: no, it already applies. Time abroad and Japanese language: yes |
Key points by situation
Everyone
- The household income standard already applies to applications filed on or after 1 April 2026. No monetary figure has been published
- From April 2027, long absences from Japan (6 months on one trip, or 2 years 6 months in total, within 10 years) count against you in principle
- From April 2027, Japanese language ability at B1 becomes a consideration, with some exemptions
Highly Skilled Professional, or applying with HSP points
- The 3-year (70 points) and 1-year (80 points) routes are retained
- The B1 exemption covers highly skilled foreign professionals. Whether it covers those applying with points but without Highly Skilled Professional status is not clear from the wording
Spouses
- From April 2027, the spousal exception becomes 5 years of marriage plus 3 years of residence, up from 3 and 1
- Children: 3 years of residence, up from 1
- The public burden provision already applies
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and other work-related statuses
- The 10-year framework does not change
- A spouse’s income earned on Dependent status is not counted towards household income. This already applies
Intra-company Transferee
- From April 2027, time on Intra-company Transferee status no longer counts towards the 5 years of work-related residence
Designated Activities
- From April 2027, the guidelines set out which designated activities count towards the 10 years and which count as work-related
Changes that apply to everyone
The sections for each status of residence below assume these changes.
Household income (already applies)
The guidelines consider whether the annual income of the applicant’s household continuously reaches a level above the average income of Japanese households, adjusted for household size. Relatives whom the applicant supports are counted in the household size, even if they live abroad.
The confirmed guidelines still give no monetary figure and no source statistic for this standard. From the published materials, it is not possible to say for certain whether your household income meets it.
Time spent outside Japan (from April 2027)
A negative assessment will in principle be made where, within the ten years before the application and without reasonable grounds, the applicant was absent for six months or more on a single departure, or for a total of two years and six months or more. The 24 February 2026 version contains no such figures.
Japanese language ability (from April 2027)
B1 or above under the Framework for Japanese Language Education (日本語教育の参照枠) becomes a consideration. It is not required of:
- Highly skilled foreign professionals and their family members
- Those who have received six years or more in total of primary or secondary education as defined in the School Education Act
- Children of permanent residents who were born in Japan, where the parent raising them holds B1 or above
Other new considerations (from April 2027)
Projected pension entitlement, understanding of Japanese systems and rules, and school attendance of children of compulsory education age are also set out as considerations. For details, see our explanation of the revision.
Three-year period of stay (applications by 31 March 2027)
For applications filed by 31 March 2027, a three-year period of stay is treated as “residing with the longest period of stay”. After that, this treatment ends except in limited cases.
Highly Skilled Professional, or applying with HSP points
What changes
The special rule shortening the residence requirement to three years at 70 points, or one year at 80 points, is retained (Part 3, 6 and 7).
Japanese language ability (B1) is not required of “highly skilled foreign professionals under Part 3, 6 to 8” and their families. The guidelines define a highly skilled foreign professional as someone residing in Japan after being recognised, on a points calculation, as scoring 70 points or more. The wording does not make clear whether someone who does not hold Highly Skilled Professional status, and applies using points, falls within this exemption.
The salary used in the points calculation and the household income in the guidelines are separate standards. Meeting the points threshold does not mean the household income standard is met.
When
The household income standard already applies. The standards on Japanese language ability and time spent outside Japan apply from April 2027.
Who is affected
- Those applying with points while holding Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services or another status, rather than Highly Skilled Professional status: whether B1 will be required is unclear
- Those who have spent long periods abroad, including on work assignments
Should you consider applying by 31 March 2027?
If either point above applies to you, the timing matters. For applications filed by 31 March 2027, the standards on Japanese language ability and time spent outside Japan in the revised guidelines are not used. If you will apply in or after April 2027, check with the Immigration Services Agency whether you will need to show your Japanese language ability.
The requirements for applying with points are explained in PR with Highly Skilled Professional Points: The 3-Year and 1-Year Routes.
Spouses of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents
What changes
The special rule on years of residence changes as follows.
| Applications filed by 31 March 2027 | Applications filed on or after 1 April 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Genuine marriage of 3 years or more, plus 1 year or more of continuous residence | Genuine marriage of 5 years or more, plus 3 years or more of continuous residence |
| Their biological children | 1 year or more of continuous residence | 3 years or more of continuous residence |
Applicants in this group are not required to meet the self-sufficiency requirement. However, where the household is currently a public burden, or that prospect is realistic, and there are no particular circumstances to explain it, a negative assessment may be made. The guidelines add that this is judged comprehensively, with weight given to the stability of the family unit and to humanitarian considerations.
Being a spouse does not, in itself, bring you within the exemptions from the Japanese language requirement.
When
The public burden provision (Part 2, 5(7)) already applies. The longer residence periods and Japanese language ability apply from April 2027.
Who is affected
Spouses married for three to five years, or resident for one to three years.
Should you consider applying by 31 March 2027?
If you meet three years of marriage and one year of residence by 31 March 2027, you can still apply under the current exception. From April 2027, you will need five years of marriage and three years of residence.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and other work-related statuses
What changes
The framework for years of residence does not change. In principle you need ten years of residence, including five or more continuous years under a work-related or residence-based status.
If your spouse works while holding Dependent (家族滞在) status, that income is not added to the household income. The reason given is that income earned under permission to engage in activities outside one’s status is exceptional and limited.
When
The treatment of a Dependent spouse’s income forms part of the income provision (Part 2, 4(2)), so it already applies to applications filed on or after 1 April 2026.
Who is affected
Households in which the spouse works on Dependent status.
Should you consider applying by 31 March 2027?
The changes specific to this group already apply. The timing matters only for the changes that apply to everyone: time spent outside Japan, Japanese language ability and the three-year period of stay.
Intra-company Transferee
What changes
Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤) is excluded from the five years of work-related residence. Employment for Skill Development (育成就労) is excluded as well.
When
From April 2027.
Who is affected
Those counting time on Intra-company Transferee status towards the five years of work-related residence.
Should you consider applying by 31 March 2027?
If you need your Intra-company Transferee years to reach five years, yes. For applications filed on or after 1 April 2027, that time will not count. Check whether your residence under other work-related statuses reaches five years on its own.
Designated Activities
What changes
The revised guidelines set out which Designated Activities (特定活動) count towards the ten years of residence, and which count as a work-related status (Part 5). For example, graduates of Japanese universities (Notice 46) count as a work-related status, while continued job-seeking and holding a job offer before starting work do not count towards the ten years. Working holiday and internships do not count as a work-related status.
When
From April 2027.
Who is affected
Anyone who has spent time on Designated Activities status. The answer depends on the activities designated for you.
Should you consider applying by 31 March 2027?
Check the designation document attached to your passport (指定書) to see which notice number applies to you, then check the original text of the guidelines.
If your status of residence is not covered here, please check the original text of the guidelines.
Before deciding to apply early
Applying before 31 March 2027 is not an answer in itself. Meeting the other requirements — your tax and pension record, household income and so on — comes first. A refusal also stays on your record. Decide on the timing with your readiness in mind.
Summary
The Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission were revised on 1 October 2026. Income and the public burden provision already apply to applications filed on or after 1 April 2026; everything else applies from 1 April 2027.
Spouses, Intra-company Transferee holders, and those applying with points without Highly Skilled Professional status are the groups for whom the date of application matters most.
We can look at whether you should apply by 31 March 2027 in your own case. Consultations are in English and free of charge.
Related reading: PR with Highly Skilled Professional Points: The 3-Year and 1-Year Routes
Related reading: Japan’s PR Rules Are Changing: The 2026 Draft Revision Explained
Related reading: Permanent Residence or Naturalisation in Japan: What Is the Difference
About this article
This article is intended to help foreign nationals living in Japan check how the revision of the Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission relates to their own status of residence. The guidelines contain items not covered here.
Disclaimer
This article sets out general information based on the published Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission. It does not guarantee that any individual application will be granted or refused. Assessment practice may change. Before applying, please check the latest official information or consult a professional.
References
- Immigration Services Agency, Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission (永住許可に関するガイドライン) (as revised 1 October 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00279.html
- Immigration Services Agency, Guidelines on Permanent Residence Permission (永住許可に関するガイドライン) (as revised 24 February 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/nyukan_nyukan50.html
- Immigration Services Agency, Application for Permanent Residence https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-4.html
Last updated: 15 October 2026