[Revised October 1, 2026] Major Changes to the Permanent Residence Permission Guidelines! A Full Picture of the Stricter Screening with an Old/New Comparison Table, and How to Prepare

Hello! This is Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (VISA SUPPORT JAPAN) in Oita Prefecture.

Today, effective October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Immigration Services Agency announced and implemented a major revision of the “Guidelines on Permission for Permanent Residence”.

The previous guidelines (revised November Reiwa 6) were a simple document of about one to two pages, but in this revision, the underlying reasoning and specific factors to be considered are described in detail for each requirement, clarifying the screening criteria while also making them considerably stricter.

The risk of being denied has risen sharply for those who rely on the conventional assumption that “I have lived in Japan for 10 years” or “I am married to a Japanese national”. In this article, we will compare the old and new guidelines using charts and take an in-depth look at the key points of the changes!

1. See It at a Glance! “Comparison Table of the Old and New” Permanent Residence Permission Guidelines

We have compiled a comparison table of the old rules (revised November Reiwa 6) and the new rules (revised October 1, Reiwa 8) to show how the screening criteria have changed with this revision.

2. [In-depth explanation] Five key points where screening has become stricter

① Quantification of independent livelihood (income and pension) and stricter household calculation

Previously, “an annual income of around 3 million yen” was the practical benchmark, but under the new guidelines, continuously exceeding the average income of Japanese households corresponding to the number of household members has become a clear standard. Furthermore, the rules for calculating household income have also been tightened.

• Exclusion of part-time job income: Part-time job income of family members who do not hold a work status of residence, such as those with “Dependent” status, cannot be added to household income.

• Counting of overseas dependents: Dependent relatives living overseas are also included in the “number of household members,” so if you have many dependents, the required average income amount increases accordingly.

• Expected future pension benefits: Not only whether past pension premiums have been paid, but also the amount of pension you will receive in the future is checked, and if it is insufficient, whether you have supplementary assets (savings, etc.) corresponding to your age is examined.

② Extension of the periods for the “spouse and biological child” special provisions

The hurdle for the preferential treatment (the special provision to the 10-year residence requirement) granted to spouses and biological children of Japanese nationals and permanent residents has been raised.

• Special provision for spouses: Previously “married for 3 years or more + residing in Japan for 1 year or more,” but after the revision, “married for 5 years or more + residing in Japan for 3 years or more” is required.

• Special provision for biological children, etc.: Previously “residing in Japan for 1 year or more,” but this has been extended to “residing in Japan for 3 years or more”.

③ New requirements for Japanese language ability (B1 equivalent) and “children’s schooling”

Japanese language ability and the degree of settlement in Japanese society have been added as independent examination items.

• Japanese language ability: In principle, CEFR B1 equivalent or above (independent conversational ability at JLPT N2–N3 level or above) is required (*excluding highly skilled professionals, etc.).

• Understanding of social rules: Your understanding of Japan’s basic systems as described in the “Guidebook on Living and Working” is confirmed.

• Schooling of school-age children: If you have children of elementary or junior high school age, having them properly attend a Japanese elementary or junior high school, etc. is a mandatory requirement.

④ Explicit provisions on the “longest period of stay (5 years)” and “periods outside Japan”

Clear standards have also been established regarding the conditions of your current status of residence and the periods you have spent outside Japan.

• Longest period of stay: Until now, even a “3-year” visa was treated as the longest period and applications were possible, but under the new rules, in principle the true longest period, such as “5 years,” is required (*applications with a 3-year visa are limited to transitional measures, etc., until March 31, 2027 (Reiwa 9)).

• Restrictions on periods of absence: If, within the past 10 years, you have “left Japan for 6 months or more at one time” or “left Japan for a total of 2 years and 6 months or more,” this will in principle be evaluated negatively (as a minus).

⑤ Harsher treatment of past delinquencies and violations

Regarding obligations to pay taxes, pension and medical insurance, as well as notifications under the Immigration Control Act, if you have even once had a delinquency disposition or a record of violation in the past, this will in principle be evaluated negatively.These are expected to be operated as clear statutory requirements from April 2027 (Reiwa 9) onward.

3. [Extremely important] When does it apply? Impact on those currently under examination

The new guidelines will be fully applied overall to applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 (Reiwa 9).

However, the new rules concerning the “income standard” and “public burden” will be applied retroactively even to cases filed on or after April 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8) that are currently under examination.

In other words, even if you applied between the spring and summer of this year (2026) and are currently waiting for a result from the Immigration Bureau, you will be examined under the strict new standard of the “average income of Japanese households”.

Consult our office for permanent residence applications and assessments!

With this revision of the guidelines, the hurdle for permanent residence permission has risen to the highest level ever.The former “Contribution to Japan” guidelines have been abolished and integrated into the main text, and the points of proof to be included in application documents have also changed significantly.

“I want to check whether my income and pension meet the new standards.”

“I want to know whether my length of marriage and years of residence in Japan comply with the new rules.”

“My application is under examination, and I am worried that I may receive a request to submit additional documents.”

If you are a company or a foreign national with such concerns, please feel free to consult Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (VISA SUPPORT JAPAN) in Oita Prefecture. Based on the latest guidelines, we provide optimal support toward obtaining permanent residence permission with confidence!