Permanent Residence. This is a person who has been approved to live in Japan for an unlimited period. A lot of permanent residence cards were issued: 749,191 as of the end of 2017.
Permanent Residents can get the following five merits:
- Social Credibility: Easing taking out a housing loan/mortgage and obtaining a loan
- Visa Update-Free: Unlimited period of stay, but need to update a Residence Card (every 7 years)
- Working Everywhere: Easing job changing and starting new business
- Stable Residence in Japan: Different from Naturalization, keep holding your home nationality
- Status of Residence-Free: Even if you are separated or divorced from your husband/wife, your status of residence will be the same.
However, the status can be cancelled for certain reasons such as having committed a crime, failing to the change of resident registration and the update of Residence Card.
There are five categories of people who can apply for Japan lawful permanent residence. In some of the categories you are immediately eligible for permanent residence while you have to wait until one is available. We briefly explain the categories here, and refer to the detailed articles later.
Five Categories of Permanent Residence Applicants
- Immediate Relatives
Immediate Relative permanent residence cards can be issued to immigrants who are relatives of Japanese nationals and permanent holders. Immediate Relatives are defined as a spouse of Japanese nationals or a spouse of Permanent visa holders as well as a child of Japanese nationals or a child who was born in Japan by Permanent visa holders.
- Family (Dependent)
Certain other family dependent members of the following Japan visa holders are also eligible for Japan permanent residence: Supporter’s visas (status of residence) of applicant’s spouse or parent are Professors, Artists, Religious workers, Journalists, Highly Skilled Professionals, Business Managers, Attorneys as Law/CPA, Medical Doctors, Researchers, Lecturers, Engineers/Humanities Specialists/Int’l Services, Intra-Company Transferees, Entertainers, Skilled Laborers, Cultural Activists, and college Students.
- Employment-Based
People with job skills wanted by Japan’s employers are also eligible for permanent residence: Working visas such as Engineers/Humanities Specialists/Int’l Services, Business Managers, Attorneys at Law/CPA, Medical Doctors, Researchers, Lecturers, Intra-Company Transferees, Entertainers, Skilled Laborers and so on.
- Highly Skilled Professional
Highly Skilled Professional and Non-Highly Skilled Professional who hold 70 – 80 visa points or above.
A point system gives preference to people whose skills are considered as beneficial to Japan. There are three areas: academic research activities, specialized/technological activities, and business management activities.
For each area, the point system includes categories of academic achievements, work experience, annual income and other factors. These are used to calculate the total points for the applicant.
- Long-Term Resident
The law also allows certain people who have lived legally in Japan. They includes persons with Japanese ancestry, Indochinese refugee settlers, the spouse or children of Japanese nationals left behind in China.
Next, we would love to start writing the detailed articles on actual visa application process and every possible screening process.