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Permanent Residence

Hello. Recently, I applied for Permanent Residence status. I have lived off-and-on in Japan since 1998. I wasn't able to apply earlier because 1. I never had a visa longer than 1 year, 2. I hadn't lived in Japan 10 years CONSECUTIVELY, and 3. I didn't have any of the other qualifications, like being married to a Japanese or having special skills, etc.

Anyway, I've lived in Japan about 17 years in total, and finally reached the 10 consecutive years requirement and have a visa that's longer than a year. My question is IF Immigration rejects my application, are my chances basically shot for ever getting PR? I'm getting older, and I don't want to be living year-to-year, never knowing if I'll ever be accepted as a permanent resident.

11 comments

11 Comments

DavidM

Mar 31, 2023

I used an immigration lawyer--made the process so much easier, they handled most of the paperwork.

Bill

Mar 31, 2023

Replying to

I did that before and it didn't work well. Anyway, I've already handed in my application, and what I'm asking about is what happens if they say no.

urara

Mar 24, 2023

Good luck with your application. I think I’m eligible for PR now but when I saw the ton of paperwork ahead I decided to try it in 3 years when my spouse visa needs to be renewed again. Also I’m unemployed at the moment and I thought maybe being unemployed/having low income might be an issue when trying to get the PR. What are your thoughts?

mikekato

Mar 24, 2023

Replying to

I believe that income is one of the main criteria for PR. Length of time in Japan, as well as having immediate family is also a big consideration. If you have immediate family who are Japanese–spouse, children–for the most part PR will be granted, but having full or part-time income amounting to more than ¥220,000/month is the threshold for consideration. There are other factors that are taken into consideration, such as educational/professional qualifications, consecutive years of residence, Japanese heritage, etc., but the main thing is that immigration wants to see us as workforce assets and unlikely to be a future burden on public welfare.

urara

Mar 25, 2023

Replying to

Thank you for your feedback. As I thought the income part is very important. In my case I checked some boxes but definitely not the children and income ones 😂

Bill

Mar 31, 2023

Replying to

I definitely think being unemployed will work against your application. It's in the country's interest that you're working and paying income tax.

mikekato

Mar 23, 2023

I know people who have applied more than once. I believe that in many cases immigration officials will tell you why you are being rejected (I don't mean to suggest that this is at all likely) and what you need to do to have your application accepted (the next time). Still, it helps to be over-qualified. I did it back many years ago when there weren't as many means of getting permanent residency. I waited until I was certain that I'd get it before applying. Still, I had the mandatory (at the time) 1-year waiting period before getting it granted. I believe now the wait period is 6-months or even shorter.

Bill

Mar 31, 2023

Replying to

1-year waiting period? Are you referring to the time you had to wait from the time you applied to the time you heard an answer? What I've heard from acquaintances and others online is that it takes no more than 6 months. I've heard 2~6 months.

mikekato

Mar 31, 2023

Replying to

I got permanent residency nearly 20 years ago. There used to be a pretty much mandatory 1-year waiting period. I realize that it is usually only up to 6-months now as I wrote in my previous post. I think the 2-3 months is in the best cases, which are people in professional areas that Japan wants to bring in people for.

Amanda

Mar 23, 2023

I think this is something an immigration lawyer might be able to answer.

Bill

Mar 31, 2023

Replying to

Possibly. I forked out a lot of money to an immigration lawyer a couple of years ago to help me get something more than a one-year visa, but despite all of his help, I didn't get it. Sometimes I think immigration lawyers don't know too much about the inner workings of the Immigration Department.