Japan permanent residency: the new requirements coming into force in 2026
If you’ve been in Japan for a while and have been thinking about applying for permanent residency, or if you were already in the process of meeting the requirements, the last few weeks have brought significant news. The Japanese government announced in late July 2026 that it will substantially tighten the criteria for granting permanent residency, with a guideline revision taking effect from 1 October 2026.
What’s changing is considerable: the income threshold rises, a new pension requirement is added, Japanese language formally enters the assessment, and the processing fee jumps from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
This article covers what is known so far, who it applies to and when.
The context: why this is changing now
At the end of 2025, approximately 947,000 people held permanent residency in Japan. The government has been reviewing access conditions as part of a broader, more selective immigration policy.
The official rationale is twofold: ensuring permanent residents have sufficient economic foundation to be self-sufficient without relying on welfare support, and promoting more genuine integration into Japanese society. The practical result is requirements that move closer to what other countries with established immigration systems already demand — in the same spirit as the Business Manager Visa reform that tightened rules for entrepreneurs back in 2025.
The main changes
1. New income threshold
The current requirement asks applicants to demonstrate sufficient means to live independently, without specifying a figure. The new guideline requires annual income to exceed the average Japanese household income, which in practice sets the bar at approximately ¥4,500,000 per year for a single-person household (compared to the previous informal threshold of around ¥3,000,000).
For family units the figure varies, since the reference is average household income rather than individual income alone.
This change is particularly significant because it reportedly applies to applications submitted from April 2026 — meaning it has retroactive effect on applications already being processed.
2. Pension requirement
An entirely new addition: applicants must demonstrate projected pension benefits equivalent to 30 years of contributions to the Employees’ Pension Insurance system (Kosei Nenkin). If projected pension benefits fall short, the gap can be covered with savings or other financial assets.
This puts pressure on those who have spent years working as self-employed, in periods without formal employment, or with employers who were not properly enrolled in Kosei Nenkin. Years contributed to Kokumin Nenkin (the national pension system for self-employed and non-salaried workers) count differently.
3. Japanese language formally enters the assessment
Until now, Japanese language ability was not an explicit requirement for permanent residency. From October, language will be considered within the assessment of whether permanent residency is in Japan’s “national interest” — one of the three formal criteria in the process.
No specific exam or minimum JLPT level has been published yet. What the revision indicates is that Japanese level will be assessed subjectively within that criterion.
Japan is also introducing a mandatory Japanese language and culture programme for permanent residency applicants and those applying for visas exceeding 10 years. Specific details of the programme are yet to be published.
4. Fee rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000
The most striking change in monetary terms. The processing fee for permanent residency goes from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 — a twentyfold increase, and one part of the broader visa fee hike taking effect in October 2026.
Fees for other residence statuses also rise: five-year-or-longer stays will cost ¥75,000, and one-year stays ¥33,000. These changes apply to applications submitted from 1 October 2026.
5. Stricter marriage requirement
For those applying for permanent residency as a spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident, the minimum marriage period increases from 3 to 5 years, and the Japan residency period from 1 to 3 years.
What doesn’t change
The 10-year residency requirement remains the base period for the general pathway, unchanged.
Good conduct (no criminal record, no visa violations, no outstanding debts to the authorities) remains a fundamental requirement. Tightening here comes from a different angle: the law already provides since 2024 for revocation of permanent residency for those who fail to pay taxes, health insurance or pension contributions. The new revision reinforces scrutiny on this point.
When each change applies
| Change | Application date |
|---|---|
| New income threshold | Applications from April 2026 |
| Pension requirement | Applications from October 2026 (formal revision) |
| Japanese language assessment | Applications from October 2026 |
| ¥200,000 fee | Applications from 1 October 2026 |
| Longer marriage requirement | Applications from April 2027 (in principle) |
The formal guideline revision takes effect 1 October 2026. Most changes will in principle apply to applications submitted from April 2027, but the income requirement is already being applied to applications from April 2026.
Does this affect people who already have permanent residency?
No. The changes apply to new applications. Those who already hold permanent residency are not affected by the new income, pension or language requirements.
The one exception is the strengthened revocation regime: if you hold permanent residency and are not paying taxes, health insurance or pension, that can already be grounds for revocation under rules in force since 2024.
The Highly Skilled Professional pathway (高度専門職)
If you work in Japan in a qualified role, there is a faster alternative route through the points system for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals (kodo senmonshoku). With enough points you can apply for permanent residency in 1 or 3 years rather than the standard 10.
Points are calculated based on academic background, professional track record, salary, publications, and bonuses for working at recognised companies or in sectors Japan considers priorities. The minimum threshold is 70 points for the 3-year pathway and 80 points for the 1-year pathway.
This pathway has not changed structurally with the October 2026 revision, though the income requirement also applies to it.
Reaction from foreign residents
Reaction in expat communities and social media has been mixed. Those who were close to meeting the previous requirements have expressed frustration, particularly over the retroactive income changes. Others who already had permanent residency or comfortably exceed the new thresholds see the changes as a reasonable selection mechanism.
The most debated point is the pension requirement: 30 years of Kosei Nenkin is a threshold many long-term residents will struggle to reach if they have had periods of self-employment or worked for companies that were not properly registered.
What to do if you’re thinking of applying
If you have been in Japan for less than 10 years: time to organise. Check your pension contribution history (available through the Nenkin portal, which you can log into with your My Number), make sure you’re up to date with taxes and health insurance, and work on your Japanese.
If you already met the previous requirements: consider applying as soon as possible, before the new criteria are fully formalised. Income history is already being reviewed under the new criteria from April 2026.
In any case: the changes are recent and some implementation details have not yet been officially published. Consulting with a gyoseishoshi (行政書士, an administrative scrivener specialising in visa applications) is the best way to assess your specific situation.
FAQ
What exactly is the income threshold? The new criterion is exceeding average Japanese household income. For a single-person household, that’s around ¥4,500,000 per year. Some reports cite ¥479,000 per month (~¥5.75M annually) for certain scenarios. The exact figure will depend on household composition and will be published in the official guidelines.
Is the Japanese requirement a specific exam? Not yet. It will be assessed within the “national interest” criterion, with no minimum JLPT level set so far. Details of the mandatory Japanese programme have not yet been published.
Does the 10-year residency period still apply? Yes. The minimum residency period for the general pathway is unchanged.
Can I apply for permanent residency while also pursuing naturalisation? Naturalisation and permanent residency are two separate pathways. Permanent residency is not a mandatory step toward naturalisation, though the residency requirement for naturalisation also rose from 5 to 10 years in April 2026.
Where can I verify these changes officially? The official source is the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁, Nyukoku Kanri-cho) at moj.go.jp. The revised guidelines will be available from 1 October 2026.
Information based on Japanese government announcements from July 2026 and specialist sources. Some implementation details pending official publication. For advice on your specific situation, consult a gyoseishoshi.
About the author
Editorial entity
Yen & Zen is written by a Spanish-Japanese couple based in Kanagawa Prefecture, in the Tokyo metropolitan area. We have been in Japan since 2010. The site is a hobby project covering practical calculators and articles about life and travel in Japan, with verified figures and citations to official sources. We are not lawyers, accountants, or licensed advisors; articles here are based on observation, personal experience, and published official rules — not on professional consultation.