Japan tightens permanent-residency guidelines: income, pension and language tests, mostly from April 2027

Japan tightens permanent-residency guidelines: income, pension and language tests, mostly from April 2027

1 October 2026 — Japan's Immigration Services Agency revised its guidelines for granting permanent residency on 1 October 2026, according to a Kyodo report carried by The Star. The changes make it harder for foreign residents, including skilled workers in the technology sector, to obtain permanent status, and affect how companies in Japan plan the long-term retention of foreign staff.

Not yet independently verified. The criteria and dates come from a Kyodo report; the Immigration Services Agency's guideline page was read only through a search summary, so its exact wording and effective dates should be checked on the page itself. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

What changes

According to the report, applicants will be assessed on:

• household income above the national average, about ¥5.75 million;
• expected pension benefits equivalent to 30 years of enrolment in the employees' pension system, or assets to offset a shortfall;
• Japanese language ability at an "independent user" level;
• for spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, five years of marriage and three years of residence in Japan, up from three years and one year.

The report says the income test applies to applications filed from April 2026, while the other criteria apply to applications from 1 April 2027. A fast-track guideline for people who have made a contribution to Japan is abolished on 31 March 2027. The agency received about 5,000 comments when it consulted on the draft.

Who is affected

Foreign employees in Japan who plan to apply for permanent residency, and the HR, global mobility and legal teams at Japanese and international employers who support them. Technology companies that rely on foreign engineers are among the most exposed.

What to do

1. List foreign staff who have applied since April 2026 or plan to apply, and check them against the income test.
2. Run pension and income projections for staff planning applications after 1 April 2027.
3. Review language training support, since Japanese proficiency becomes a formal criterion.
4. Update relocation and retention policies, and brief staff early so they can time applications.
5. Check the agency's own guideline page before advising individuals.

Why it matters for employers

Permanent residency frees foreign employees from renewing work visas and tying their status to one employer. Tighter rules mean longer periods on employer-sponsored visas, which affects mobility, HR administration and the attractiveness of Japan to international talent.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Guidelines for permission for permanent residence — 5 October 2026
• The Star (Bernama-Kyodo): Japan toughens guidelines for granting permanent residency — 1 October 2026