Japan Opens Public Comment on Stricter Permanent Residency Rules & 5‑Year Stay for Skilled Workers
- Xavi
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
TOKYO, August 7, 2026 — Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has opened public consultations on two major immigration policy changes: a significant tightening of permanent residency requirements and an extension of the maximum period of stay for Type 2 Specified Skilled Workers to five years.
The draft revisions, published on August 4, 2026, represent the most significant overhaul of Japan’s permanent residency framework in years and come as the number of permanent residents in Japan has reached approximately 940,000 — over 22% of the country’s 4.12 million foreign residents. Both proposals are open for public comment until early September.
Permanent Residency: New Income, Pension & Language Requirements
The ISA has published a draft revision to its permanent residency guidelines that introduces, for the first time, explicit income, pension, and language benchmarks.
Income: Above the Japanese Household Average
Under the draft guidelines, applicants must demonstrate household income that continuously exceeds the average for Japanese households, adjusted for household size.
Aspect | Details |
2024 Average Household Income | ¥5.75 million (reference point) |
Median Household Income | ¥4.51 million |
Review Period | Entire five‑year period, not just at time of application |
Effective Date | October 2026 |
Retroactive Application | April 2026 applications will be assessed under new rules |
Immigration officials have stated they will consider several government income surveys rather than rely on a single published figure, meaning the ¥5.75 million average is a reference point rather than a fixed threshold.
Pension: 30‑Year Employee’s Pension Benchmark
A new pension requirement has been added for the first time:
Requirement | Details |
Assessment | Expected future pension benefits must be equivalent to 30 years of contributions to Japan’s employee pension system at the applicant’s income level |
Shortfall Option | Financial assets may be used to cover projected shortfalls |
Japanese Language: CEFR B1 (JLPT N2)
The draft guidelines require applicants to demonstrate Japanese‑language proficiency equivalent to CEFR B1 (JLPT N2) and an understanding of Japan’s laws and social systems.
“Affirmative Benefit” to Japan
The revised guidelines state that it is not enough for permanent residency to merely “not conflict” with Japan’s interests — it must “affirmatively and concretely benefit Japan”. The ISA also explicitly states that permanent residency requires “particularly careful examination”.
Other Criteria
Officials will also consider:
Whether school‑age children are attending school
Overall good public conduct
Not being a public burden
Implementation Timeline
Requirement | Effective Date | Retroactive |
Income Requirements | October 2026 | April 2026 applications |
Pension Requirements | October 2026 | April 2026 applications |
Language & Other Criteria | April 2027 | No |
Type 2 Specified Skilled Worker: 5‑Year Stay Proposed
In a separate draft ministerial ordinance, the ISA has proposed adding a five‑year period of stay for holders of the Type 2 Specified Skilled Worker visa.
Aspect | Current System | Proposed Change |
Maximum Stay | 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, or 3 years | 5 years added |
Effective Date | — | Early January 2027 |
Alignment | — | Aligns with other residence statuses (e.g., nursing care workers) |
Currently, the period of stay is determined based on employment stability, continuity and other factors, with longer periods subject to stricter screening criteria, such as employment records and tax payment history. The detailed requirements for the new five‑year category will be finalized later.
Key Context: Under current permanent residency guidelines, applicants must hold the longest available period of stay under their current residence status. The addition of a five‑year option is therefore a critical step for Type 2 workers seeking permanent residency.
Public Comment Periods & How to Submit
Both draft policies are open for public comment through Japan’s e‑Gov portal:
Proposal | Case Number | Deadline |
Permanent Residency Guidelines Revision | 315000140 | September 4, 2026, 00:00 JST |
Specified Skilled Worker Ordinance Revision | 315000139 | September 3, 2026, 00:00 JST |
How to Submit:
Visit the e‑Gov Public Comment Portal
Search for the relevant case number
Submit your comments following the instructions in the “意見募集要領” (public comment guidelines)
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Permanent Residency | Type 2 SSW |
Key Change | Income above average + 30‑year pension benchmark | 5‑year stay added |
Income Threshold | Above Japanese household average (¥5.75M reference) | — |
Pension Requirement | 30 years of employee’s pension contributions | — |
Language Requirement | CEFR B1 (JLPT N2) | — |
Effective Date | October 2026 (income/pension) / April 2027 (language) | January 2027 |
Retroactive | Income/pension apply to April 2026 applications | No |
Comment Deadline | September 4, 2026 | September 3, 2026 |
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