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In 2026, the move towards “stricter enforcement” of Permanent Residency for foreign nationals took concrete shape. On August 4, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency officially published its draft revision of the “Guideline on Permanent Residency” (e-Gov case number 315000140), and the call for public comments closed on September 4, 2026. The draft would generally require an estimated pension amount at a level receivable after 30 years of enrollment in employees’ pension insurance, in addition to an annual income exceeding the average of Japanese households. It also newly adds elements such as Japanese language ability (CEFR B1 level), school attendance of children of compulsory-education age, and longer periods for the spouse exception. However, this is still a draft and not a finalized requirement (the results have yet to be published). This article will distinguish between ① the published draft revision, including the “30-year standard” for employees’ pension insurance, ② the already announced requirement changes from April 2027 (Reiwa 9), and ③ the strengthened revocation of Permanent Residency under the Reiwa 6 amended Immigration Control Act, and then an Administrative Scrivener will organize the current requirements for Permanent Residency based on primary information from the Immigration Services Agency. This content will be useful for foreign nationals aiming for Permanent Residency, as well as for HR professionals at companies employing foreign talent.
The basic requirements for Permanent Residency themselves are explained in detail in “Administrative Scrivener Explains Permanent Residency Requirements,” and the revocation system strengthened by the Reiwa 6 amendment is explained clearly in “Clear Explanation of the Permanent Residency Revocation System.” Please also refer to them.
Permanent Residency is the most stable Status of Residence for foreign nationals, as it no longer requires an extension of the Period of Stay and removes restrictions on employment activities. For this reason, the review process is cautious, and in recent years, there has been a continuous trend towards stricter requirements. The key developments to be aware of in 2026 can be easily organized by dividing them into the following three main categories:
| Category | Content | Status (as of September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| ① Employees’ Pension “30-year standard” | Revised proposal to generally require estimated income and pension amounts | 📋 Draft officially published on August 4, 2026 – public comments closed, results pending |
| ② Longest Period of Stay | Change requiring the “longest Period of Stay” for work-related Status of Residence, etc. | ✅ Announced – Effective April 1, 2027 |
| ③ Revocation of Permanent Residence | Addition of intentional non-payment of public dues, etc., as grounds for revocation | ✅ Reiwa 6 Amendment – Already in effect |
What’s important is not to confuse “proposals (things that might be decided in the future)” with “things that have already been decided.” If you only look at news headlines, it’s easy to feel that everything applies from today, but in reality, the status is different. We will look at them in order below.
The stance of this article: We will not present uncertain “proposals” as confirmed information. We will distinguish between proposals and confirmed information, presenting each with its source.
First, the content of the draft. Newspaper reports came first in July 2026, but the Immigration Services Agency then officially published the draft revision on August 4, 2026, so its contents can now be checked directly. What follows is based on that published draft (primary source). The call for public comments closed on September 4, 2026 and the results are yet to be published, so this is not a finalized system.
The draft focuses on two of the requirements for Permanent Residency stipulated by the Immigration Control Act: “Possessing assets or skills sufficient to lead an independent livelihood (Independent Livelihood Requirement)” and “Being deemed to conform to the interests of Japan (National Interest Requirement).” It makes the factors considered in the examination more concrete and stricter. It also states for the first time that, because “Permanent Resident” is the most stable legal status, with no restrictions on activities or period and on the premise of spending one’s whole life in Japan, particularly careful examination is required. The key points of the draft are as follows:
📋 Key Points of the Published Draft (※public comments closed, results pending)
While the figure “30 years of employees’ pension insurance” tends to be taken out of context, it does not mean “you cannot obtain Permanent Residence unless you have been enrolled for 30 years.” Instead, the draft asks whether the estimated benefit reaches the level of 30 years of enrollment in employees’ pension insurance at that income level. Moreover, financial assets that can make up any shortfall are also taken into account. Detailed calculation methods and operation will only become clear once finalized standards are announced.
⚠️ To reiterate, this draft is not yet finalized. The call for public comments closed on September 4, 2026, but the results are yet to be published, and the content and timing may still change. When making an actual application, please be sure to check the official information published by the Immigration Services Agency. Even those who feel anxious, we hope you can calmly accept that it is “still at the proposal stage.”
Next, separately from the draft above, are the changes that have already been announced with a fixed date of application. The Immigration Services Agency states that, regarding the Guideline on Permanent Residency, it will revise the following handling as of April 1, Reiwa 9 (2027).
In other words, when applying for Permanent Residence with a work-related Status of Residence, it will be more clearly required that the applicant holds the longest Period of Stay stipulated in the enforcement regulations (often “5 years”) for their current Status of Residence.
However, Transitional Measures have been established to prevent disadvantages due to sudden changes.
🗓️ Transitional Measures (Already Announced)
For Application for Permission for Permanent Residence from individuals who hold a “3-year” Period of Stay as of March 31, 2027, it is stated that if a decision is received within that Period of Stay, and only for the first time, it will be treated as if the applicant holds the “longest Period of Stay.”
📎 This change to the “longest Period of Stay” is an already announced change, as organized under ②. While it is separate from the proposed amendment to the Employees’ Pension “30-year standard” mentioned in ①, both are discussed with April 2027 as a turning point, so care must be taken not to confuse them.
To correctly understand the “proposals” and “parts that will change,” the quickest way is to first grasp the current requirements. From here, we will organize the current requirements based on the Immigration Services Agency’s “Guideline on Permission for Permanent Residence (Revised on February 24, 2026).” The requirements for Permanent Residence are broadly divided into three pillars.
| Pillar of Requirement | Summary of Content |
|---|---|
| 🧭 Good Conduct | Observing laws and leading a socially irreproachable life |
| 💼 Ability to Support an Independent Livelihood | Not being a public burden and having a stable livelihood expected in the future based on assets or skills |
| 🇯🇵 Conformity to National Interest | Generally, a Period of Stay of 10 years or more, proper fulfillment of public obligations, having the longest Period of Stay, etc. |
In particular, ③ “Conformity to National Interest” consists of multiple conditions. The main contents of the current Guideline are as follows:
Among these, the fulfillment of public obligations has been particularly emphasized in recent years. Even in the current Guideline, regarding taxes and social insurance premiums, it is stated that “even if paid at the time of application, if not fulfilled within the original payment deadline, it will generally be evaluated negatively.” It is important to remember that it is not necessarily the case that “it’s okay because I paid it all later.”
💡 Why the “proposal” in ① is attracting attention: Even currently, “independent livelihood” and “public obligations” are requirements. It becomes easier to understand if the published draft is positioned as aiming to clarify and raise the required standards numerically in this area, and to add new considerations such as Japanese language ability and children’s school attendance.
The third development is the strengthening of the Permanent Residence revocation system under the Immigration Control Act amended in 2024. This system is already in effect and also concerns life after obtaining Permanent Residence. While it is covered in detail in “Easy-to-Understand Explanation of the Permanent Residence Revocation System,” we will summarize only the key points here.
With the amendment, the following cases for Permanent Residents have been added as grounds for revocation (related to Article 22-4 of the Immigration Control Act).
On the other hand, the Immigration Services Agency’s Q&A explains that cases such as accidentally forgetting to carry one’s Residence Card or forgetting to file an Application for Extension of Period of Stay are not envisioned as grounds for revocation. Furthermore, in the revocation procedure, an opportunity to state one’s opinion (hearing) is provided, and if dissatisfied with the disposition, it is possible to contest it through a revocation lawsuit.
✅ Practical Conclusion: Both the “proposal” in ① and the “revocation” in ③ are consistent in emphasizing whether “public obligations are properly fulfilled.” For those aiming for Permanent Resident status and those who already have it, the accumulation of basic practices such as paying taxes, pensions, and insurance premiums by the deadline has become more important than ever.
So, what should foreign nationals aiming for Permanent Resident status be aware of? While there’s no need to panic and be swayed by the “proposal,” solidifying the basics of current requirements will be advantageous regardless of any revisions.
📌 In particular, aiming for the grant of a longer Period of Stay when renewing your Period of Stay is important, both in preparation for the change to “the longest Period of Stay” in ② and for the “proposal” in ①. Diligently fulfilling public obligations on a daily basis will ultimately prepare you for any changes in requirements.
Pension and income requirements also involve specialized points regarding social insurance and taxes. While individual pension amount calculations and payment consultations fall within the domain of specialists such as pension offices and social insurance labor consultants, an Administrative Scrivener specializing in Status of Residence can help you clarify “how that situation will be evaluated in the Permanent Residence review.”
For companies employing foreign nationals, the trend towards stricter Permanent Resident requirements is not irrelevant. While Permanent Resident status is applied for by the individual, whether employees can work stably and for a long time directly impacts a company’s human resources strategy.
💡 To HR Professionals: While Permanent Resident status is often seen as “an individual’s issue,” the company’s fundamentals of appropriate salary, social insurance, and residence management ultimately support the retention and careers of foreign nationals. Sharing information on system trends can also help prevent turnover.
Q1. If I haven’t been enrolled in Employees’ Pension Insurance for 30 years, can I no longer obtain Permanent Resident status?
A. No. First, the “30-year Employees’ Pension Insurance standard” is content of the draft published on August 4, 2026 and is not yet finalized (public comments closed on September 4 and the results are pending). Furthermore, its intent is not that “30 years of enrollment directly determines approval or denial,” but rather whether the estimated pension benefit reaches the level of 30 years of enrollment at that income level. Where it falls short, financial assets that can make up the shortfall are also taken into account. Since this is not a confirmed standard, you must wait for the results to be published to make a judgment.
Q2. When will the revision proposal be applied?
A. The draft states that it applies to applications made on or after April 1, 2027 (Reiwa 9). However, only two items – income and not becoming a public burden – also apply to applications made on or after the day six months before the revision date that are still under examination on the revision date (the summary gives October 2026 as the entry into force for the income-related element). It does not reach back to cases that have already been granted. As this is not a confirmed effective date, please check the official announcements from the Immigration Services Agency for the latest information.
Q3. What is the “longest Period of Stay” that will change from April 2027?
A. This is a change that has already been announced, separate from the revision proposal in ①. Previously, a Period of Stay of “3 years” was treated as “the longest Period of Stay,” but from April 1, Reiwa 9 (2027), it will be required to reside with the longest Period of Stay stipulated for each Status of Residence (often 5 years). For those who hold “3 years” as of March 31, Reiwa 9 (2027), Transitional Measures are provided, limited to the first instance.
Q4. I have had delays in paying taxes or pensions in the past. Is it difficult to obtain Permanent Resident status?
A. Under the current Guideline, public obligations are “in principle, negatively evaluated if not fulfilled by the original deadline, even if paid by the time of application.” However, this does not mean an automatic Denial; individual circumstances are considered. The evaluation varies depending on the history of delays and the current situation, so if you are concerned, please consult an Administrative Scrivener before applying.
Q5. I am already a Permanent Resident. Will my Permanent Residence be revoked if the proposal is decided?
A. The published draft concerns the permission criteria for those who will apply for Permanent Residence in the future. It does not mean that the Permission for Permanent Residence of those who already hold it will be immediately revoked by this revision proposal. However, as mentioned in ③, intentional non-payment of public dues, etc., have been added as grounds for revocation in the 2024 amendment, so proper payment of taxes, pension, and insurance premiums remains important.
Q6. What is the best preparation you can make now?
A. Regardless of any revisions, the universally effective preparation is to pay taxes, social insurance premiums, and pension within the deadline, and to diligently carry out applications for extension of Period of Stay and various notifications. As the movement towards clarifying requirements with numerical values continues, consistently fulfilling daily public obligations will be the most reliable preparation.
The developments surrounding Permission for Permanent Residence in 2026 tend to be broadly categorized as “stricter enforcement,” but the content can be divided into three distinct states.
Common to all these developments is an emphasis on income and public obligations (taxes, pension, and insurance premiums). Therefore, rather than being swayed by every twist and turn of the proposals, steadily solidifying the basics of current requirements day by day is the most effective preparation.
Application for Permission for Permanent Residence requires consideration tailored to individual circumstances, such as how to count residence history, organize the history of public obligations, and prepare required documents. Precisely because the system is in flux, if you are unsure, please consult an Administrative Scrivener specializing in Status of Residence.
Our office provides consultations to both foreign nationals themselves and accepting companies, based on the latest institutional trends.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
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For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
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This article is written based on public information as of September 2026. Details of the system and effective dates may change in the future, and the revision proposals introduced in this text are not finalized. For actual applications, please confirm with the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
