Permanent Residency in Japan

• Eijuu Kyoka Shinseisho 永 住 許 可 申 請 書
• JP: MOJ (Ministry of Justice), ISA (Immigration Service Agency): 永住許可申請 (Eijuu Kyoka Shinsei)
• Kasahara: English Explanation
• Juridique: English Explanation
• Procedures for Entry/Residence, pdf, moj.go.jp

Key Benefits of Permanent Residency in Japan

1. No More Visa Renewals

• Current visa: You must renew every 5 years (plus any paperwork and uncertainty).

• PR: You never need to renew your status again. It’s indefinite.

2. More Job Flexibility

• Spouse visa: Technically allows you to work without restriction, but it’s tied to your marital status.

• PR: Offers complete freedom to change jobs, start a business, or even be unemployed without affecting your residency.

3. Independence from Marital Status

• If you divorce or are widowed, your current visa could be revoked (unless you switch to another status).

• With PR, your right to live in Japan no longer depends on your relationship status.

4. Easier Loan Approval & Financial Transactions

• Banks and financial institutions often view PR holders more favorably.

• It becomes easier to:

  • Get long-term loans (e.g., home mortgages)

  • Sign certain lease agreements

  • Get approved for credit cards or mobile contracts without a Japanese guarantor

5. Social Stability & Long-term Planning

• PR is often seen as a step toward full integration into Japanese society.

• It gives peace of mind when planning:

  • Children’s schooling

  • Career changes

  • Buying property

  • Retirement in Japan

6. Easier Reentry if You Leave Japan

• PR holders can leave Japan for up to 5 years without losing their status (with re-entry permit).

• Other visa holders often have stricter conditions.

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⚠️ Things to Be Aware Of

• You must still notify the immigration office of changes (address, workplace, etc.).

• You are still a foreign national, not a citizen. So you:

  • Cannot vote

  • Still need a valid passport

  • Need a re-entry permit if you leave Japan for a long time

• PR can be revoked if you commit serious legal violations or do not live in Japan for extended periods without a valid reason.

 

🔁 Leaving Japan with Permanent Residency: Re-entry Rules

✅ If you plan to return within 1 year:

• You can use the “Special Re-entry Permit” (みなし再入国許可).

• It’s a simple process — just tick the box at the airport when you leave Japan.

• No need to visit the immigration office beforehand.

• You must return within 1 year, or your permanent residency will be automatically revoked.

🛂 **If you plan to stay outside Japan for more than 1 year:

• You must apply in advance for a Re-entry Permit (再入国許可) from the Immigration Bureau.

• This can be valid for up to 5 years.

• If you don’t apply and stay away longer than a year, your PR status will be lost automatically.

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✍️ Summary

Guide to the official application process for permanent residence (PR) in Japan, including where to find the forms and English information:

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🏛️ Official Sources & Forms

Ministry of Justice (Immigration Services Bureau)

• The permanent residency application form (永住許可申請書) and instructions are officially issued by the Immigration Services Bureau under the Ministry of Justice. You’ll need to submit the Japanese-language form as part of your application Reddit+4Ministry of Justice Japan+4Reddit+4Ministry of Justice Japan+1埼玉県さいたま市のビザ(就労・配偶者・永住)の申請・文書認証ならスギタ国際事務所+1.

Required Documents Overview

• The Immigration Bureau lists required materials in Japanese only, but there are English summaries from reliable sources such as office‑kasahara and office‑sugita Office Kasahara.

• Applicants with your status — “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” — are required to submit:

  • The application form

  • Recent photo

  • Identity documents (e.g. family register of your spouse)

  • A copy of your 住民票 (juminhyo) showing all household members

  • Certificates of employment/income or family supporter if applicable

  • Copies of passport and residence card (both sides)

  • A guarantor form (your Japanese spouse qualifies) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan+4埼玉県さいたま市のビザ(就労・配偶者・永住)の申請・文書認証ならスギタ国際事務所+4June Advisors Group+4Office Kasahara+1Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan+1Reddit

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🇬🇧 English-Language Resources

• MOJ (Ministry of Justice) does not provide an official English webpage that explains the permanent residency application procedure in detail. The Japanese-language forms are mandatory for submission.

• However, community-trusted guides like those from Office‑Kasahara and Office‑Sugita offer English explanations and document checklists valid as of 2025 sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp+11Office Kasahara+11Reddit+11.

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📝 Forms & How Many?

Yes, you’ll need to fill in several Japanese forms, including:

• The main application sheet (永住許可申請書) — entirely in Japanese

• A Letter of Guarantee (guarantor form), typically filled out by your Japanese spouse

• Additional structured documents like a copy of family register, income forms, and employment certificates

While some documents can be in English (e.g. employment letters, tax certificates), official forms must be completed in Japanese.

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📋 Summary Table

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🧭 Where to Apply & Tips

• Submit at your local regional Immigration Bureau (e.g., Osaka, Nagoya).

• Processing typically takes 4–6 months, but may vary by location 埼玉県さいたま市のビザ(就労・配偶者・永住)の申請・文書認証ならスギタ国際事務所+1Ministry of Justice Japan+1us.emb-japan.go.jp+6Office Kasahara+6June Advisors Group+6Ministry of Justice Japan+4Ministry of Justice Japan+4Japan Dev+4en.wikipedia.orgMinistry of Foreign Affairs JapanJune Advisors Groupsf.us.emb-japan.go.jp.

• Even though some English guidance is available, expect most forms and internal labels to be Japanese — consider asking a bilingual friend or consulting a professional if you’re unsure.

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✅ What You Should Do Next

1. Access the Japanese-language application form (永住許可申請書) from the Immigration Services Bureau website.

2. Consult English-language checklists from Office‑Sugita or Office‑Kasahara to know what to prepare.

3. Gather documents: juminhyo, kazei/nozei certificates, photo, passport, etc.

4. Have your Japanese spouse complete the guarantor form.

5. Submit your documents to the regional Immigration Bureau.

6. Wait for the estimated 4–6 month review period.

 

Applying before your income or tax situation changes due to maternity leave can work in your favor. Let’s break it down.

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👶 Impact of Maternity Leave on PR Application

✅ Why Applying Now Is a Good Idea:

1. Your current income and tax record are still strong from the last fiscal year (2024).

2. PR applications typically require evidence of financial stability, especially residency tax (住民税) payments and/or employment status.

3. If you’re not working (or have reduced income) during maternity leave, future applications may raise questions, even if temporary.

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📄 What Immigration Checks Financially (Even for Spouse Visa Holders)

Even though you’re applying as a “Spouse of Japanese National”, which is one of the easier PR routes:

• Immigration still checks financial stability to ensure you won’t become a public burden.

• They look at:

  • Your 住民税課税証明書 and 納税証明書 for the past 1 year

  • Your spouse’s income/tax record too (as your guarantor)

  • Current employment situation (but they accept maternity leave with explanation)

If your maternity leave causes:

• A sudden drop in your income, or

• A change in job status (e.g., not actively employed),
  then they may request further explanation or documentation. This could delay or complicate the process.

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🗓️ When Is “Too Late”?

If you wait until your next tax year shows decreased income, or you’ve been on leave for a while, then:

• They might assess your 2025 income (less favorable).

• If your spouse’s income is sufficient, it may still be fine — but it could weaken your own profile.

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📌 Suggested Timeline

• Apply this month (July) or next (August).

• Use your most recent tax and employment records from 2024.

• Note: The application is judged over several months, but what you submit at time of application is what counts most.

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👶 Side Note: Being on Maternity Leave Is Not a Disqualifier

If you apply later:

• You can explain maternity leave in a written statement.

• But it’s better to apply now while everything is clearer and stronger on paper.

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✅ Summary

 

Tailored checklist for applying for Permanent Residency (PR) … 

(censored)

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🇯🇵 Permanent Residency Application Checklist

For: Spouse of Japanese National
Goal: Apply before maternity leave impacts income or tax records

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📁 1. Core Application Documents

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📜 2. Identity & Family Documents

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💰 3. Financial & Tax Documents

(From you and/or your Japanese spouse as guarantor)

If your income is decreasing soon:

• Prioritize submitting last year’s (2024) solid tax records now.

• If spouse is working steadily, that will help back up your case.

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👥 4. Guarantor Documents

🔹 Tip: A spouse can act as both family and financial guarantor — no need for another person.

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✍️ 5. Optional but Recommended

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🗓️ Step-by-Step Timeline

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📍Where to Apply

• Submit at your regional Immigration Bureau (e.g., Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya)

• No online submission — documents must be brought in person

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⏳ Processing Time

• Typically 4–6 months, but may take longer depending on volume

• You can travel during that time, but must not leave Japan for over 1 year without a re-entry permit

Possible Downsides/Limitations of Permanent Residency in Japan

While Permanent Residency (永住権) in Japan is highly beneficial, there are a few downsides or limitations to be aware of. They’re not deal-breakers for most people, but here’s the full picture:

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✅ Main Benefits Recap (Quick)

• No need to renew every 1–5 years (huge mental load off!)

• You can work any job or freelance freely

• Easier to get loans, mortgages, credit cards

• Not tied to your spouse or job (important for long-term independence)

• Faster re-entry and less red tape in long-term life planning

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⚠️ Possible Disadvantages of Permanent Residency in Japan

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🧠 Other Notes

• Not a disadvantage, but a misunderstanding: Some people think PR = citizenship. It does not. You remain a citizen of your home country (e.g., Indonesia in your case), which can actually be beneficial if you want to keep that passport.

• Naturalization is a separate process, stricter than PR, and requires renouncing your original citizenship.

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🎯 TL;DR – Disadvantage Overview

 

🧾 What Is “Global Income Taxation” in Japan?

Japan can, under certain conditions, tax your worldwide income, not just the income you earn inside Japan.

This includes:

• Overseas bank interest

• Foreign real estate rental income

• Investment dividends or capital gains from abroad

• Possibly gifts/inheritance received from abroad (in some cases)

But! This does NOT apply to everyone.

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🧩 Who Is Subject to It?

Japan divides foreign residents into 3 categories for tax purposes:

1. Non-Permanent Residents

▶ Foreigners who have lived in Japan less than 5 of the last 10 years, even if they have PR
▶ Only taxed on:

• Japanese income

• Foreign income brought into Japan (e.g. remitted)

✅ This is your status now, and will remain for a few more years.

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2. Permanent Residents (for tax)

▶ Foreigners who have lived in Japan for 5 out of the last 10 years
▶ AND:

• Have Permanent Residency

• Or have no intent to leave Japan

➡️ Taxed on global income, even if it stays abroad.

✅ If you have overseas assets or family sending money, this may start to matter after 5+ years of being in this category.

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3. Japanese Nationals

▶ Taxed on all worldwide income, always.

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👶 What About You?

As an ___ citizen with PR in Japan, your timeline looks like this:

BUT:

• Japan doesn’t go after people with simple foreign savings accounts or parents gifting small money

• Double taxation treaties (like with ___) may protect you from being taxed twice on the same income

• If you have no major overseas assets, this likely won’t affect you at all

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🛡️ How People Protect Themselves

• Don’t bring large foreign investment money into Japan without tax advice

• Consult a tax accountant (税理士) if you:

  • Own property or stock abroad

  • Inherit money or assets from overseas

  • Receive regular gifts from overseas accounts

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💡 TL;DR: Should You Worry?

The important part about property, stocks, and inheritance abroad for someone in your situation:

1. Owning Property or Stocks Abroad

• If you own overseas property or stocks, Japan’s tax system may expect you to report any income generated from them (like rent, dividends, or capital gains).

• This applies especially if you’ve been a resident in Japan for over 5 of the past 10 years, which seems to be your case.

• Even before PR, the tax office may consider you a “permanent resident for tax purposes” if you meet the residency threshold.

• However, you generally only pay Japanese tax on income you actually bring into Japan if you’re classified as a non-permanent resident for tax.

• After crossing that 5-year threshold, your worldwide income is taxable regardless of whether you bring money into Japan or not.

2. Inheritance or Gifts from Overseas

• Japan taxes inheritances or gifts received from abroad if their value is above certain thresholds.

• If you inherit money or assets from family abroad (like Indonesia), you might have to declare it and pay taxes on it in Japan.

• However, Japan has inheritance tax treaties with some countries (Indonesia does not have a treaty with Japan as of now), so double taxation may or may not apply.

• If you expect significant inheritance or gifts from abroad, consulting a tax professional is a good idea.

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What does this mean for you practically?

• Since you’ve lived in Japan long enough, you may already be classified as a permanent resident for tax purposes even without the PR visa.

• So, if you have income, property, or inheritances abroad, you are technically obliged to report them to the Japanese tax office.

• This is not a disadvantage of the PR itself, but a consequence of your long residency.

• Getting PR mainly formalizes your status but does not change your tax obligations significantly in this regard.

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Key takeaway:

How to Report Foreign Investment Income in Japan (e.g., ___ Government Bonds)

If you ever decide to invest in ___ government bonds (or stocks) as a long-term resident of Japan, here’s a simple overview of how reporting and taxation generally works:

1. What counts as taxable income?

• Interest income from bonds (e.g., coupon payments)

• Dividends from stocks

• Capital gains when you sell bonds or stocks at a profit

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2. Reporting on your Japanese tax return

• You must declare your foreign investment income in your annual 確定申告 (kakutei shinkoku) — Japan’s income tax return.

• This applies if you are classified as a permanent resident for tax purposes (living in Japan for 5+ of the last 10 years).

• Income earned abroad is added to your worldwide income, then taxed at your marginal income tax rate.

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3. Double Taxation Considerations

• Indonesia may withhold tax on your bond interest (withholding tax at source).

• Japan may tax the same income again when you declare it.

• To avoid being taxed twice, Japan offers a foreign tax credit (外国税額控除) mechanism — you report the foreign tax paid, and Japan reduces your tax bill accordingly.

• Note: Indonesia and Japan do not currently have a tax treaty specifically for eliminating double taxation on income, so handling this properly is important.

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4. How to actually report?

• Collect documentation: Statements from your Indonesian broker or bank showing interest paid and withholding tax deducted.

• Convert foreign income to Japanese yen using the official exchange rate on the date you received the payment.

• Include this income on your tax return under “foreign income” sections.

• Claim foreign tax credit if applicable, by filling out the proper forms (附表 or “Fuhyo”) on the Japanese tax return.

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5. Additional points

• If you have a small amount of foreign investment income (e.g., a few thousand yen), the paperwork might be more hassle than it’s worth.

• Many investors in Japan use a tax accountant (税理士) to file their returns correctly when dealing with foreign income.

• If you hold these investments in a foreign broker account and do not repatriate the money, you still need to declare the income in Japan.

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Summary Table

Kakutei Shinkoku vs Nenmatsu Chousei

確定申告 (Kakutei Shinkoku)

• This means “final income tax return”.

• It’s the formal annual tax filing you do yourself (or with a tax professional) to declare your income, deductions, and calculate your tax liability or refund.

• The filing period is usually from mid-February to mid-March of the following year (e.g., for 2024 income, you file by March 15, 2025).

• If you have income not fully withheld at source (e.g., foreign income, self-employment, or investment income), you generally must do this.

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年末調整 (Nenmatsu Chōsei)

• This means “year-end tax adjustment”.

• It’s a process done by your employer on your behalf, to adjust your income tax based on your total earnings and deductions for the calendar year.

• Happens usually in November or December.

• If you only have a salary job with income tax withheld properly, you typically don’t need to do 確定申告 yourself because your employer completes 年末調整.

• However, if you have other income (like foreign investment income) or complex deductions, you need to file 確定申告 separately.

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In summary:

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So, for your foreign bond interest income, you will need to file 確定申告 yourself, not just rely on 年末調整.

Where to file 確定申告 (Kakutei Shinkoku)?

• You do NOT file at the city hall (市役所).

• Instead, you file at the local tax office (税務署, Zeimusho) that has jurisdiction over your address.

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How to find your tax office (税務署)

• Each area has a tax office responsible for income tax filings.

• You can find your local tax office by searching 「〇〇市 税務署」 or visiting the National Tax Agency website:
  National Tax Agency – Tax Office Search

• The tax office will accept your paper forms or help with electronic filing.

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Ways to file your tax return:

1. In person at your local tax office (税務署)

   • During the tax season (Feb–Mar), tax offices often have counters and staff to help first-time filers.

   • Bring necessary documents: withholding slips, income statements, receipts, foreign income documents, etc.

2. Online via e-Tax (electronic filing system)

   • Many people now file online using the National Tax Agency’s e-Tax system.

   • You need a My Number card and a card reader or smartphone app to authenticate.

   • e-Tax is convenient and allows submission anytime during the filing period.

3. By mail

   • You can send your completed tax return documents by postal mail to your tax office.

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Summary: