How can those on an Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, or International Services visa obtain permanent residency?

Consultation content: I have lived in Japan for over 10 years and would like to obtain permanent residency.

A 35-year-old man from Vietnam came to Japan to study at the age of 21, and after graduating from a vocational school, he got a job at a Japanese import company. After working there for three years, he changed jobs to another import company and has been working there for seven years now on a technical/humanities/international business visa. Last year, he finally obtained a three-year residence status, and now he is aiming to obtain permanent residency. He was consulted on what to consider in this situation.

Checkpoint: Important points to check when applying for permanent residency.

Permanent residency has different requirements for status-based residence status (spouse visa/long-term resident visa), highly skilled professional visa, and this technical/humanities/international business visa. Here are some points to consider for those with technical/humanities/international business residence status to obtain permanent residency.

Period of residence status: Have a residence status for more than 10 years consecutively, and the most recent residence status must be for more than three years.
Stability of income: Annual income for the past 5 years must be 3.5 million yen or more and stable.
Delinquent/late payment of taxes: No delinquency or delay in payment of resident tax or pension for 5 years or more.
Savings: It is desirable to have savings of at least 1 million yen.
Stability of company: The company you work for must be stable and you must have been employed there for a long time.
Preparation of application documents: Prepare documents that prove your financial stability, such as tax withholding slips and bankbooks.

Solution from an administrative scrivener: Steps to confirm annual income and stability for permanent residency

1. Period of residence

First of all, permanent residency requires a residence status of 10 years or more consecutively, and the current residence status must be 3 or 5 years.
The “continuous residence of 10 years or more in Japan” mentioned in the guidelines for permanent residency means that you have stayed in Japan for 10 years or more without losing your residence status, and it does not mean that you cannot apply for permanent residency if you go abroad. When leaving Japan, please obtain a re-entry permit or a deemed re-entry permit before leaving the country.

2. Check your residence status and annual income

The guidelines for permanent residence state that you must “possess assets or skills sufficient to support yourself independently.” When applying for permanent residence, a stable annual income is important, so your annual income for the past three years must be at least 3.5 million yen and your annual income must be stable. If your annual income is declining, you should be careful as it may raise doubts about the stability of your employer and your ability.

3.Check for overdue taxes

The taxes that are checked when applying for permanent residence are mainly “resident tax,” “income tax,” “inheritance tax,” and “gift tax.”

When applying for permanent residence, you will need a “resident tax assessment certificate/tax payment certificate,” “pension payment certificate,” and other documents that prove that you have no unpaid taxes, although this varies depending on the city, town, or village.

In addition, if you have delayed paying your taxes in the past three years, your application may be denied, so you should be extremely careful.

4. Writing a Statement of Reasons for Permanent Residency

A statement of reasons for permanent residency is an important document to reinforce the contents of your application. It may be the approval criterion when applying for permanent residency from a working visa, so if necessary, include the following information in your statement.

Life history in Japan: Describe in detail your life and activities from your student days to the present.
Reasons for choosing your job and evaluation: Describe why you chose your current job, your role in the company, and your boss’ evaluation of you.
Reasons for seeking permanent residency: Indicate why you want to live permanently in Japan and your intention to contribute to life in Japan in the future.
Future prospects: Describe in detail your life plans after obtaining permanent residency and how you will contribute to society.

Eligible residence status: “Permanent Residency”

The period of residence and required documents vary greatly for status-based residence status (such as spouse of a Japanese national) and highly skilled professionals. This residence status mainly applies to those with residence status such as Business Manager, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Worker, and Specified Skilled Worker No. 2.

Required documents for application

The following documents are required when applying for permanent residence. Please prepare these and proceed with the application.

Permanent Residence Permit Application Form: Fill out and submit the form based on the designated format.
Statement of Reasons for Application: Explain in detail the reasons for wishing to reside permanently and the stability of your life in Japan.
Residence Card
Passport
Residence Card
Various Tax Payment Certificates: Certificates of Resident Tax Assessment and Payment for the Last 5 Years, Pension Payment Certificate for the Last 2 Years, Certificate of Other Tax Payments, etc.
Copy of Health Insurance Card
Copy of Bankbook: Attach a copy of the bankbook showing the applicant’s bank balance to show that you are financially stable.
Certificate of employment: Certificate of employment from current employer

These documents vary depending on the situation of each individual. Please check with an expert for details.

Summary: It is important to make sure you are prepared for permanent residence

In order to obtain permanent residence, it is important to prepare the necessary documents, including the period of residence status, payment of taxes, and financial stability. If you pay close attention from three years before considering applying for permanent residence, and are aware of not having unpaid or delayed taxes, not having periods of unemployment after quitting your job, and not having a decrease in your annual income, your chances of being approved for permanent residence will increase. The Immigration Bureau will check the documents to see if you meet the criteria for permanent residence, so please check with an expert for details.