Income Requirements for Permanent Residency

The income criteria for permanent residency application are not officially disclosed, but as a general guideline, the annual income for a single person (unmarried) is considered to be around 3 million yen. Additionally, if there are dependents, an additional 700,000 to 800,000 yen per family member is estimated to be added. For example, for a family of three consisting of the applicant, spouse, and one child, the estimated annual income requirement would be 4.4 to 4.6 million yen.

However, even if the income falls below the guideline, if the applicant is maintaining a stable life and it is expected to continue, there is a possibility of obtaining permanent residency. For instance, if the applicant already owns a house or has assets such as savings or stocks, it can work in their favor. The income alone is not the only criterion for evaluation, as factors such as length of stay and family composition are also taken into consideration.

When proving income, a certificate of taxation for resident tax is required, and usually the past five years' certificates are prepared. However, in some cases, the certification period may be shortened if special exceptions apply. In addition, if the spouse has an income, it can be combined with the applicant's income. However, income from unauthorized activities is generally not considered.

The period from applying for permanent residency to obtaining approval is long, and it can take 4 months to over half a year. Therefore, if the application is made when the period of stay is close to expiration, there may be a need to apply for a renewal of stay permit during the application process. If the period of stay becomes shorter in such cases, there is a possibility of not being able to receive permanent residency. Considering these risks, it is recommended to start preparing for the application early.