Spouse Visa to Permanent Residency: Requirements & Documents

Foreign nationals who marry a Japanese citizen or a foreign national with permanent residence can obtain a spouse visa. However, if you plan to continue living in Japan, obtaining permanent residence and switching to Permanent Resident status offers many advantages.

The key points of this article are as follows:

✓Permanent residence (Permanent Resident visa) allows a foreign national to reside in Japan indefinitely. ✓Because PR is a status attached to the individual—not as a spouse of a Japanese national or PR—you can maintain stable status regardless of changes in marital status. ✓Switching from a spouse visa to PR generally has a lower threshold than obtaining PR from most other visa categories. ✓To obtain PR, you must meet various requirements, including household income, residence/history of stay, good conduct, and fulfillment of public obligations. ✓It is also important that the spouse serving as your guarantor is fulfilling their obligations.

For holders of a Spouse of Japanese National or Spouse of Permanent Resident visa, the requirements to obtain Permanent Resident status are generally more lenient than switching from other visa categories. This article explains the requirements and benefits of changing from a spouse visa to permanent residency.

1.What is permanent residence in Japan?

Permanent residence is the right for a foreign national to stay in Japan without any time limit. There are no restrictions on types of employment or industries, allowing a lifestyle almost equivalent to that of Japanese citizens. Once you obtain permanent residence, your residence status becomes “Permanent Resident,” commonly referred to as the “Permanent Resident visa.”

Foreign nationals with permanent residence (Permanent Resident visa) face no restrictions on activities within Japan and may work in jobs that are not permitted under ordinary work visas—such as simple labor, manual work, or nightlife/entertainment—provided no laws are violated.

However, your nationality remains that of your home country, and you are treated as a foreign national with a Japanese residence status. Because you do not hold Japanese nationality, you do not have the right to vote. Permanent Residents have no expiration on their period of stay, so there is no need to renew the residence status.

2.Requirements for Obtaining Permanent Residence from a Spouse Visa in Japan

To switch from a Spouse of Japanese National/Spouse of Permanent Resident visa to Permanent Resident status, you must satisfy the following. Below are the three core requirements for obtaining permanent residence:

• Your permanent residence is deemed to be in Japan’s national interest (National Interest requirement).
• You have the assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood (Self-Support requirement).
• You have not violated laws or regulations and maintain good conduct (Good Conduct requirement).

However, for “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National,” “Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident,” and “Spouse or Child of a Special Permanent Resident,” only the National Interest requirement applies.

2-1. Recognition that the applicant’s permanent residence serves Japan’s interests (National Interest requirement)

Under the Ministry of Justice’s Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised December 1, 2023), the national interest requirement comprises the following five points:

• Continuous residence in Japan for 10 years or more. Within this period, the applicant must have resided for at least five consecutive years under a work-permitting status of residence (excluding “Technical Intern Training” and “Specified Skilled Worker (i)”) or a residence status.
• No criminal penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
• Proper fulfillment of obligations, including payment of taxes, public pension and public health insurance premiums, and notifications required under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
• Currently residing in Japan under the maximum period of stay permitted for the present status of residence.
• No risk of harm from a public health perspective.

Below, we explain how this national interest requirement applies when obtaining permanent residence from a spouse visa, along with special provisions.

Requirements and Special Provisions on Length of Stay for Spouse Visas

As a general rule for most statuses, you must have resided in Japan for 10 years or more, and for at least the most recent 5 consecutive years under a work-authorized status (excluding Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker (i)) or a residence status (a status based on personal status or position with fewer activity restrictions).

By contrast, holding a spouse visa makes this requirement easier to satisfy. There is a special rule when switching from a spouse visa to a Permanent Resident visa: if you have maintained a substantive marital life for 3 years or more and have continuously resided in Japan for at least 1 year, you may apply for permanent residence.

In other words, as long as your total period of marriage—inside and outside Japan—exceeds 3 years, and you have been continuously living in Japan for 1 year at the time of application, you meet this requirement.

Actual Marital Cohabitation and Overseas Travel

You must actually be living in Japan as a spouse; if you are living separately and the marital relationship is effectively not being maintained, approval will not be granted. Without a reasonable reason for living apart—such as a solo work assignment where you still live together several days each month—permission is unlikely. Furthermore, if you return to your home country many times in a year and your annual days abroad exceed 100–150 days, or if you spend more than three months outside Japan on a mid- to long-term trip, obtaining permanent residence will be difficult.

The Special Rule Applies Even Without a Spouse Visa

If you are legally the spouse of a Japanese national or a permanent resident, you can use this special provision. You do not actually need to hold the “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” or “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” status. For example, someone in Japan under a status such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” who is married to a Japanese national or permanent resident is also eligible for this special rule.

Requirements Related to Criminal Penalties (Fines, Imprisonment, etc.)

In addition to not having received imprisonment, confinement, or fines, you must also be cautious about traffic violations such as drunk driving, driving without a license, speeding in excess of 20 km/h over the limit, and clearly intentional violations. If your day-to-day conduct is not good, permanent residence will not be granted.

If you have previously received confinement, imprisonment, or a fine, you will be required to reapply for permanent residence only after the sentence has been extinguished (under Article 34-2 of the Penal Code) or after the probation period has elapsed. If you received a fine, five years must have passed since completion of the sentence. If you received confinement or imprisonment, ten years must have passed since completion of the sentence.

Requirements for Fulfilling Public Obligations

If you have not paid taxes and social contributions—such as resident tax, health insurance premiums, and pension premiums—it will be difficult to obtain permanent residence. Records of arrears or late payments also affect the decision, so it is not enough to be current only at the time of application. Resident tax payments for the past three years and pension premium payments for the past two years are reviewed retroactively. Those who are self-employed, without payroll withholding like company employees, must take extra care to pay their taxes correctly and on time.

Requirements Concerning Period of Stay

One requirement for applying for permanent residence is that your spouse visa has a period of stay of three years or longer. As a rule, applicants should be on the maximum period of stay for their current status; however, for spouse visas, you may apply with three years instead of the five-year maximum.

If your current spouse visa is valid for only one year, first aim to obtain a three-year spouse visa.

No potential adverse impact on public health

This means there are no public health issues—such as not being infected with a communicable disease.

2-2. Requirements Regarding Household Income

For permanent residence based on a spouse visa, the self-support requirement is not imposed; however, the stability of the household’s overall annual income is one of the factors reviewed. It is not a problem if the spouse has no income, but if the household cannot secure sufficient income to continue living in Japan, switching from a spouse visa to permanent residence will be difficult.

The amount of income needed varies depending on household size and composition, and no official income guideline for obtaining permanent residence has been published. Rather than a specific figure, the emphasis is on whether the household has a stable, ongoing income sufficient to sustain daily life.

Indicative Household Income

In practice, a single applicant generally needs an annual income of at least ¥3,000,000. If you have dependents such as a spouse or child, add ¥500,000 per dependent. For example, if you support a spouse, the benchmark is ¥3,500,000 or more; if you support a spouse and one child, the benchmark is ¥4,000,000 or more.

Because these are household income benchmarks, if the foreign national applying for permanent residence is not working (e.g., a homemaker), the application can proceed as long as the spouse’s income meets the benchmark.

If your household income does not meet these benchmarks, the likelihood of denial increases.

2-3. Requirements Concerning a Guarantor

An application for permanent residence requires a guarantor who has a stable income and fulfills obligations such as tax payments.

The guarantor must be a Japanese national or a foreign national with permanent residence. In many cases when switching from a spouse visa, the guarantor is the applicant’s spouse or the spouse’s parent. Accordingly, the spouse and their parent(s) should consistently fulfill their obligations, including paying taxes, health insurance premiums, and pension contributions.

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3.Four Benefits of Switching from a Spouse Visa to a Permanent Resident Visa in Japan

Whereas the Spouse of Japanese National/Spouse of Permanent Resident visa is a status based on being the spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident, the Permanent Resident visa is a status attached to the individual. If you intend to continue living in Japan, obtaining permanent residence and switching to a Permanent Resident visa offers various advantages. Let’s look at them in detail below.

3-1. Your period of stay becomes indefinite

A spouse visa has a fixed period of stay, and you must apply for renewal within that period. Once you obtain permanent residence, there is no fixed period of stay, and you can remain in Japan without going through renewal procedures. Renewing a visa requires preparing documents and visiting the immigration office. Not having to worry about renewal applications or deadlines is a major advantage.

You must renew your Residence Card even after becoming a Permanent Resident

A Permanent Resident’s Residence Card has an expiration date and must be renewed every seven years (if the PR is under 16, the card is valid until their 16th birthday). You can begin the renewal process two months before the expiration date.

Even if the card expires, your status of residence does not lapse; you will not be deported or required to leave Japan. However, you can no longer use the card as identification, you will be violating the obligation to carry a valid Residence Card at all times, and you will be considered to be staying unlawfully. Therefore, you must renew your Residence Card once every seven years.

Although renewal of the Residence Card is required, as long as you renew it by the deadline, there is no risk of “non-approval” like with a visa.

3-2. Your status remains even after divorce or the death of your spouse

A spouse visa is a status based on being the spouse of a Japanese national or a permanent resident. Therefore, if you divorce or your spouse passes away, you lose that status.

However, once you obtain a Permanent Resident visa, your stay in Japan no longer depends on whether you are the spouse of a Japanese national. You will not lose your status even if your marital situation changes. In this sense, permanent residence is a stable status that allows you to remain in Japan regardless of circumstances.

3-3. No need to change your nationality

By obtaining a Permanent Resident visa, you can remain in Japan indefinitely while retaining your status as a foreign national. Because you do not need to change your nationality, procedures remain straightforward even if circumstances arise that require you to return to your home country.

Note that acquiring Japanese nationality is called “naturalization.” Through naturalization, you obtain rights equivalent to those of Japanese citizens, including voting rights, in addition to permanent residence. However, naturalization requires you to renounce your original nationality, and in some countries it may be difficult to regain it later. Considering these factors, many people choose to obtain a Permanent Resident visa, which does not require changing nationality.

3-4. Increased social creditworthiness

Holding a Permanent Resident visa enhances your social creditworthiness. Many financial institutions, when lending to foreign nationals, typically verify whether the applicant can reliably repay in Japan and whether they hold permanent residence. With a spouse visa, obtaining loans or credit cards can be difficult.

By obtaining a Permanent Resident visa, you demonstrate that you will continue living in Japan, which raises your social credibility.

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4.Applying for Permanent Residence from a Spouse Visa in Japan and the Processing Time

Foreign nationals seeking permanent residence must apply by the expiration date of their current spouse visa.

The review period for a permanent residence application is approximately 4 to 6 months.

For other statuses, if your application is accepted before your period of stay expires, you may remain in Japan for up to two months after expiration as a special exception while awaiting the result. However, no such grace period applies to permanent residence applications; if your spouse visa expires, you will be considered to be staying illegally. Therefore, if your period of stay will expire while your permanent residence application is pending, you must separately file an application to extend your current spouse visa by the expiration date.

5.Documents to Apply for Permanent Residence from a Spouse Visa in Japan

The required documents to apply for permanent residence from a Spouse of Japanese National / Spouse of Permanent Resident visa are as follows:

• 1 copy of the Application for Permission for Permanent Residence
• 1 photograph (4 cm × 3 cm)
• 1 copy of the Japanese spouse’s Family Register (Koseki Tohon, full certificate) ※ if the spouse is Japanese
• Marriage certificate evidencing the relationship between the applicant and spouse, as appropriate ※ if the spouse is a foreign national
• 1 resident record (Juminhyo) for the entire household, including the applicant
• Documents proving the occupation of the applicant or the person supporting the applicant ※
• Documents certifying the income and tax payment status of the applicant and the supporter for the most recent three years ※
• Documents certifying payment status of public pension and public health insurance premiums for the applicant and the supporter ※
• Passport (or Certificate of Eligibility) for presentation
• Residence Card for presentation
• Documents related to the guarantor ※
• 1 Letter of Acknowledgment

※ Documents to Prove Occupation

If employed by a company:

• Certificate of Employment (1 copy)

If self-employed:

• Copy of final tax return (1 copy)
• Copy of business license (if applicable) (1 copy)

Other cases:

• Written explanation of occupation (free format) and supporting evidence

※Documents to certify the income and tax payment status of the applicant and the person supporting the applicant for the most recent three years

Proof of resident tax payment status

• One copy each of the resident tax taxation (or non-taxation) certificate and the resident tax payment certificate for the past three years (showing total annual income and tax payment status）
• Evidence that resident tax was paid at the proper times during the most recent three years (e.g., passbook copies, receipts)

Documents to confirm national tax payment status

• Tax payment certificates (Form No. 3) for: withholding income tax and special income tax for reconstruction; self-assessed income tax and special income tax for reconstruction; consumption tax and local consumption tax; inheritance tax; and gift tax

Other

• Copies of bank passbooks (or equivalent), as appropriate

※Documents verifying payment of public pension and public health insurance premiums for the applicant and the supporter

Evidence of public pension premium payments for the most recent two years:

• “Nenkin Teikibin” showing the full pension record
• Printout of “Monthly Pension Record” from Nenkin Net
• Copy of National Pension premium receipt

Documents verifying payment status of public health insurance premiums for the most recent two years

• Health Insurance Insured Person Certificate (copy)
• National Health Insurance Card (copy)
• Certificate of Payment of National Health Insurance Premium (Tax)
• National Health Insurance premium (tax) receipt(s) (copy)
  ※If you were enrolled in National Health Insurance at any time during the past two years, submit copies of all receipts for that period. If submission is difficult, provide a written statement explaining the reason.

If the applicant is the proprietor of a business covered by social insurance at the time of application:

• Copies of Health Insurance and Employees’ Pension Insurance premium receipts
• Social Insurance Premium Payment Certificate or Social Insurance Premium Payment Confirmation (Application) Form (either document must confirm whether there are any unpaid premiums)

※Documents Related to the Guarantor

• 1 Guarantor Form
• Document identifying the guarantor (e.g., copy of driver’s license)

Reference: Immigration Services Agency of Japan website: Permanent Residence Application 1

５．Summary

In this article, we explained the benefits of switching from a Spouse of a Japanese National or Long-Term Resident visa to a Permanent Resident visa, as well as the requirements for obtaining permanent residence. In summary:

✓Permanent residence (Permanent Resident visa) allows a foreign national to reside in Japan indefinitely. ✓Because PR is a status attached to the individual—not as a spouse of a Japanese national or PR—you can maintain stable status regardless of changes in marital status. ✓Switching from a spouse visa to PR generally has a lower threshold than obtaining PR from most other visa categories. ✓To obtain PR, you must meet various requirements, including household income, residence/history of stay, good conduct, and fulfillment of public obligations. ✓It is also important that the spouse serving as your guarantor is fulfilling their obligations.

Switching from a spouse visa to a Permanent Resident visa offers many advantages. However, you must meet various requirements to do so. Deepen your understanding of these requirements and stay mindful of them in your daily life.

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