On February 24, 2026, Immigration Services Agency of Japan significantly revised the Guidelines for Permanent Residence Permission.Review standards have tightened further. Here are the key updates you need to know:
✅ Confirmed Major Changes Link to heading
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“Late Payment” of Taxes, Pension, or Health Insurance = Likely Rejection Even if fully paid at the time of application, failure to pay within the statutory deadline will generally result in negative evaluation. Historical records of late or missed payments will now undergo stricter scrutiny.
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New Mandatory Requirement: “Compliance with Landing Permission Standards” Your current residence status must fully meet the criteria stipulated by Ministry of Justice ordinances. Previously ambiguous provisions have now been explicitly codified for clearer enforcement.
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Grace Period for “3-Year Residence Treated as Maximum Term” Ending Soon By March 31, 2027: Holders of 3-year visas may still apply for PR under the “maximum term (5-year)” exception From April 1, 2027:原则上, only applicants with a 5-year residence permit will be eligible
🔜 Potential Major Changes Under Review Link to heading
- PR Application Fee Could Skyrocket?
Japan Government actively considering increase application fee from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000+ (possibly ~¥200,000)
Fees for residence status changes/renewals may also jump to tens of thousands of yen (expected implementation: 2026–2027)
🎯 3 Actions to Take Now Link to heading
- Pay all taxes, pension, and health insurance strictly within statutory deadlines, no exceptions
- If holding a 3-year residence status, consider submitting your PR application by March 31, 2027
- If you already meet PR requirements, apply early to avoid potential fee hikes and stricter reviews