Japan's PR Rules Just Got Much Harder: The 5-Year Visa Requirement Explained (Feb 2026)
🇯🇵 日本語要約
2026年2月24日、出入国在留管理庁が永住許可に関するガイドラインを改定。主な変更点：①申請時に在留期間が「最長のもの（通常5年）」であることが必須（以前は3年・1年でも申請可能だった）②出国日数の制限新設：1暦年100日超・連続5年間で150日超の出国は連続居住要件に影響。経過措置として2027年3月31日時点で3年の在留期間を有する方は同一在留期間内に限り旧要件が適用。期限後は5年ビザが必要。1年・3年ビザでの申請は自動却下（経過措置外）。高度専門職（HSP）の優遇ルート（70点3年・80点1年）は変更なし。注意：5年ビザ取得自体も税・年金・健康保険の支払い実績が前提条件であり、コンプライアンスと5年ビザ要件は連動。申請前に出国日数を自己チェックし、必要に応じて行政書士に相談を。
If you are on a 3-year work or spouse visa and planning to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan, February 24, 2026 changed your timeline. Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) revised its Permanent Residence guidelines (永住許可に関するガイドライン), and the headline change is this: to satisfy the "national interest" condition, you must now hold the longest period of stay available for your visa category — in practice, a 5-year visa — at the time you apply.
Before this revision, many applicants successfully received PR approval while holding a 3-year visa. That path closes on April 1, 2027.
What Changed
| Before Feb 24, 2026 | From Feb 24, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa period required at PR application | 3-year (or even 1-year) visa was acceptable in practice | Must hold the longest available period for your category — typically 5 years |
| Absence limit per calendar year | No specific codified day limit in guidelines | Must not exceed 100 days absent from Japan in any single calendar year |
| Absence limit across 5-year period | No specific codified limit | Must not exceed 150 days total across any consecutive 5-year period |
| 3-year visa path to PR | Open | Closes April 1, 2027 (transitional measure in place until then) |
Business trips and personal vacations both count toward the day limits. Exceeding either threshold can effectively restart the continuous residency clock for PR purposes.
The April 1, 2027 Deadline and the Transitional Measure
Are you currently on a 3-year visa?
If your 3-year period of stay is still valid as of March 31, 2027, you are treated as meeting the period-of-stay requirement — but only for a PR decision issued within that same 3-year visa's validity window. If ISA does not issue a decision before your 3-year visa expires, you will need to upgrade to a 5-year visa before applying again.
If your 3-year visa expires before April 1, 2027, the transitional measure does not apply to you. You need a 5-year visa first.
Already on a 5-year visa?
This change does not affect you for the period-of-stay requirement. Continue your PR timeline normally.
On a 1-year visa?
Applying for PR on a 1-year visa results in automatic rejection — even with 10+ years of residence in Japan. Upgrade first.
Note: getting a 5-year visa requires demonstrating stable employment, income, and (as of this same reform) a clean track record on tax, pension, and health insurance payments. The 5-year visa requirement and the payment-compliance requirement are linked — both gate the same PR application.
Which Visa Types Have a 5-Year Maximum?
The "5-year visa" requirement means your visa must be issued for the maximum period your category allows. The maximum varies by visa type:
| Visa Type | Maximum Period Allowed | PR Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Engineer / Humanities / International Services (技人国) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Highly Skilled Professional 1 (高度専門職 1号) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Spouse of Japanese National (日本人の配偶者等) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Spouse of Permanent Resident (永住者の配偶者等) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Long-Term Resident (定住者) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Business Manager (経営・管理) | 5 years | Must hold 5-year card before applying |
| Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (特定技能 1号) | 1 year (max for this category) | Cannot apply for PR from SSW-1; must transition to SSW-2 or a different visa category first |
| Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (特定技能 2号) | 3 years (max for this category) | Must hold 3-year card — the maximum for SSW-2 |
| Student (留学) | 4 years 3 months | Cannot apply for PR from student status — must transition to a work visa and build work residency |
| Dependent / Family Stay (家族滞在) | 5 years | Cannot apply for PR directly from dependent status |
Note: If your employer routinely applies for 3-year renewals even though your category allows 5, ask your HR department to request 5 years at your next renewal. The granted period depends on ISA's assessment and what the applicant requests — it is reasonable to ask for the maximum.
The HSP Fast Track Is Unchanged
If you qualify for the Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職, HSP) points-based visa, the fast track to PR is unchanged:
| HSP Points | PR Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 70–79 points | Eligible for PR after 3 years of HSP status |
| 80+ points | Eligible for PR after just 1 year of HSP status |
The HSP track bypasses the standard 10-year continuous residence requirement. If you can reach 70 points, this is still the quickest legitimate path. The 5-year visa reform does not change HSP PR timelines.
Use the PR Compliance Checker → to audit your current status and confirm whether you are on track for the standard or HSP path.
Yamada Hack: Audit Your Travel Days Before You File
Pull your passport entry/exit stamps and boarding passes now — do not wait until you file to discover you exceeded the 100-day threshold.
ISA will check your travel history when reviewing your PR application. The 100-day limit is per calendar year. The 150-day limit applies across any consecutive 5-year window.
Practical checklist:
- For each calendar year in your continuous residency period, count days outside Japan (departure to return — both days count)
- Check your passport stamps, or request an exit/entry record from ISA (出入国記録)
- Business trips count the same as personal vacations — no exemption for work travel
- If you find a year where you were abroad more than 100 days, note it and consult a licensed immigration lawyer (行政書士) before filing — the impact depends on the circumstances
- Set a recurring calendar reminder to check your running total at the end of each calendar year, not just at application time
FAQ
Q1: I am already on a 5-year visa. Does this change anything for me?
A: Not for the period-of-stay requirement. If you meet the other conditions — continuous residence, clean tax and pension record, good conduct — your PR timeline is unaffected by the 5-year visa reform specifically.
Q2: My 3-year visa expires before April 1, 2027. What happens?
A: The transitional measure only protects applicants whose 3-year period of stay is still valid on March 31, 2027. If your visa expires before that date, you are outside the transitional window and must renew first, aiming for a 5-year period, before applying for PR.
Q3: I submitted a PR application before February 24, 2026 and it is still pending. Which rule applies?
A: Applications submitted before the February 24 guideline revision are generally reviewed under the rules in effect at submission. Confirm with ISA or an immigration lawyer about the applicable guidelines for your specific pending file.
Q4: What counts as a day abroad for the absence limit?
A: Any departure from Japan counts — including business trips and short vacations. The count runs from the day you exit Japan to the day you return. There is no minimum duration exemption. A 2-day business trip counts the same as a 3-week vacation.
Q5: Does this apply to spouses of Japanese nationals?
A: Spouses of Japanese nationals can generally receive a 5-year spouse visa (日本人の配偶者等). The period-of-stay requirement applies to all PR applicants regardless of visa category — confirm your specific period with the issuing office. Most spouses already on a 5-year spouse visa are in compliance with this requirement.
Q6: Does the 10-year residency requirement still apply?
A: Yes. The 5-year visa requirement is an additional condition on top of the standard 10-year continuous residence requirement (or 5 years for HSP). Both must be met. The 5-year visa reform does not shorten the residency period — it adds a visa-period gate to the same PR application.
Related Tools and Guides
- PR Compliance Checker → — self-audit your PR eligibility, tax record, pension and insurance compliance, and absence history
- Unpaid Insurance and Pension Visa Risk → — the related compliance-tightening push linking payment history to both PR applications and (from April 1, 2027) PR revocation
- Japan PR and JLPT N4 Proposal → — the separate proposed (not yet law) Japanese language requirement for PR
Japanese Keywords
永住許可ガイドライン 2026 · 在留期間5年 永住 · 出国日数制限 永住 · 永住許可 申請要件 改定 · 高度専門職 永住 1年 · 永住 3年ビザ 廃止 2027
*This article is for general information. PR guidelines and ISA procedures can change. Verify current requirements directly with ISA or a licensed immigration lawyer before applying.*
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