I am Teruyoshi Yoneda, a certified immigration procedures specialist and the representative of Yoneda Legal Services. I specialize in visa and naturalization services, mainly supporting foreign nationals living in Hiroshima Prefecture with applications such as work visas, spouse visas, permanent residency, and naturalization. In this article, I will explain the common reasons why permanent residency applications are denied and how to solve them.
Under Japanese law, the main requirements for permanent residency are as follows: ①Good Conduct Requirement You must not have committed crimes or violations, must follow the law, and must lead a socially acceptable life as a resident. ②Financial Stability Requirement You must have a stable income that allows you to maintain your daily life without financial difficulty. ③Public Interest Requirement You must have lived in Japan for many years and properly fulfilled your public obligations such as taxes, national health insurance, and pension payments. Permanent residency applications are often denied when these requirements are not fully met. Below are common reasons for denial and the corresponding countermeasures.
| Main Reasons for Denial | Countermeasures |
| 1. Insufficient income | As a guideline, an annual income of at least 3 million yen is recommended. If you have dependents, add approximately 800,000 yen per dependent. |
| 2. Short employment period after changing jobs | Apply after at least one year has passed at your new company. |
| 3. Unpaid or late taxes (resident tax, income tax, etc.) | Even a one‑day delay is taken seriously. Always pay by the deadline. If you were late, build a record of on‑time payments before applying. |
| 4. Unpaid or late social insurance (health insurance, pension, etc. | Same as taxes—even one day late is a negative factor. Ensure all payments are made on time and build a proper payment record before applying. |
| 5. Less than 10 years of residence in Japan | Generally, 10 years of residence is required (with some exceptions depending on visa type). In addition, the most recent 5 years must be under a work‑eligible or residence‑eligible status. |
| 6. Frequent or long overseas travel | If you stay abroad for 90 days or more in a single trip, or 150 days or more in total within one year, your residence period may be reset. Avoid long absences. |
| 7. Minor traffic violations | Serious violations are unacceptable, but even minor violations (car or bicycle) can affect your application. If you have multiple violations, wait until enough time has passed before applying. |
| 8. Spouse’s unauthorized work hours | If your spouse exceeds the permitted 28 hours per week under “Dependent” status, it is considered lack of supervision by the applicant and leads to denial. Be sure to monitor work hours. |
| 9. Inappropriate guarantor | Your guarantor must be a Japanese national or permanent resident, have stable employment, and properly fulfill tax obligations. |
| 10. Incomplete documentation | Permanent residency applications require over 20 documents, and all must be consistent and accurate. Careful preparation is essential. |
Because the reasons for denial vary widely, it is important to pay attention to your daily life and obligations when preparing for a permanent residency application. On February 24, 2026, the guidelines for permanent residency were revised, and requirements related to residence history, public obligations, and reporting duties have become stricter. To obtain permanent residency, applicants must meet these tightened standards.At our office, we conduct thorough interviews to accurately understand each applicant’s situation and provide tailored support. If you are considering applying for permanent residency in the Chugoku region (Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori) or other areas, we offer free consultations. Please feel free to contact us. We will fully support you until your permanent residency is approved
