How Can You Obtain Permanent Residence After Holding the “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” Status?

“When can I apply for permanent residence after marrying a Japanese national?”

“Do I have to live in Japan for 10 years before I can obtain permanent residence?”

“How many times do I need to renew my Spouse Visa before I can apply for permanent residence?”

We often receive questions like these from foreign nationals who are married to Japanese nationals and are living in Japan under the “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” status of residence.

① Spouses of Japanese Nationals Are Eligible for an Exception to the “10-Year Residence” Requirement

As a general rule, applicants for permanent residence are required to have continuously resided in Japan for at least 10 years.

However, a special exception applies to spouses of Japanese nationals.

📌 The applicant has been in a genuine marital relationship for at least 3 years

and

📌 The applicant has continuously resided in Japan for at least 1 year

If both of these conditions are met, the applicant may qualify for an exception to the general rule requiring at least 10 years of residence in Japan.

② Three Years of Marriage Does Not Automatically Mean Permanent Residence Will Be Granted

The requirements of at least three years of marriage and at least one year of continuous residence in Japan are only an exception to the general 10-year residence requirement.

Meeting these requirements alone does not guarantee permanent residence.

When reviewing an application for permanent residence, the Immigration Services Agency also considers whether the applicant has properly fulfilled their public obligations.

Particularly important obligations include:

✅ Resident tax
✅ Income tax
✅ Pension contributions
✅ Health insurance premiums
✅ Notifications required under Japan’s immigration laws

Under the guidelines in effect as of 2026, even if these payments have been fully made by the time of application, late payments made after the original due date will, in principle, be negatively considered during the review.

③ Pay Attention to Your Current Period of Stay

For permanent residence, applicants are generally required to be residing in Japan with the longest period of stay available for their current status of residence.

For the “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” status, the available periods of stay are:

📊 5 years
📊 3 years
📊 1 year
📊 6 months

However, under the guidelines revised on February 24, 2026, until March 31, 2027, a 3-year period of stay is also treated as satisfying the “longest period of stay” requirement for permanent residence.

Therefore, as of 2026, a person holding a 3-year “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” status may satisfy this particular requirement for applying for permanent residence.

On the other hand, applicants who currently have a 1-year period of stay, for example, should be aware that they may not satisfy this requirement.

④ Are Income and Living Conditions Reviewed Even for Spouses of Japanese Nationals?

The general requirements for permanent residence include good conduct and having sufficient assets or skills to support an independent livelihood.

However, spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, and special permanent residents are not legally required to satisfy these two requirements.

This does not mean, however, that documents concerning income and living conditions are unnecessary.

In practice, applicants for permanent residence are required to submit documents showing their income and tax payment status, such as resident tax certificates and tax payment certificates.

Therefore, before applying, it is important to review matters such as:

📌 The income of the applicant and spouse
📌 Tax payment status
📌 Pension and health insurance payment status
📌 Current employment
📌 The household’s overall living situation

⑤ Benefits of Changing from “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” to Permanent Resident

Once permanent residence is granted, your status of residence becomes “Permanent Resident,” and you will no longer need to apply for extensions of your period of stay.

Under the “Spouse or Child of a Japanese National” status, a period of stay of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months is granted, and you must apply for an extension before it expires.

Becoming a Permanent Resident offers significant benefits, including:

✅ No need to renew your period of stay
✅ Your status of residence is no longer based on your marital relationship with a Japanese spouse
✅ Greater stability when planning your long-term life in Japan

Planning to Obtain a Status of Residence in Japan?

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