Visa Q&A April 17, 2001

VISA Q and A on FM COCOLO 76.5 MHz
Changing from a Working Visa to Permanent Residency
On Aired Data: April 17, 2001

Summary of
the Aired
Program

Client:
Male foreigner staying under the Engineer status for the past ten years. His wife has been living with him for the past 7 years. He also has two children, ages 9 and 4.

Case:
He has worked for 3 companies in the past and has been working for 7 years for his current employer. He renewed his license last year and was granted 3 years under the Engineer status, and now he would like to know if he can get the permanent residency, and if it is possible, what he needs to do.

As most of you may know there is a reason to why many foreigners would like to obtain the permanent residency.

1. Once the permanent residency is granted, there is no need for renewals

2. No boundaries as to what kind of job you are engaged in

3.You can run on your own business under no restrictions

And the frequently asked question is, “How long do you have to be living in Japan to obtain the permanent residency?” It depends on your previous status, and the applicant himself. It is said that it takes 5 years for spouse visa holders, 3 years for spouse visa holders who have Japanese children, a more than 10 years for working visa holders. The years of residency is counted from when you have started living in Japan. So if you started off on the Student Visa and went to a Japanese language school for a year, and graduated a 4 year University and changed your status to the Working visa, you can add all the years. But keep in mind that to count the years, you must continuously be living in Japan. In our client’s case, he has been living in Japan for 10 years, so he meets the conditions on the term of residency in Japan to obtain the permanent residency.

Another important factor is that you must not have done anything illegal, and you must have been a good citizen. To see if you have been a good citizen, they will be checking if you have not broken the law, if you have been paying your taxes properly, and if you have been making a descent living. And the most important factor is that the applicant will be an advantage to the Japanese society, if he/she is granted the permanent residency. There is no problem in clearing these conditions, if the applicant is working for a Japanese company.

For further details on the procedures the best way is to visit the immigration office and tell them that you are thinking of applying for the permanent residency. If they consider you to be qualified to apply, they will inform you of what kind of documents you will need to hand in. This is because the documents you must hand in differs depending on each individual condition. Be sure to bring along your passport and alien registration card when you visit them.

If he can receive the permanent residency, his wife will become the spouse of a permanent resident, and on her next renewal, she will probably receive 3 years on her visa. This should make it easier for her to receive the permanent visa also.