最終更新日 2024-08-28
“Permanent Resident” is one of Japan’s four personal status-based residence statuses. Its main benefits are that there is no need to renew your residence status because its validity is indefinite; there are no restrictions on the type of employment or activities you want to engage in.
Since “Permanent Resident” offers such significant advantages, you may need to go through a careful examination if you apply. Every month, around a few thousand applications are submitted, and the acceptance rate is said to be at about 55%.
The Ministry of Justice published examples of accepted and rejected cases for Permanent Resident applications as of January 1, 2006, to help clarify the requirements. The Japanese version is available here. Multi-language translation is available by clicking on the language selection panel. Although they say they will update it occasionally, there have yet to be any updates.
I prepared an English translation of 12 non-permitted cases below for you.
To help understand the requirements, you may want to refer to the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Resident prepared by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Again, multi-language translation is available by clicking on the language selection panel). In addition, to understand what “contribution to Japan” means, see the English translation of Guidelines for Contribution to Japan.
- Permanent Resident, rejected application examples
- More recent rejected application examples
- Some lessons you should learn from the past rejected applications
1. Permanent Resident, rejected application examples
(Case 1)
In the application, the applicant was engaged in producing and raising racehorses born in Japan, exporting, providing business management consultancy for horse farmers, and giving lectures. They rejected the application because the residence period was too short, only 18 months from entry to Japan.
(Case 2)
In the application, the applicant, an artist who created and owned many works, was willing to donate such works after constructing an art museum. They rejected this application because they found that the applicant was not of good conduct during his stay (the applicant was involved with unlawful residency).
(Case 3)
In the application, the applicant was engaged in activities as an instructor in an educational institute for children of foreign nationals. They rejected this application because such activities alone were insufficient to be considered to constitute contributions to Japanese society.
(Case 4)
In the application, the applicant was engaged in teaching at high school and volunteer work, such as interpreting. They rejected this application because such activities alone were insufficient to be considered to constitute contributions to Japanese society.
(Case 5)
The applicant launched a business in Japan and was engaged in the corporation’s management. This application was rejected because its investment value and the business results, such as profit, were not so outstanding as to deem them contributing to Japan’s economy and industry.
(Case 6)
The applicant was engaged in research activities at the university. They rejected this application because such activities, having been found to fall within the scope of a regular research student or a student under the guidance of a professor, were not deemed as contributing to the field of research.
(Case 7)
The applicant’s position at an investment-related company was the equivalent of a section chief. They rejected this application because such duties alone were not deemed contributing to Japan’s economy, and no other factors might constitute contributions.
(Case 8)
The applicant’s position at a system development-related company was the equivalent of an assistant to a section chief. They rejected this application because such duties alone were not deemed contributing to Japan’s economy, and no other factors might constitute contributions.
(Case 9)
In the application, the applicant, residing in Japan for about nine years, was engaged in music composition activities and performing activities of its original music work at concerts to facilitate exchange in the field of music between Japan and its home country. They rejected this application because such activities were not deemed to constitute contributions to Japan in culture and art.
(Case 10)
In the application, the applicant, residing in Japan for about nine years, was engaged in realizing public performances in their home country by some Japanese entertainers and in realizing events relating to the interaction of businesses between Japan and its home country. They rejected this application because such activities were not considered contributions to Japan.
(Case 11)
The applicant resided in Japan for three years as a student after entry into Japan, then worked for five years at a university in Japan as an assistant in the Faculty of Medicine. They rejected this application because such duties were not deemed to have contributed to improving the educational standards of Japan’s higher education.
(Case 12)
The applicant entered Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher and was engaged in English education for the first three years at a junior high school in Japan and, after that, for four years at a high school. They rejected this application because the applicant, not having been deemed as a professor, assistant professor, or instructor who is a full-time employee or its equivalent of a university in Japan or an equivalent educational institution, was not deemed to be a person who contributed to the improvement of academic standards of Japan’s higher education. (Length of residence period in Japan: Six years and 11 months)
2. More recent rejected application examples
The following cases are more recent examples (after 2017) of which I became aware. These cases reflect the newly revised Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Resident, which has made the examination more rigorous.
（Case 13）
The applicant resided in Japan for six years with the status of residence being “Spouse or Child of Japanese National.” They rejected this application because they found that the applicant had not paid pension premiums.
(Case 14)
The applicant was a Long-Term Resident who resided in Japan for ten years. The applicant established a Kabushiki Kaisha (or a corporation) and has been running the business. They rejected this application because the profit carried forward in the financial statements of the corporation was negative, and thereby, they found that the business conditions of the corporation run by the applicant were not stable.
(Case 15)
During the examination process of the Permanent Residence application, the applicant’s whole residence history was carefully reviewed. They rejected this application because the review found that the applicant entered Japan with a forged passport.
(Case 16)
The applicant resided in Japan for over ten years with the status of residence being “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Studies.” The applicant took maternity leave in the preceding year of the application, and the annual income decreased. The applicant’s husband’s residence status is Dependent, and his income cannot be added to the household income. They rejected this application because of the low annual income.
3. Some lessons you should learn from the past rejected applications
- Carefully read the Guidelines and confirm whether you have satisfied all the requirements.
- Confirm that you have observed the Japanese laws and regulations in every detail.
- Your past residency records will be closely examined again during your Permanent Resident application process.
- Keep your annual income stable. Business conditions will also be reviewed if you are running your own business.
- Consult your immigration expert or Gyoseishoshi if you have any questions or need support.
As mentioned above, the Ministry of Justice thoroughly examines your application for Permanent Resident. However, if you pay attention to the examination guidelines and fully comply with the laws and regulations of Japan, there should be a good chance that your application will be permitted. You will be encouraged to see the accepted case examples on the website (click the language selection section panel for translation). If you need expert assistance in your visa application in Japan, contact me using the contact form here.