Income Requirements for Permanent Residency in Japan

Key Considerations for a Successful Application

The Japanese immigration authorities mandate that applicants for permanent residency must not be reliant on government welfare and should have a profession or assets that predict a stable future income. This ensures that applicants can sustain a livelihood without becoming a financial burden on the state.

Essential Criteria

• No Dependency on Welfare: Applicants must not be recipients of Japan’s social welfare.
• Income Thresholds: A baseline annual income of at least 3 million yen, with an additional 800,000 yen per dependent, is considered sufficient.
• Household Income: Income can be assessed on a household basis, combining the applicant’s income with that of other household members.
• Stability Post Job Change: Applicants who have changed jobs should ideally have at least one year of tenure post-transition to qualify.

Income Guidelines for Eligibility

• For Highly Skilled Professionals: Except for those under HSP-1a, an annual income of over 3 million yen is a prerequisite.
• Young Researchers: Though young scholars such as researchers may meet the HSP points conditions even with incomes below 3 million yen, their eligibility based on income for permanent residency applications may present complexities.
• Projected Income: The system considers the expected income for the next year, cautioning those whose workplaces do not include bonuses in projected income statements.
• Exclusion of Overtime: Past income calculations exclude overtime payments. This is particularly relevant for young bankers and others in finance, where overtime pay can equal monthly salaries, highlighting the physical toll despite the financial compensation.

Practical Advice

Applicants need to carefully document and justify their financial stability, ensuring that all income, including projected earnings and household contributions, are duly considered. For those navigating recent job changes or unique compensation structures, it’s crucial to demonstrate continued income stability to meet the immigration requirements for permanent residency.

Professional

Masakazu Murai
Immigration consultant, Financial advisor
18 years experience in Investment Banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley. He had provided financial advisory more than 500 entrepreneurs and senior management.

During his tenure, he worked as an employee union executive committee member in promoting diversity, including the active participation of foreigners and women in the workplace, and engaged in activities to improve the working environment. He specializes in consulting and financial consulting on the status of residence for foreigners.

Gyoseishoshi Immigration Lawyer
CMA(Japanese financial analyst license)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (Hosei Business School)

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