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How Spouse Visa Duration Affects Eligibility for Permanent Residence in Japan

For many foreign spouses living in Japan, one of the most frequent questions is:
“How long does my Spouse (Japanese National) visa need to be before I can apply for permanent residence?”
The answer is not only a matter of time in Japan. The length of your spouse visa
(5 years / 3 years / 1 year / 6 months) reflects how the Immigration Services Agency views
your overall situation – stability of your marriage, compliance with tax and social insurance,
and whether you are integrated into daily life in Japan.

Under current practice, one of the key requirements for permanent residence is holding
a residence status with a period of stay of three years or more. This is why spouses
who receive a 5-year or 3-year visa are often in a stronger position than those whose status is
renewed in 1-year or 6-month increments.

Below we outline how visa duration is typically assessed for the “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”
status, and what this means in practice for those seeking to transition from a spouse visa to

permanent residence in Japan
.

1. Why the Period of Stay Matters for Permanent Residence

The Immigration Services Agency does not grant permanent residence simply because an applicant has
lived in Japan for a certain number of years. Among other conditions, the applicant is expected to:

• Hold a status of residence with a period of stay of three years or longer at the time of filing;
• Have a stable and continuous marriage when applying on the basis of being a spouse of a Japanese national;
• Be in full compliance with tax and social insurance obligations in Japan; and
• Demonstrate that their life in Japan is stable and integrated (for example, children attend school regularly, utility and rent are paid, etc.).

In other words, the visa duration is effectively a summary of how the immigration
authorities currently evaluate your case. A five-year spouse visa usually indicates a very high
level of confidence, a three-year visa reflects solid but not perfect comfort, and shorter periods
often signal that some aspects are still being monitored.

2. How Immigration Distinguishes 5-, 3-, 1-Year and 6-Month Spouse Visas

(1) Five-Year Spouse Visa – Strongest Level of Confidence

A five-year period of stay is typically granted where immigration officials consider
that the marriage and overall living situation are highly stable. While each case is assessed on its
own facts, the following elements are commonly present:

• Continuous cohabitation with the Japanese spouse for several years, without unexplained periods of separation;
• Regular payment of national and local taxes, and where applicable, social insurance premiums;
• Evidence of day-to-day life in Japan, such as children’s school attendance or long-term employment;
• No history of significant overstays, unpaid taxes, or breaches of status conditions.

Applicants who receive a five-year spouse visa and meet the other statutory criteria may, in many
cases, be in a good position to explore an application for permanent residence with proper preparation.

(2) Three-Year Spouse Visa – Generally Stable, but Still Under Review

A three-year spouse visa is common where the relationship and living arrangements are
considered stable, but there are one or two aspects that immigration would like to observe further.
For example:

• The marriage is genuine and cohabitation is ongoing, but the period together in Japan is still relatively short;
• There have been minor issues with late tax filings or short gaps in social insurance, which have since been corrected;
• The main breadwinner has recently changed jobs or started self-employment, and income stability is still being confirmed.

Even with these points, a three-year visa is a positive signal compared to repeated
one-year renewals. It often means that, with careful documentation and correction of any outstanding
issues, an application for permanent residence can be considered in the near future.

(3) One-Year Spouse Visa – “Monitoring” Stage

A one-year spouse visa is generally issued where immigration believes that the marriage
is genuine, but wishes to monitor the situation more closely. Common examples include:

• Newly married couples whose marital history is still short;
• Cases where cohabitation has been interrupted or the couple has previously lived separately;
• Situations involving late or missing tax filings, gaps in social insurance, or uncertainty about the applicant’s income;
• Prior immigration issues, such as past overstays or a previous denial, which require time to observe improvement.

Being on a one-year spouse visa does not mean that permanent residence will be impossible, but it does
indicate that further evidence of stability and compliance will be needed before
immigration will consider granting a three- or five-year period of stay.

(4) Six-Month Spouse Visa – Transitional or Special Circumstances

A six-month spouse visa is relatively uncommon and is typically used in limited
circumstances, for example:

• Where a couple is considering separation or divorce and immigration expects the status to change in the near future;
• Where the foreign spouse’s stay in Japan is expected to be temporary (e.g., resolving family matters before leaving);
• Where there are serious questions about the continuity of the marriage or living arrangements, and immigration grants only a short period while facts are clarified.

In these cases, a permanent residence application would normally be inappropriate until the underlying
relationship and status issues have been resolved and a more stable period of stay is granted.

3. Practical Requirements Behind Visa Duration

When deciding whether to grant a 5-, 3-, 1-year or 6-month spouse visa, immigration examiners look
beyond the application form. Typical points of review include:

• Marital stability: length of the relationship, cohabitation, birth of children, and consistency of statements;
• Tax compliance: submission and payment of income tax, resident tax and, for self-employed persons, appropriate individual tax returns;
• Social insurance: enrollment in health insurance and pension where legally required;
• Public duties: school attendance of children, handling of traffic fines and other obligations;
• Overall life plan: whether the couple appears to be building a long-term life in Japan or only a short-term stay.

For employees with salary income only, many of these items are handled automatically through their
employer. However, self-employed persons, freelancers and those with overseas income
need to pay particular attention. Failure to declare foreign income properly or to enroll in the
correct insurance schemes can result in shorter periods of stay and may delay eligibility for
permanent residence.

4. Fast-Track Options: Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) and Spouse Status

When Your Spouse Qualifies as Highly Skilled Professional

Japan operates a separate points-based framework known as the

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) system
.
If your Japanese or foreign spouse working in Japan achieves a sufficiently high HSP score
(for example, more than 70 points under the relevant criteria), it may be possible for them to:

• Change to a 5-year HSP status relatively quickly; and
• Leverage accelerated pathways to permanent residence (in certain cases, after one or three years).

In that situation, you may have several options:

• Continue to reside as a spouse of Japanese national or permanent resident, if applicable; or
• Change to a dependent of Highly Skilled Professional, benefiting from certain HSP-related advantages; or
• In some cases, obtain your own Highly Skilled Professional status if you independently meet the criteria.

Where one spouse holds a 5-year HSP status and the couple otherwise meets the statutory conditions,
it may be possible to apply for

permanent residence

on a significantly shorter timeline than under the standard spouse-based route. A careful points
calculation and document review is essential before relying on this pathway.

5. Next Steps for Spouses Considering Permanent Residence

If you are currently on a 1-year or 6-month spouse visa and wish to move toward a 3- or 5-year period
(and ultimately permanent residence), it is important to:

• Confirm that all tax returns have been filed and taxes paid, including on overseas income;
• Review your health insurance and pension enrollment status;
• Organize documentation showing continuous cohabitation and the reality of your marriage;
• Consider whether an HSP route may be available to you or your spouse.

Because the immigration authority evaluates the full picture rather than a single
document, many applicants find it helpful to seek professional advice before applying for renewal
or permanent residence. A tailored strategy can often make the difference between a one-year renewal
and a three- or five-year period of stay.

About the Author

Masakazu Murai
CFP, Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan, Gyoseishoshi (Immigration Lawyer)

Born in 1977, Mr. Murai previously worked in the Investment Banking Division of Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan
Stanley Securities, advising listed companies on equity and debt offerings as well as M&A transactions.
While in investment banking, he also served on the central executive committee of the employees’ union,
promoting diversity in the workplace and better working conditions for foreign professionals and women.

Today he focuses on Japanese immigration procedures for foreign nationals – particularly
spouse visas and permanent residence – together with personal and corporate finance consulting.
His practice frequently combines residence strategy with long-term financial and life-planning considerations.

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For Foreign Nationals Considering Japan

• Working in Japan or transferring with your employer
• Establishing a business in Japan
• Marrying a Japanese national and obtaining a spouse visa
• Applying for permanent residence
• Exploring naturalization (Japanese citizenship)

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