Two statuses based on who you are, not on your job
Japan divides residence statuses into those based on activities (work, study and so on) and those based on personal status or position. Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident belong to the second group. On its page for the work qualification certificate, the ISA refers to them as statuses with no work restriction, naming Permanent Resident and Long-Term Resident as examples.
| Point | Permanent Resident | Long-Term Resident (teijusha) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for (ISA wording) | People granted permanent residence by the Minister of Justice | People the Minister allows to reside for a designated period in consideration of special reasons |
| Examples given by the ISA | People granted permanent residence (not Special Permanent Residents) | Third-country resettled refugees, third-generation Japanese descendants (Nikkei), Japanese left behind in China and others |
| Period of stay | No time limit | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or a designated period of up to 5 years |
| Renewal | Not needed for the status | Needed before the period ends |
| Kind of work | No restriction | No restriction |
Long-Term Resident is also the status some people move to after a change in family life, for example after a divorce from a Japanese spouse. Whether that change is allowed depends on the individual case. The ISA publishes examples of changes from a spouse status to Long-Term Resident that were approved and that were refused (available in English), which are worth reading before you apply.
Keeping a Long-Term Resident status: renewal timing and fees
Because Long-Term Resident has a period of stay, the most important routine task is renewal. The official rules:
- When to apply: before the period of stay ends. If you have a period of stay of 6 months or more, you can apply from 3 months before it ends
- Standard processing time for a renewal: 2 weeks to 1 month
- Fee at the counter for applications received from 1 October 2026 depends on the period granted: ¥10,000 (3 months or less), ¥18,000 (over 3 up to 6 months), ¥25,000 (over 6 months, under 1 year), ¥33,000 (1 year), ¥48,000 (over 1 year, under 3 years), ¥64,000 (3 years to under 5 years), ¥75,000 (5 years or more). Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee of ¥6,000
Online applications have a separate, slightly lower fee table, plus a payment fee.
From Long-Term Resident to permanent residence
Permanent residence normally requires 10 years of residence in Japan. The guideline revised on 1 October 2026 keeps a shorter route for Long-Term Residents: 5 years or more of continuous residence in Japan on the Long-Term Resident status. The other conditions of the guideline (conduct, tax and pension payments, and the new points such as Japanese at about B1 level) still apply. The revised guideline applies to applications from 1 April 2027; the full list of changes is in permanent residency rules from October 2026.
Showing an employer that you may work
Employers usually ask to see your residence card. It shows your status, but not every employer knows what "Long-Term Resident" allows. The ISA issues a work qualification certificate (shuro shikaku shomeisho) that states the work you may do with your status:
- Holders of statuses with no work restriction (Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident and others) can apply
- Fee: ¥2,000 at the counter, ¥1,600 online (paid with revenue stamps)
- Standard processing time: the same day, or 1 to 3 months in cases such as a change of workplace
Comparing work when every door is open
The rest of this section is general advice, not ISA information. Without a work restriction, the choice depends on your own situation. Questions that usually matter most:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How much will I keep after housing costs? | Rent is often the largest monthly cost. A job that includes housing can change the picture more than a higher wage |
| Is it employment or a contract? | Employment comes with company social insurance; under a contract you usually handle tax and insurance yourself. Your status allows both |
| Does my Japanese fit the job? | Your status does not limit you, but many roles with responsibility expect business-level Japanese |
| Can my partner or family work with me? | For couples, a job both can do together can be easier to plan than two separate careers |
| Will it help my next step? | For Long-Term Residents aiming at permanent residence, stable income and paid taxes and pension are part of the review |
One option for pairs: running a hotel under contract
The recruitment introduced on this site is a management contract, not employment. Two people run one business hotel of a chain with more than 170 hotels, as manager and deputy manager, and live in a 1LDK apartment inside the hotel with rent and utilities at ¥0. The first-year fee is ¥11.5 million or more for the pair combined (excluding tax), and years 2 to 6 are ¥12 million plus performance bonuses. There is no entry fee or deposit. More than 90% of current managers started without hotel experience, after a 50-day training (with a support allowance of ¥10,000 a day). The contract renews every year, and the operator decides the hotel you are assigned to.
Because it is a contract, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Residents can take part without a status change. Japanese around JLPT N2 is the guideline, and pairs can be couples, family members or friends. Visa support: for other applicants who meet the requirements of the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status, including people living outside Japan, the hiring company supports the visa application (the selection is online, with only the final interview in person). Both members of the pair are checked individually. Our recruitment service does not file visa applications, and only the immigration authorities decide, so no visa is guaranteed. See what running one hotel as a pair involves and how much a pair can save in four years.