Permanent Residence in Japan: Is It Worth Applying for as a Long-Term Resident?
When I first began living in Japan, permanent residence was not something I felt I needed right away. I already had Long-Term Resident status, which allowed me to work without restrictions. I had also heard that permanent residents still had to renew their residence cards, so I assumed the two statuses were not very different in everyday life. At the time, I honestly thought: “I can always apply later.” After living in Japan for more than ten years, I finally looked into the system more carefully. That was when I realized I had misunderstood something important. Permanent residents renew their residence cards, but they do not need to extend their period of stay. Long-Term Residents, on the other hand, still receive a limited period of stay—often one, three, or five years—and must apply for an extension before it expires. This difference is the main reason permanent residence may be worth considering for people planning to remain in Japan long term. I am not an immigration professional....