VISA Information
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Please Advise me About Permanent Residence in the Case I Obtain a Job After Studying in Japan
It has been ten years since I came to Japan. After studying at a Japanese language school and graduating from a university, I obtained a job in a trading company. At present, my visa status is "Specialist in Humanities / International Services." I have heard there is a possibility that I will be able to obtain permanent residence. Please explain this, in particular about "term of residence."
According to the Immigration Law, the required conditions are as follows: “The behavior of the person must be good,” “The person must possess property or suitable ability to make an independent living” and “The permanent residence of the person must bring benefit to Japan.” These conditions will be judged from specific points of view, but as for the “term” they will be judged as follows.
(1) In regard to your present status of residence, you must have been staying in Japan under a visa that authorizes the longest term of residence. In your case, it is necessary that “three-year-stay” is permitted against your visa of “Specialist in Humanities/International Services.”
(2) The person must have been staying in Japan for more than 10 consecutive years. In your case, you have been in Japan for at least 10 years, but those who have changed their visa status from a Pre-College Student Visa or College Student Visa to a Working Visa are required to have been in Japan for more than five years after the change of visa. After checking your compliance with this condition, we advise you to consider when to apply for permanent residence.
(3) Although I have not explained this in much detail, there is a possibility that permanent residence may be granted in the case where your contribution to Japan in the academic, industrial fields, etc. is recognized, even if your stay in Japan has been less than 10 years.
Advisor: KUROKAWA Koji (Immigration Lawyer)
