Japan Nikkeijin Long-Term Resident Visa

1. Residence permit12 months
2. Renew60 months at a time
3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
4. Citizenshipafter 10 years

• Permanent residency 5 years
• Citizenship 10 years
• Dual citizenship not allowed
• Language required for citizenship Daily Japanese, reading and writing

Country

Japan

Program

Japan Nikkeijin Long-Term Resident Visa

Local name

定住者

Type

Ancestry

Status

Active

Initial duration

12 months

Renewable

Yes (60 mo)

Long-term resident status for a third-generation descendant of a Japanese citizen, with no restriction on the type of work. The spouse of a second- or third-generation descendant has a separate long-term resident application. A supported unmarried child under 18 can qualify as a long-term resident as well. Fourth-generation descendants use a different designated-activities program.

Tax regime

Remittance

Regime name

Non-permanent resident, then worldwide

Regime duration

5 years

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

embassy, in country

Processing time

30–90 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

Generational limit

3 generations

Ancestor must have been citizen

Yes

The published periods are five years, three years, one year, six months, or a shorter period set individually. An adult who wants five years must show Japanese at B1 on the Japanese-language reference framework, or an accepted substitute: JLPT N2, JLPT N3 with a total of at least 104, BJT 400, six months at a notified Japanese-language school, or at least one year in a Japanese school other than kindergarten. A guarantor is required, usually a Japanese citizen or permanent resident living in Japan. The applicant shows funds, a job offer in Japan, or a sponsor's tax certificate. No fixed yen amount is published. A police certificate from the home country is required, with the family register of the Japanese grandparent. Permanent residence is available after five continuous years on long-term resident status. That shortcut is in the guideline that applies on 9 October 2026, and the draft guideline for 1 April 2027 keeps it. Naturalization still has a five-year address rule in the Nationality Act. From 1 April 2026 the Ministry of Justice screens ordinary naturalization for integration into Japanese society on a principle of at least ten years of residence, plus everyday spoken and written Japanese. Other nationalities must be given up. A child born as the child of a person who was then a Japanese citizen is examined as a spouse or child of a Japanese national, not on this page. From 1 October 2026 a one-year change or extension costs JPY 33,000 at the counter and JPY 27,000 online, plus a JPY 330 online payment charge. A five-year grant costs JPY 75,000 at the counter. A certificate of eligibility is free.

• Digital Nomad Visadigital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Official page https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/index.html https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/longtermresident.html
   • Application fee (USD) 40 209
   • Years to permanent residency 10 5
   • Years to citizenship 5 10

   one-year counter permission fee set at JPY 33,000 from 1 October 2026, replacing JPY 6,000 at the counter and JPY 5,500 online. Applicant fee changed from USD 40 to about USD 209, and a dependent fee of about USD 209 added, at the Bank of Japan central rate of 158.10 (moj.go.jp).