Dependent Visa to Permanent Residency in Japan: Complete PR Pathway Guide

By Admin

Life in Japan / Visas

Many foreign residents in Japan start their life here on a Dependent Visa（家族滞在ビザ – kazoku taizai biza）. A common question soon follows:

👉 Can I get Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan as a dependent?

The short answer is yes—but not directly in most cases.

This guide explains realistic PR pathways for dependent visa holders, including:

Marriage-based PR
Switching visas before PR
Income and residence requirements
Common mistakes that delay approval

Can You Apply for PR While on a Dependent Visa?

General Rule: ❌ Not immediately

In most cases, dependent visa holders cannot apply for PR on their own because:

PR requires financial independence
Dependents are legally supported by a sponsor
Immigration expects PR applicants to be economically stable

However, there are important exceptions.

Pathway 1: PR Through Marriage to a Japanese National

This is the fastest and most common route.

If You Are Married to a Japanese Citizen

You may apply for PR if:

Married for 3 years or more
Lived in Japan for at least 1 year
Relationship is stable and genuine

Visa status:

Spouse of Japanese National
（日本人の配偶者等 – nihonjin no haigūsha tō）

This pathway does NOT require 10 years of residence.

Key Documents Required

Marriage certificate
Family register（戸籍謄本 – koseki tōhon）
Residence certificate（住民票 – jūminhyō）
Income proof (from either spouse)
Tax certificates（課税証明書 – kazei shōmeisho）
Letter explaining relationship history

Pathway 2: Switch from Dependent Visa to Work Visa → PR

This is the most realistic route for many dependents.

Step 1: Change to a Work Visa

You must qualify for a work visa such as:

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services
（技術・人文知識・国際業務 – gijutsu jinbun chishiki kokusai gyōmu）
Skilled Labor（技能 – ginō）
Business Manager（経営・管理 – keiei kanri）

Apply for:
Change of Status of Residence
（在留資格変更許可 – zairyū shikaku henkō kyoka）

Step 2: Build PR Eligibility

Once on a work visa, you generally need:

10 consecutive years of residence in Japan
At least 5 years on a work visa
Stable income
Full tax and pension payments

Pathway 3: PR via Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)

This is the fastest non-marriage route, but difficult.

If You Can Switch to HSP Visa

Highly Skilled Professional visa
（高度専門職 – kōdo senmonshoku）

PR eligibility:

After 1 year (80+ points)
After 3 years (70+ points)

Points are based on:

Salary
Education
Age
Work experience
Japanese ability

⚠ Dependents must first switch to a qualifying work visa.

Income Requirements for PR (Very Important)

Immigration looks at:

Annual income stability
Household income
Tax compliance

General benchmarks (unofficial):

¥3.0–4.0 million/year (single)
Higher if supporting dependents

Documents required:

Tax certificate（課税証明書 – kazei shōmeisho）
Tax payment proof（納税証明書 – nōzei shōmeisho）
Withholding slip（源泉徴収票 – gensen chōshūhyō）

Residence & Conduct Requirements

You must show:

Continuous residence
No criminal record
No visa violations
Pension enrollment（年金 – nenkin）
Health insurance enrollment（健康保険 – kenkō hoken）

Even minor issues (missed pension payments) can delay PR.

Common Reasons PR Is Rejected for Dependents

❌ Applying too early
❌ Insufficient income
❌ Pension gaps
❌ Unstable employment
❌ Overworking on dependent visa
❌ Incomplete tax history

PR rejection does not ban reapplication, but resets time and costs.

Smart Strategy for Dependents Seeking PR

✔ Switch to work visa early
✔ Maintain clean tax & pension records
✔ Increase income gradually
✔ Avoid job gaps
✔ Keep all documents organized
✔ Use long visa periods (3–5 years)

Realistic Timeline Examples

Scenario A: Married to Japanese Citizen

Marriage: Year 0
Move to Japan: Year 2
PR application: Year 3–4

Scenario B: Career Path

Dependent visa: 2–3 years
Work visa: 5–7 years
PR: Year 10+

Final Thoughts

A dependent visa is not a dead end, but it is not a shortcut to permanent residency either.

The key is transitioning into independence—through marriage, employment, or high-skilled contribution. With proper planning, many former dependents successfully obtain PR in Japan every year.

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