Introduction

For foreign nationals aiming to obtain Permanent Resident status in Japan, “long-term absence” and “number of days spent abroad per year” are major concerns. Especially if you leave Japan for more than 100 days a year, you may worry about how your period of stay is calculated for the application. This article explains, based on the latest information from the Ministry of Justice and expert sources, how long-term absences affect your application and what you should be careful about.

What Is “Continuous Stay of 10 Years or More” for Permanent Residency?

In principle, Japan’s Permanent Resident application requires “continuous stay of 10 years or more.” This means not just having a resident record, but actually maintaining your Status of Residence and having your life base in Japan.

When Is “Continuous Stay” Not Recognized?

• If your status of residence lapses: If you lose your status of residence and leave Japan, your previous years of stay are reset, and you must start counting 10 years again after re-entering Japan.
• If you spend a lot of time abroad: If you are absent from Japan for many days, it may be judged that your life base is not in Japan, making permanent residence difficult.

Concrete Criteria for Long-Term Absence and Calculation

Absence of 90 Days or More at Once

If you leave Japan for 90 days (3 months) or more at once, your “continuous stay” is considered interrupted, and your previous years of stay may be reset. For example, even if you have lived in Japan for 9 years, leaving for more than 3 months at once means you need to start counting 10 years again after returning.

Total Annual Absence of Over 100 Days

In recent practice, if your total annual absence exceeds 100 days, it is likely that your stay in Japan for that year will not be recognized as “continuous.” Exceeding 100 days does not automatically reset your count, but it will be a disadvantage in the review process.

Over 150 Days or Within 180 Days

Some experts say that if your annual absence exceeds 150 days, permanent residency becomes very difficult, but there is no official clear standard from the Ministry of Justice. The key is whether your life base is in Japan, which is judged comprehensively.

How to Count Absence Days

• The day you leave Japan is also counted as one day. For example, if you leave on January 1 and return on January 3, it counts as 3 days.
• The period is often counted as one year retroactively from the application date, not by calendar year.

If There Are Special Circumstances

If you have unavoidable reasons (such as business trips or family emergencies), you may be exceptionally recognized by submitting explanations and supporting documents. However, this is judged on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.

Example

Example: Mr. A (in his 30s, single) lived in Japan for 9 years with a “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status. Due to work, he spent 110 days abroad in one year on several business trips. When applying for Permanent Resident status, he explained the reasons for his absences and provided evidence of his life base in Japan (rental contract, bank account, tax records, etc.). After careful review, his application was approved as his life base was recognized to be in Japan. If you have many absence days, consult an expert in advance.

Summary

• “Continuous stay of 10 years or more” is required for permanent residency, and long-term or over-100-day absences may reset your calculation.
• Be especially careful if you are absent for 90 days or more at once, or over 100 days in total per year.
• Exceptions may be made depending on your reasons and life base, but the review is strict.
• If you aim for permanent residency, manage your absence days and consult a specialist in advance.