Introduction

More and more foreign nationals with a relatively short residence history in Japan ask whether they can obtain the status of residence “Long-Term Resident”.
The Long-Term Resident status allows a flexible way of working and living without restrictions on types of employment, but it is not granted automatically and requires an individual decision by the Minister of Justice.

This article explains whether it is possible to become a Long-Term Resident even with a short residence history in Japan, and what factors are especially important in the examination, based on information from official Japanese government sources.

What is the “Long-Term Resident” status of residence?

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the status of residence “Long-Term Resident” is granted to those who are permitted to reside in Japan for a designated period, taking into account special circumstances recognized by the Minister of Justice. Typical examples include third-country resettled refugees, third-generation Japanese descendants, and certain people related to remaining Japanese in China.

The period of stay is designated as “5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, or another period not exceeding 5 years”, and unlike a Permanent Resident, a Long-Term Resident must renew his or her status periodically.

“Notified” Long-Term Resident and non-notified Long-Term Resident

From a legal and practical standpoint, cases for Long-Term Resident can be roughly divided into two types.

• Notified Long-Term Resident
  Cases expressly listed in the Ministerial Notification (Notification No. 132 of 1990 by the Ministry of Justice), such as third-generation Japanese descendants and their spouses, minor unmarried children of Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents, etc.
• Non-notified Long-Term Resident
  Cases not listed in the notification but recognized individually based on humanitarian or other special grounds, such as certain foreign spouses after divorce or bereavement who continue to raise their children in Japan.

The required residence history and its importance differ depending on whether your case falls under the notified category or a non-notified one.

When a short residence history can still lead to Long-Term Resident status

1. When your case clearly fits a notified category

Even with a short residence history, if you fall under a category defined in the Long-Term Resident Notification, the main focus will be whether you meet the specific conditions for that category.

Representative examples include the following.

• Entering Japan as a third-generation Japanese descendant or as his/her spouse
• Being called to Japan as the spouse of a second- or third-generation Japanese descendant
• Residing in Japan as a minor unmarried child of a Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, or Special Permanent Resident
• Residing in Japan as an adopted child under six years of age of the above categories

In these cases, the key factors are not the length of residence in Japan itself, but rather whether your family/kinship relationship (such as Japanese descent or being a child) and the supporter’s financial capacity can be sufficiently proven.

2. When you are raising a Japanese child or a child of a Permanent Resident

A typical non-notified Long-Term Resident case is a foreign parent who is actually raising his or her child who is a Japanese national or a child of a Permanent Resident in Japan after divorce or bereavement.
Even with a relatively short residence history, Long-Term Resident status may be granted in such circumstances to protect the child’s best interests and ensure a stable living environment.

In these cases, the immigration authorities tend to focus on the following points.

• Whether you actually live together with the child and are responsible for daily care and upbringing
• Whether you have sufficient income or assets to support the child and yourself in Japan
• Whether there is any problem with your past immigration compliance and behavior

If your residence history is short, it becomes even more important to explain, through documents and a written statement of reasons, that your life is already centered in Japan and that continuity of residence is necessary for the child’s stable upbringing.

Key factors in examinations when your residence history is short

For the status of residence “Long-Term Resident”, Japanese public information does not set a single fixed number of years as a requirement, and each case is assessed individually.
However, when your residence history is short, the following elements are likely to be examined more strictly.

Financial basis and ability to maintain livelihood

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan states in its various procedure guidelines that it checks the main breadwinner’s tax payment status and the ability to cover the cost of stay when deciding on residence status and period.

Professional explanations on Long-Term Resident also point out the following as key issues.

• Whether you have stable income and/or assets (salary, business income, savings, etc.)
• Whether your income and tax records can be verified by tax certificates and tax payment certificates
• Whether you can live in Japan without relying on public assistance

If your residence history is short, you may have limited past records of work and tax payments in Japan, so it becomes especially important to submit employment contracts, job offer letters, and bank balance certificates to demonstrate your financial basis.

Ties with Japan and degree of integration

Because Long-Term Resident status is intended for people who will live in Japan on a medium- to long-term basis, your ties with Japan and degree of integration are also important factors.

Examples of such ties include the following.

• Having relatives in Japan, such as Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents
• Having maintained a certain period of marriage and cohabitation with a Japanese or Permanent Resident spouse
• Having work or study experience in Japan
• Having a certain level of Japanese language ability (especially when applying for a 5-year period of stay, proof of Japanese ability is required).

Even with a short residence history, if you can show that you have continuously lived together with your Japanese spouse, or that you are a Japanese descendant working stably in a Japanese company, such facts may be positively evaluated as evidence of integration.

Past immigration compliance and behavior

In its Q&A, the Immigration Services Agency lists factors such as the foreign national’s immigration record and conduct when deciding periods of stay, stressing that violations of Japanese laws are significant negative factors.

Commentaries on Long-Term Resident also emphasize points such as the following.

• Whether you have any history of illegal overstay or unauthorized work under the Immigration Control Act
• Whether you have any criminal record or serious traffic violations
• Whether you have properly reported your address and changes of address to the local ward or city office

With a short residence history, a single incident of non-compliance or a serious violation can weigh more heavily, so careful compliance with laws and administrative procedures in daily life is particularly important.

Documents and explanations especially important for applicants with short residence history

The Immigration Services Agency warns that applications with incomplete documentation may cause significant delays or even adverse decisions.
If your residence history is short, it is highly recommended that you prepare the following documents with special care.

• Documents proving family/kinship relationships
  Family registers, birth certificates, marriage certificates, certificates of acknowledgment of paternity, etc.
• Documents proving financial basis and livelihood
  Taxation (or non-taxation) certificates, tax payment certificates, certificates of employment, pay slips, and bank balance certificates.
• Documents showing your ties with Japan
  Lease contracts proving cohabitation, family photos, remittance records, school certificates, and certificates of Japanese language proficiency.
• Written statement of reasons
  A document explaining, based on objective facts, why you need to continue your life in Japan and why your life is centered here rather than in your home country.

By preparing these materials with the aim of compensating for your short residence history and clearly presenting your actual life situation and future life plan in Japan, you can improve your chances of being granted Long-Term Resident status.

Summary

• The status of residence “Long-Term Resident” is granted to those permitted by the Minister of Justice to reside in Japan for a designated period based on special grounds, with typical examples including third-generation Japanese descendants and minor unmarried children of Japanese nationals or Permanent Residents.
• Even with a short residence history in Japan, Long-Term Resident status may be granted in notified categories under the Ministerial Notification or in certain non-notified cases based on humanitarian considerations, such as raising a Japanese child in Japan.
• In examinations, the length of residence itself is not the only deciding factor; more important are the proof of family/kinship relationships, financial basis and ability to maintain livelihood, ties and integration with Japanese society, and your past immigration compliance and behavior.
• If your residence history is short, it is especially important to carefully prepare documents such as tax and employment certificates, family and kinship documents, proof of Japanese language ability, and a detailed written statement of reasons that explains your actual life and future plans in Japan.

Whether your situation fits the framework of Long-Term Resident status depends greatly on your specific family situation and residence history, so it is advisable to organize your individual circumstances and consult a professional for tailored advice.