πΈ “Checklist, Delays & Success: My Japan PR Application Journey”
My Journey, Checklist, and All the Papers I Had to Chase π
Today, I’m writing this with a sigh of relief and a big smile on my face — guess what?
π I finally got my Permanent Residency in Japan! π
Well… actually, it’s been 10 months since I received the good news — my daughter and I were granted Permanent Residency! I’ve just been too busy (and maybe still in disbelief?) to sit down and write about it until now.
It took about three months to get approved after I submitted my application.
But honestly, the hardest part wasn’t the waiting — it was gathering all the documents before I could even apply π
(yep, I totally delayed it because I just couldn’t find the time to deal with everything… hehehe).
So if you’re married to a Permanent Resident and your visa status is “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident”, and planning to apply soon, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s the checklist I used, with some personal notes to make things easier to understand.
π PERMANENT RESIDENCY APPLICATION: COMPLETE CHECKLIST
(Spouse or Child of a Permanent Resident)
1. π Application Form
Available at the immigration office or online. Fill it out neatly!
2. πΈ Photo (4cm × 3cm) (taken within the last six months)
Not needed if you’re under 16 years old. Otherwise, get a nice, clear one!
3. π δ½ζ°η₯¨ (JΕ«minhyΕ) (Resident Certificate)
Get it from City Hall. Make sure:
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✅ My Number is omitted
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✅ Includes all family members
4. π§Ύ Documents Proving Identity
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✅ Birth Certificate (photocopy) – if the child of a Permanent Resident
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✅ Marriage Certificate (photocopy) – if spouse
5. ✍️ Riyuusho (Letter of Reason)
This one’s a bit personal. I wrote mine on bond paper and shared:
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Why I love living in Japan
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My connection with my family and community here
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Future plans (raising kids, working, contributing to society)
Just be real and heartfelt!
6. πΌ Proof of Work (Applicant or Guarantor)
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✅ ε¨θ·θ¨ΌζζΈ Zaisyoku Shoumeisho (Employment Certificate) – Ask from your employer.
7. π° Proof of Income & Taxes
"This part was a little tricky because they required documents covering the past five years —and it also cost quite a bit.”
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✅ Juminzei (Residence Tax Certificate)
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✅ Nouzei Shoumeisho (Tax Payment Certificate)π Got mine from city hall, and some papers from the tax office (Zeimusho) in Tsushima.
8. π΅ Proof of Pension (Nenkin)
“Just go to the Nenkin Office and let them know it’s for your Permanent Residency application — they’ll help you right away!”
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✅ Nenkin Teikibin (Pension Annual Notice)
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✅ Nenkin Net Printout (Monthly record)
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✅ Copy of National Pension Payment Receipts
9. π₯ Health Insurance
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✅ Photocopy of blue Hoken card
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✅ Include My Number card copy too
10. π¦ Proof of Assets
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✅ Copy of Bank Book (front page is enough)Bonus Tip: I added
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✅ 3 months’ pay slips (mine and my husband’s) to show financial stability. Better safe than sorry!
11. π Passport (with a validity of at least six months)
- Original and photocopy of your passport.
12. πͺͺ Residence Card (ε¨ηγ«γΌγ)
Don’t forget the actual card and a copy.
13. π€ Guarantor Documents
My husband was my guarantor, so we prepared:
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✅ Mimoto Hoshousho (Guarantee Letter)
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✅ Photocopy of his passport
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✅ Residence card
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✅ Insurance card
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✅ My Number card
Additional thoughts:
For some people applying for Permanent Residency, the immigration office may review your records thoroughly while your application is being processed. Sometimes, they will send you a letter requesting additional documents.
In our case, they asked for the Certificate of Enrollment (ε¨ε¦θ¨ΌζζΈ, zaigaku shoumeisho) for my two daughters. Since my eldest daughter was included in my application for Permanent Residency, they wanted to confirm that she is actually attending school here in Japan.
If you receive a similar request, don’t worry! You can simply go to your children’s school and request the certificate. Schools usually provide this document immediately, so it’s an easy way to respond quickly and keep your application moving.
When your Permanent Residency is approved, they will send you a postcard (hagaki) in the mail. This postcard lets you know that your application was successful, and it will also show how much you need to pay for the revenue stamp.
Before, the fee was only 8,000 yen, but starting April 2025, the price changed — now it’s 10,000 yen. We were lucky because when we got our approval last year, the fee was still 8,000 yen!
π¬ Final Thoughts:
Honestly? I could’ve applied way earlier if I had the time to prepare everything. But mom life + work + errands = delays. π Still, I’m grateful it all worked out in the end!
If you’re planning to apply, start collecting little by little. Trust me, the bulk of the stress is just in preparing documents. Once submitted, it’s just a matter of waiting (and hoping for good news!).
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If you're about to start your application or are currently waiting for results, good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly for you. Just take it step by step, and don’t stress too much. You’ve got this!
Waiting for good news can be nerve-wracking — that mix of hope, anxiety, and impatience is real! But hang in there. Sometimes, the best things take time, and when that positive news finally arrives, it makes all the waiting worth it. Keep your fingers crossed and stay hopeful — your moment is coming!
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