Permanent Residency in Japan: Obligations and How to Avoid Cancellation

Introduction

Obtaining permanent residency in Japan provides stability and frees you from the burden of renewing your status of residence.
However, permanent residency does not guarantee lifelong security. If certain obligations are neglected or issues arise in your conduct, your permanent residency may be revoked.

This article outlines the key obligations permanent residents must follow, as well as practical measures to avoid cancellation.

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Basic Obligations After Permanent Residency

Although permanent residents enjoy a lifestyle almost identical to Japanese nationals, there are specific obligations unique to foreign residents.

Obligation	Details	Risk if Neglected
Residence card renewal	Permanent residents must renew their residence card every 7 years	Treated as overstaying; risk of cancellation
Address notification	Must report a change of address to the municipality within 14 days	Disruption of administrative procedures; risk of cancellation
Status notification	Changes in marital status (marriage, divorce, child birth) must be reported to immigration within 14 days	Risk of being deemed a reporting violation

👉 Common point: Delays in updates or notifications directly increase cancellation risk, so deadline management is critical.

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Main Reasons for Cancellation of Permanent Residency

Even after obtaining permanent residency, continuous violations of obligations can lead to the judgment that you “no longer have a stable base of life in Japan,” and thus revocation. Below are the most common cases.

1. Long-Term Stay Abroad

Permanent residency is based on having your primary base of life in Japan.
Therefore, long-term stays abroad can result in the loss of status.

Point	Details
General rule	Staying outside Japan for more than one year continuously leads to automatic loss of PR
Special re-entry permit	Valid for up to one year; not effective beyond that
Frequent re-entry	If judged that you “do not actually live in Japan,” cancellation is possible

👉 If you plan long business trips or stays abroad, obtain a regular re-entry permit and plan carefully.

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2. Non-Payment of Taxes or Social Insurance

Permanent residents, like Japanese citizens, are obligated to pay taxes and social insurance premiums.

• Non-payment of income tax, residence tax, pension, or health insurance may be treated as “bad conduct” and lead to cancellation.
• If payment is difficult, consulting the tax office or pension office for installment payments is considered good faith and usually prevents escalation.

👉 Ignoring the issue is the biggest risk. Always consult the authorities.

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3. Crimes or Traffic Violations

Permanent residents must continue to meet the “good conduct requirement.”

• Serious crimes (theft, assault, drug offenses, etc.) pose a high risk of cancellation.
• Repeated traffic violations (drunk driving, driving without a license) are also taken seriously and can lead to revocation.

👉 Even minor fines or violations, if repeated, may be judged as “lack of remorse.”

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4. Excessive Use of Public Assistance

Receiving public assistance (welfare) is not illegal.
However, permanent residency assumes the ability to live independently.

Situation	Possible Judgment
Temporary or short-term use	Generally not a problem
Long-term or continuous use	Judged as “unable to live independently” → risk of cancellation

👉 Temporary use due to illness or unemployment is acceptable, but prolonged use increases risks.

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Differences Between Permanent Residents and Japanese Nationals

Permanent residents can live almost like Japanese citizens, but there are clear differences.

Item	Permanent Resident	Japanese National
Period of stay	Unlimited	Unlimited
Residence card renewal	Required every 7 years	Not required
Entry/exit	Re-entry permit required	Free
Political participation	No voting rights	Full voting rights
Employment restrictions	Some public sector jobs unavailable	No restrictions

👉 Daily life is nearly identical, but differences remain in card renewal, re-entry, and political participation.

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Common Misunderstandings Among Permanent Residents (Q&A)

Do permanent residents no longer need to pay taxes?

→ ✕ No. The same tax obligations as Japanese nationals apply. Non-payment risks cancellation.

Will receiving welfare automatically lead to cancellation?

→ ✕ Not necessarily. Temporary use is allowed. Long-term reliance poses risks.

Is it safe to stay abroad for more than two years if I have a re-entry permit?

→ ✕ No. The general rule is that PR is lost if you stay outside Japan for more than one year. Even with a permit, lack of actual residence in Japan may cause cancellation.

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Practical Tips to Maintain Permanent Residency

Here are some practical actions you should keep in mind in your daily life to avoid cancellation.

• 📌 Manage residence card expiration
  → Use calendars or reminders to ensure 7-year renewal
• 📌 Ensure tax and insurance payments
  → If difficult, never ignore—always arrange installment payments
• 📌 Plan overseas stays carefully
  → If longer than one year, obtain a regular re-entry permit beforehand
• 📌 Avoid repeated traffic violations
  → Accumulated violations are monitored by immigration as well

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Annual Cancellation Prevention Checklist

Carrying out this checklist once a year can prevent most risks.

Check Item	Confirmation
Residence card	Is it still valid?
Resident registration	Address change reported within 14 days?
Tax payments	Any unpaid resident, income, or property taxes?
Pension/insurance	Any unpaid or missing months?
Overseas travel	Stay less than 1 year? Re-entry permit valid?

👉 By following this checklist annually, you can prevent the majority of cancellation risks.

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Conclusion

Permanent residency is not the end goal, but rather a starting point.

• Always update your residence card and submit notifications on time
• Pay taxes and social insurance without delay, or arrange payments if necessary
• Keep overseas stays within a range that clearly maintains your life base in Japan
• Understand the differences from Japanese nationals to avoid misunderstandings
• Use the annual checklist to prevent risks in advance

By practicing these, you can protect your status and enjoy a stable life as a permanent resident in Japan.

Ishinagi Administrative Scrivener Office

“I want to obtain permanent residency quickly and securely.” “I’m worried about preparing all the documents.”
If this sounds like you, please feel free to contact our office in Osaka (Yodogawa-ku). We support clients from all over Japan, providing the most effective assistance based on our extensive experience with immigration procedures.

If you want to secure your permanent residency smoothly and confidently, contact our office today.

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