Permanent Residency During Maternity or Childcare Leave｜How to Prove Income Stability and Choose the Right Timing (2025 Edition)

Can You Apply for Permanent Residency While on Maternity or Childcare Leave?

“My income dropped because of maternity leave. Can I still apply for permanent residency?”
“My tax certificate shows a much lower income during childcare leave—will that be a problem?”

These are some of the most common concerns among applicants during pregnancy or childcare periods.
The answer is yes—it is possible to apply for permanent residency even while on maternity leave, childcare leave, or reduced working hours.

In Japan’s permanent residency review, immigration officers focus less on your “exact annual income” and more on your overall financial stability, continuity of employment, and social insurance coverage.

This article explains how to provide convincing proof when your income temporarily decreases, and how to determine the safest timing to submit your application.

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Chapter 1. What “Financial Stability” Means in a PR Application

According to the Guidelines for Permanent Residence Permission (revised by the Ministry of Justice in 2023),
one key requirement is that the applicant must “have sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living.”

In other words, the focus is not simply on how high your income is,
but whether you can maintain a stable and sustainable lifestyle.

Key Factors Immigration Officers Examine:

• Consistent income over the past 3 years (tax certificates)
• Continuous enrollment in social insurance and pension systems
• Overall household stability (including a spouse’s income, if applicable)
• Reasonable explanation for any temporary decrease in income

Because of this, an income reduction during maternity or childcare leave is generally treated as a temporary circumstance, not a disqualifying factor.

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Chapter 2. Typical Income Reductions During Maternity or Childcare Leave

It is very common for income shown on your tax certificate to drop during periods of maternity, childcare, or reduced working hours.
Below are typical examples:

Situation	Effect on Tax Certificate	Notes
Maternity / Childcare Leave	Salary payment stops; benefits are non-taxable	Income appears significantly lower
Reduced Working Hours	Lower base salary and smaller bonuses	Income decrease reflected in the next tax year
Post-Return Period	Salary restored, but previous tax data still shows a lower figure	Timing mismatch may occur

In short, the tax certificate alone often fails to show the full picture.
That’s why you should attach supporting documents and an explanatory statement to clarify the situation.

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Chapter 3. Supporting Documents to Prove Temporary Income Reduction

To demonstrate that your lower income is only temporary,
combine the following documents for a stronger case:

Category	Document	Key Point
Employment Status	Certificate of Employment	Clearly state “currently on maternity/childcare leave” or “working reduced hours”
Income Record	Tax Certificate / Withholding Slip	Add a brief explanation letter for the reduction
Return-to-Work Plan	Proof of Scheduled Return / Work Schedule	Shows expected income recovery after returning
Social Insurance	Health Insurance Card / Pension Record	Proves continuous participation
Household Income	Spouse’s Tax Certificate / Payslips	Demonstrates total household stability

From a practical administrative viewpoint,
the Certificate of Employment and Proof of Scheduled Return are the most important documents.
In addition, the Notification of Childcare Leave Benefits can serve as a strong indicator of financial stability.

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Chapter 4. When Is the Best Time to Apply?

🍼 Case 1: Before Taking Leave

• Advantage: Application is made while income is still at its regular level.
• Note: If your leave begins during the review process, add an explanatory note.

👶 Case 2: During Leave

• Possible if you attach a “Proof of Return-to-Work Schedule” and demonstrate stable household income.
• In practice, immigration offices evaluate the overall financial balance of the household, not just one person’s income.

👩‍💼 Case 3: After Returning to Work

• Safest timing is usually three months after returning, once your stable salary is reflected in your latest tax records.
• Waiting for the updated tax certificate ensures that the documents match your current financial condition.

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Chapter 5. Example of an Explanatory Statement

Your written explanation (理由書 / riyūsho) should be short and factual, focusing on the reason for income decrease and your recovery plan.

“At present, I am on childcare leave, which has caused a temporary reduction in my taxable income.
I have a confirmed schedule to return to work, and my salary will return to its previous level upon resumption.
Our household remains financially stable and capable of maintaining our living standard.”

The essential points are temporary cause, return plan, and stable continuity.

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Chapter 6. Additional Documents That Strengthen Your Case

• Notification of childcare leave benefit payments (to show financial support)
• Daycare enrollment certificate (as evidence of planned return)
• Family relationship certificate (to show household support)
• Spouse’s health insurance card and tax certificate (to prove family income stability)

Each of these helps demonstrate that you can maintain a stable life in Japan even during reduced income periods.

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✅ Summary: Temporary Income Drop Is Not a Problem

Taking maternity or childcare leave—or working shorter hours—does not harm your PR application.
In fact, continued social insurance participation and visible household stability often strengthen your case, showing that you have a solid family and professional foundation in Japan.

🔍 Key Takeaways

• Permanent residency is judged based on stability, not just annual income.
• Income reduction due to maternity or childcare leave is considered temporary.
• Combine employment certificates, return-to-work proof, and household income data.
• Safest timing: about 3 months after returning to work, once new tax data is available.
• In your explanation letter, emphasize “temporary reason” and “stable living conditions.”

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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