Who this is for
- People who wish to enter or reside in Japan as third-generation Japanese descendants
- People who wish to bring to Japan an unmarried minor biological child who is dependent on an eligible parent
- People considering residence in Japan after divorce from or bereavement of a Japanese national or other qualifying person
- People who wish to extend their current period of stay as a Long-Term Resident
Main application and consultation offices:Applications are handled by the Regional Immigration Services Bureau. Applications for a change or extension from within Japan must be filed with the bureau that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. For bringing someone to Japan from overseas, prepare separately for the Certificate of Eligibility application and the visa application at an overseas Japanese diplomatic mission.
Who qualifies, and how this status differs from Permanent Resident
Long-Term Resident is a status that the Minister of Justice grants for a designated period after taking special grounds into consideration. Examples listed in the official guidelines include third-country resettled refugees, third-generation Japanese descendants, and people left behind in China. This status cannot be obtained solely because you wish to live in Japan for a long time.
Periods of stay are five years, three years, one year, six months, or a period individually designated not exceeding five years. Unlike Permanent Resident status, staying beyond the permitted period requires an extension or other procedure. The period you request is not guaranteed to be granted.
Check applications for Japanese descendants and children separately
For an application by a third-generation Japanese descendant, establish the family relationships from the Japanese grandparents to the applicant through family registers and foreign birth and marriage certificates. Checking in advance for differences in the spelling of names and whether notifications were filed will help you determine which institutions in which countries to contact for documents.
For an application by an unmarried minor biological child, check not only the parent-child relationship but also the status of residence of the supporting parent in Japan and their ability to support the child's living expenses. For purposes of Notification No. 6, “minor” means under 18. When bringing a child to Japan, pay attention not only to collecting documents but also to the child's age at the time of entry. Guidance concerning adopted children under six is for a separate category from biological children.
Explain individual circumstances after divorce or bereavement
If you were the spouse of a Japanese national or other qualifying person and are divorced or widowed, a change to Long-Term Resident status is not automatically approved. The official collection of case examples explains that decisions are made by comprehensively considering factors such as the person's residence history in Japan, planned activities, and need to reside in Japan.
There are examples of approvals that discuss the custody and care of a child who is a Japanese national and the person's financial circumstances, but having a child alone does not determine whether an application will be approved. This collection consists of past cases revised in March 2017. Do not treat the length of marriage or income amount as current, uniform requirements; explain your own circumstances with supporting documents.
Supporting materials:[4]
Documents for COE, Change, and Extension Applications
For a new entry to Japan from overseas, apply for a Certificate of Eligibility; to switch from another status of residence while in Japan, apply for a change of status; and to continue residing under the same personal status, apply for an extension. Make sure you use the correct application form and check the document guidance for each procedure.
The preparation guidance below focuses mainly on documents for third-generation Japanese descendants and biological children supported by Permanent Residents, Long-Term Residents, or Special Permanent Residents. It is not a complete list of requirements common to all Long-Term Residents. If the supporting person holds a status such as “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” or if the change is based on divorce or bereavement, check the requirements individually rather than using this list as is.
Checking required documents and where to obtain them
The documents listed are representative examples. Required materials vary depending on the type of application, such as an application for a Certificate of Eligibility, change, or extension, as well as your current status of residence, affiliated organization, nationality, and family relationships. Additional materials may be requested for individual cases.
Application and identity documents to be prepared by the applicant
Application form and photograph appropriate to the type of application
- Purpose
- These show the applicant's information and the immigration procedure requested.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Forms are available from the official Immigration Services Agency website; photographs can be obtained from photo studios and similar providers.
- Points to check
- Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status, and extension use different forms. Check the photo specifications and any exceptions for your application category; do not rely on age criteria from earlier guidance.
Passport and Residence Card; return envelope for a Certificate of Eligibility application
- Purpose
- Used to confirm the applicant's identity and current status of residence, and to mail the Certificate of Eligibility.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The applicant's passport and Residence Card; post offices and similar providers.
- Points to check
- For a change or extension filed at a service counter, present your passport and Residence Card. For a Certificate of Eligibility application, prepare an envelope and other items if receiving the document by mail, and consider submitting a copy of your passport to verify your name.
Criminal record certificate and documents showing that the applicant or ancestors are real persons
- Purpose
- Used to verify matters such as the identity and Japanese ancestry of a person of Japanese descent.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The agency in the applicant's home country that issues criminal record certificates; official documents held by the applicant or family.
- Points to check
- These are listed in the guidance for applications for a Certificate of Eligibility or change of status by third-generation Japanese descendants. For dependent biological children, some documents apply only to Japanese descendants supported by a Long-Term Resident; for an extension, a criminal record certificate is required only from applicants who have not previously submitted one.
Documents showing family relationships and grounds for residence
Extracts from family registers or removed family registers; birth, marriage, and acknowledgment-of-paternity certificates
- Purpose
- Used to establish Japanese ancestry and parent-child relationships through official records.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Municipal offices in Japan and agencies in the applicant's home country that handle family registers or civil-status records.
- Points to check
- For a third-generation Japanese descendant, check the grandparents' family registers and the foreign certificates of the parents and applicant. A certificate of acceptance of a notification filed in Japan is required when such a notification was filed; an acknowledgment-of-paternity certificate is required where applicable. For an extension as a dependent biological child, not all documents submitted for the initial application must be submitted again.
Statement of reasons for support; documents explaining circumstances after divorce or bereavement
- Purpose
- These explain the need for support or the circumstances underlying the person's wish to continue living in Japan.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Prepared by the applicant or supporting person; collect records substantiating the facts from relevant institutions and other sources.
- Points to check
- The explanation of reasons for support is included in the guidance on applications for recognition or change of status for biological children. For changes due to divorce or other circumstances, organize the actual caregiving arrangements and living situation. Explanatory documents are not treated as a single prescribed form required in every case.
Documents proving Japanese-language ability or education in Japan
- Purpose
- Used to verify applications by third-generation Japanese descendants who wish to receive a five-year period of stay.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Applicable Japanese-language education institutions, test administrators, and schools.
- Points to check
- Minors are excluded. Official guidance lists options such as a certain level of educational history or passing the N2 exam. This does not mean that all applicants for the Long-Term Resident status must pass a Japanese-language test.
Supporting materials:[2]
Documents on living arrangements and support to be prepared in Japan
Certificate of residence listing all members of the household
- Purpose
- Confirms the address in Japan and the household composition.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality where the person is registered as a resident.
- Points to check
- For recognition applications by third-generation Japanese descendants, prepare the certificate of residence of any person living with the applicant in Japan; for recognition applications for biological children, prepare the supporter’s certificate of residence. For changes of status and renewals for biological children, prepare the applicant’s certificate of residence. Omit the My Number.
Certificate of residence tax assessment or non-assessment and certificate of tax payment
- Purpose
- Shows the income and tax payment status of the person covering living expenses.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The municipality where the person had an address on January 1 of the relevant year.
- Points to check
- For the categories covered by the guidance, check the most recent one-year period for the person paying expenses or providing support. In some cases, one document is sufficient if it shows both income and tax payment status. If the document cannot be issued, check with Immigration Services.
Certificate of employment or prospective employment, copy of tax return, and bank balance or savings documents
- Purpose
- Provide specific evidence of employment and plans for covering living expenses.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- Employer or prospective employer, applicant or supporter, and financial institution.
- Points to check
- If a third-generation Japanese descendant proves their own ability to cover expenses, check documents such as account balances or prospective employment records. Documents for a biological child’s supporter vary depending on whether they are a company employee, self-employed, or unemployed. Submit a business license if one is available.
Letter of guarantee
- Purpose
- Identifies the person who will guarantee the applicant’s stay in Japan.
- Issuing office / document preparer
- The guarantor completes the official Immigration Services form.
- Points to check
- For third-generation Japanese descendants, the guarantor is generally a Japanese national or permanent resident living in Japan. For the biological children supported under the cases covered here, the supporter is generally the guarantor. Having a letter of guarantee does not ensure approval.
Consultation and application preparation process
- 1
1. Identify the legal basis and type of application
Check the applicant’s status of residence, family relationships, the supporter’s status, and the child’s age. Distinguish between an application for a Certificate of Eligibility from overseas, a change of status in Japan, and renewal of the current status.
- 2
- 3
3. Explain the living situation and need
Gather documents on income, employment, and housing. For a support application, explain who will cover living expenses; for a change due to divorce or other circumstances, explain why the applicant needs to remain in Japan. Ensure the explanation is consistent with the supporting documents.
- 4
4. Submit the application and respond to requests for additional documents
Check the latest official guidance for the relevant category and the period of stay, then submit the application. If additional documents are requested during review, provide the requested information.
Points to check before applying
- For the categories covered here, documents issued in Japan must have been issued within the past three months. Attach Japanese translations to foreign-language documents. If you wish to have an original returned because it is difficult to obtain, request its return when you apply.
- Required documents vary depending on the family relationship and type of application, and documents not listed here may also be requested. Past approval examples, having a guarantor, and having all the documents prepared do not guarantee approval.
This page provides general information about the system and does not determine individual cases or guarantee permission or approval. Required documents and requirements vary depending on individual circumstances. When applying, check the latest official information and consult an administrative scrivener about the procedures suited to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I become a Long-Term Resident if I divorce a Japanese national?
Not automatically. Your circumstances of residence and the need to live in Japan, among other factors, are assessed individually. Even if your case resembles an example of an approved application in the official guidance, the outcome may differ.
Supporting materials:[4]
For renewal, do I need to submit all the same documents, such as a birth certificate, as for recognition or change of status?
The documents are not uniformly the same. The renewal guidance for biological children supported by a parent covered here focuses on the current certificate of residence, the supporter’s tax and employment documents, and a letter of guarantee. You must also respond to requests for additional documents.
Supporting materials:[3]
Does everyone need to take a Japanese-language test if they want a five-year period of stay?
This is not a requirement that applies to everyone. Guidance for third-generation Japanese descendants lists proof of Japanese-language ability or educational history for applicants who are not minors and wish to receive a five-year period of stay. Check the options for the applicable category.
Supporting materials:[2]
Official Immigration and Legal Affairs Sources
Check the following official pages for application forms and the latest required submission materials. Official materials are displayed in Japanese or other languages provided by each organization.
- [1] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Status of Residence “Long-Term Resident”
- [2] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Documents to submit for recognition, change, etc. of status for Long-Term Residents and third-generation Japanese descendants
- [3] Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application documents for minor, unmarried biological children supported by permanent residents, Long-Term Residents, or special permanent residents
- [4] Immigration Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Justice: Examples of permission and denial of changes from “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” or “Spouse of Permanent Resident” to “Long-Term Resident” (revised March 2017)