What is the difference between a “Long Term Resident” and a “Permanent Resident”?

You may have heard the terms “Long Term Resident” and “Permanent Resident” before, but do you know the difference between them? I guess you can imagine that a permanent resident is someone who can live in Japan forever, but what is a long term resident?

I would like to explain the long term resident and the difference between two status of residence.

What is the “Long Term Resident”?

There are two types of long term resident.

(1) “Notification of Long Term Resident

A person having a status determined in advance, with a long term resident notice

Applicable person

・Myanmar refugees (Notification No. 1)

・Nisei (second generation of Japanese) , Sansei  (Notification No. 3)

・Sansei (Notification No. 4)

・A spouse of a long term resident who is Nisei or Sansei (Notification No. 5)

・A minor, unmarried person who is receiving support from his/her parents and whose parents are Japanese, permanent resident, long term resident, spouse of a Japanese national or spouse of a long term resident (Notification No. 6)

・Those under the age of 6 whose adoptive parents are Japanese, permanent residents or permanent residents (Notification No. 7)

・Remaining Japanese nationals in China and their relations (Notification No. 8)

Those who fall under any of the above categories can come to Japan with the status of residence of a “long term resident”. In other words, only those foreigners who meet the requirements of the Notification of Long Term Resident status can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for “Long Term Resident”.

(2) “Not notified Long Term Resident

Those who do not engage in activities as “Notification of Long Term Resident” but who are given the status of residence of a long term resident.

This is a case where you do not fall under the above notification, but the Minister of Justice grants you the status of “permanent resident” in consideration of “special reasons”.

Examples

1.Certified refugees

 People apply for “refugee status”, but in practice, the screening process is very strict and it is difficult to get approved. The number of refugee applicants exceeded 10,000 for the first time in 2016, but the number of approval was only 28. Since then, the number of approval has remained low: 20 in 2017, 42 in 2018, and in 2019, 10,375 applied and only 44 approved.  (Source of reference: Ministry of Justice website)

Although you may not be approved as a refugee, you may be able to stay as a “Long Term Resident” for humanitarian reasons.

2. Those who wish to continue to stay in Japan after divorcing their Japanese spouse, permanent resident or special permanent resident.

The practical requirements:

①To have had a normal marriage and family relationship in Japan for approximately 3 years or more

②To have enough assets or skills to make a living

③Must have enough Japanese language skills to have no trouble in daily life or no difficulty in leading a social life.

④To have fulfilled and expected to fulfill a public obligation

3.Those who wish to continue to stay in Japan after the death of their Japanese spouse, permanent resident or special permanent resident. 

The practical requirements:

①To have had a normal marriage and family relationship in Japan for approximately 3 years or more

②To have enough assets or skills to make a living

③Must have enough Japanese language skills to have no trouble in daily life or no difficulty in leading a social life.

④To have fulfilled and expected to fulfill a public obligation

4.Those that have custody and care of Japanese birth children

*”Custody and care” means living with the child and providing daily care and education

①To have enough assets or skills to make a living

② A person who has custody and care of a child born to a Japanese and who meets all of the following criteria

a. To be the custodian of a Japanese biological child

b. Acknowledged to have had custody and care of the biological child for a reasonable period of time

If you have custody of a Japanese child but do not live with the child and provide daily care and education, or if you have only the visiting right with the child and do not have a custody of the child, it is very difficult to change your status of residence to a Long Term Resident.

Since each case is determined on a case-by-case basis, it is not always permitted even though you fulfill the requirements.

The period of Long Term Resident

5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 month

Similarities between Long Term Residents and Permanent Residents

Common features are as follows:

・There are no work restrictions

・No restrictions on their work activities while in Japan means they can work like Japanese regardless of the type of work.

・Need a permit to re-enter Japan

・No suffrage

・Be subject to deportation

The Differences Between Long Term Residents and Permanent Residents

There are many differences in terms of period of stay, social credibility, acquisition requirements and application procedures. Permanent residents have stricter requirements for obtaining the status of residence.

Period of stay and renewal procedures

As seen above, the period of stay for a long term resident is set at 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or six months depending on the individual case.  On the other hand, there is no limit to the period of stay for a permanent resident.

Since long term residents have a period of stay, they must apply for renewal if they wish to continue to live in Japan. After the expiration of their period of stay, they become illegal aliens.

Permanent residents, on the other hand, do not need to renew their status of residence. However, permanent residents must also renew their residence cards every 7 years.

Differences in social credibility

Permanent residents are regarded as having higher social credit than long term residents because they are to live in Japan permanently. When you have good social credit, it is easier to get a loan from a bank or other financial institutions to buy a house or a car.

Summary

  Permanent Residents Long Term Residents
Work restrictions None None
Permit to re-enter Japan Necessary
Necessary
Suffrage None None
Deportation Subject Subject
Period of stay

no restriction 5 years, 3 years,
1 year, 6 months

If you need any help to get a long term visa or a permanent visa, please contact us.

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