How Long to Get PR in Japan in 2026

Japan’s permanent residency processing time is officially listed as 標準処理期間 (hyojun shori kikan), or standard processing period, of 4 to 6 months.

If you are asking “how long to get PR in Japan,” the official permanent residence page states a 4 to 6 month standard processing period.

Official permanent residency processing time in Japan

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan lists the permanent residence permission application, 永住許可申請 (eiju kyoka shinsei), as a procedure for a foreign national who has a status of residence and wants to change to the status of “Permanent Resident,” or who wants to acquire that status after birth or another qualifying event. The official page states the standard processing period is 4 to 6 months.

The same official page also emphasizes that even if none of the checklist answers are “No,” that does not guarantee permission.

The Immigration Services Agency also publishes average processing periods for residence examinations by regional immigration bureaus. Its processing-period page explains that these published figures are average days from receiving the application to permission being granted and notified, and that refusals and withdrawn applications are not included in those figures according to the official processing-period notice.

This distinction matters. The permanent residency page gives the standard period for PR, while the processing-period page explains how Immigration publishes average processing data more generally. Neither source gives an approval-rate guarantee for every PR application.

What Immigration examines in a PR application

The official PR page does not publish a detailed ranking of “fast” and “slow” case types. However, it does show what Immigration examines and what applicants must submit.

The permanent residence examination criteria are listed as: good conduct, having assets or skills sufficient for an independent livelihood, and being recognized as beneficial to Japan’s interests under the official PR examination criteria. For spouses or children of Japanese nationals, Permanent Residents, or Special Permanent Residents, the official page states that the first two criteria do not need to be met.

The official page says the required documents differ depending on the applicant’s status of residence, identity, or position, and applicants must submit materials corresponding to those categories.

The page also directs applicants to check whether they meet the permanent residence requirements before applying. It warns that if even one item on the relevant checklist is “No,” the PR application is highly likely to be refused, while also saying that having no “No” answers does not guarantee approval.

In practical terms, applicants should use the correct document guidance for their category and check the relevant Immigration checklist before submission.

Step-by-step timing checklist before you apply

Use this checklist to avoid missing official timing and submission points. It does not make the review faster by itself, but it helps you prepare according to the official procedure.

1. Confirm the correct PR procedure

The official procedure applies when a foreign national with a status of residence wants to change to Permanent Resident status, or when a foreign national wants to acquire Permanent Resident status after birth or another event as described by Immigration. Make sure you are preparing for the right procedure before collecting documents.

2. Check the timing before your current stay expires

For a person applying to change to Permanent Resident status, the application period is before the expiration date of the current period of stay. The official page states that if the period of stay will pass while the PR application is pending, you must separately file an application for extension of period of stay by the expiration date.

This is one of the most important timing points. Filing PR does not remove the need to file the separate extension application if your period of stay will expire during the PR review.

3. Use the correct document list for your category

The official PR page separates document guidance by category, including spouse or child of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident, or Special Permanent Resident; Long-Term Resident; work-related statuses and Dependent; Highly Skilled Foreign Professional; and Special Highly Skilled Foreign Professional. It also states that documents differ depending on status of residence, identity, or position.

Do not rely on another applicant’s list unless their category is the same as yours.

4. Check the Immigration checklist before submission

The official page tells applicants to confirm whether they meet the requirements using the relevant checklist before applying. It warns that a PR application is highly likely to be refused if even one item is answered “No.”

This is not just a formality. It is a useful final screen before you spend months waiting for a result.

5. Submit to the correct immigration office

The application must be submitted to the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over your place of residence according to the official submission guidance. The page says applicants can contact the regional immigration office or the Foreign Residents Information Center for the office and procedure details.

The official reception hours are weekday mornings and afternoons, but the page notes that days or times may be set depending on the procedure. Confirm with the office before going.

What you can and cannot do while PR is pending

The clearest official rule is about expiry. If your period of stay will expire during the PR review, the Immigration Services Agency states that you must separately apply for extension of period of stay before the expiration date on the PR procedure page.

You also cannot assume that a pending PR application means approval is coming. The official page says the checklist is not a guarantee of permission, and the page lists no appeal method for this procedure.

If your application is approved, a fee is due when permission is granted. The official fee is 10,000 yen, paid with a revenue stamp, and the page states that no fee is charged for acquisition of status.

Consultation contacts for a pending PR application

The official PR page lists the consultation contacts as the regional immigration office or the Foreign Residents Information Center. It also lists the Foreign Residents Information Center phone number as 0570-013904.

When making an inquiry, have your application details ready. The official procedure page lists the regional immigration office and the Foreign Residents Information Center as consultation contacts.

You can also follow the Immigration Services Agency’s published residence examination processing periods. The processing-period page states that average processing days have been published since fiscal year 2017, and that from permissions in October 2024 onward the data is published monthly on the official processing-period page.

Those figures can help you understand general review conditions, but they are not a personal case result. The page explains that the published data is based on cases that resulted in permission and does not include refusals or withdrawals.

What to do if your PR review takes longer than the standard period

If your application has gone beyond the official 4 to 6 month standard processing period, confirm that your current residence timing is still protected. If your period of stay will expire while the PR application is still pending, the official page requires a separate extension application before the expiration date.

You may also contact the regional immigration office with jurisdiction over your residence or the Foreign Residents Information Center. These are the official consultation contacts listed for the PR procedure.

If you used a qualified intermediary, coordinate through that person. The official page allows certain approved application intermediaries, including lawyers or administrative scriveners who have made the required notification to the regional immigration bureau and have been asked by the applicant to act.

The official PR page lists “none” for the appeal method, so you should not plan around an appeal process if the application is refused.

Key takeaways for 2026 applicants

The official answer to “how long to get PR in Japan” is 4 to 6 months as the standard processing period.

Your best preparation is to submit the correct documents for your category, check the official PR checklist, and avoid any issue with the expiration of your current period of stay. If your PR application wait time becomes a concern, use the official consultation contacts listed on the PR procedure page and keep any required extension application on schedule.

Common questions