Can You Lose Permanent Resident Status in Japan?

The 2024 amendment to Japan's Immigration Control Act added new grounds on which the status of residence of a permanent resident may be revoked. There are three (3) such grounds: failing to comply with obligations under the Immigration Control Act, willfully failing to pay taxes or social insurance premiums, and being sentenced to imprisonment for certain crimes. In October 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency (the ISA) published guidelines explaining how these grounds will be assessed, and the ISA will put these guidelines into operation starting April 1, 2027.

If you have read the news and have ever been late on a pension payment, or are currently paying your resident tax in installments, you may be wondering whether your own permanent residency is at risk. However, the guidelines do not say that permanent resident status will be revoked simply because a payment was late once. Furthermore, even if one of these grounds applies, as a general rule you will not be required to leave Japan immediately.

In this article, we explain, for those who have already obtained permanent residency, what can be grounds for revocation, how cases where you cannot pay are treated, what happens if a ground applies, and what records you should organize now, based on the published guidelines and the ISA's official Q&A.

When Do the New Guidelines Apply?

These guidelines concern people who already hold the status of residence of “Permanent Resident,” and they will be put into operation starting April 1, 2027. The 2024 amendment to the Immigration Control Act that added the new grounds for revocation also takes effect on April 1, 2027.

Permanent residents do not need to renew their period of stay. As a result, unlike holders of other statuses of residence, they do not have their tax payment status and similar matters checked at each renewal. According to the ISA, the new grounds were introduced to deal with a small number of people who, after obtaining permanent residency, deliberately stop meeting the requirements they met when permission was granted.

Please note that revocation of permanent resident status is not a new system. Even before the amendment, permanent resident status could be revoked in cases such as failing, without a justifiable reason, to notify a new address within 90 days of moving, or obtaining permanent residency by deception or other wrongful means. Separately, there is also a system under which a person may be subject to deportation, for example if sentenced to more than one (1) year of actual imprisonment. The new guidelines explain how the three (3) grounds added by the 2024 amendment will be assessed.

Special Permanent Residents are not covered by this amendment.

What Can Lead to Revocation?

The three (3) grounds for revocation added by the 2024 amendment are as follows. For each ground, the guidelines narrow down what is covered.

Not Meeting Immigration Duties

What is covered are obligations imposed on permanent residents under the Immigration Control Act that are backed by penalties and are not themselves grounds for deportation. These include, for example, the obligation to carry your Residence Card, the obligation to present it when requested, and the obligation to apply to renew the validity period of your Residence Card.

If there is a justifiable reason for not meeting an obligation, such as illness or disaster, this ground does not apply. On the other hand, the guidelines state that even an obligation missed through carelessness may fall under this ground. However, the guidelines also state that revoking a person's status based only on a single failure, such as forgetting to renew the Residence Card or not carrying it on one occasion, is not anticipated.

Willful Nonpayment

The taxes and social insurance premiums referred to here (called “kōso kōka” in the guidelines) include taxes such as income tax, resident tax, and fixed asset tax, as well as premiums for National Health Insurance and employee health insurance, and premiums for the National Pension and the Employees' Pension. They do not include fines, penalty payments for traffic violations, or usage fees for facilities.

“Willfully failing to pay” means deliberately not paying despite knowing that you are obligated to pay. This covers not only cases where payments are actually delinquent, but also cases where a person fails to file a return even though it is clear that a filing is required, and as a result does not pay the taxes that should have been paid. Furthermore, if a permanent resident is substantially involved in managing a company and the company deliberately does not pay taxes or premiums that it owes, this may also be covered.

Whether this ground applies is decided by comprehensively considering factors such as your income and financial situation, the number of times, amounts, and length of any delinquencies, your subsequent payment history, and how the delinquency came about. Please note that no uniform threshold, such as a specific unpaid amount, has been set.

Imprisonment for Some Crimes

This ground covers only certain crimes specified by law, such as theft, fraud, extortion, bodily injury, homicide, and dangerous driving causing death or injury, and in each case only intentional crimes. If you are sentenced to imprisonment for one of these crimes, this ground applies regardless of the length of the sentence, including where the sentence is suspended.

On the other hand, being punished for a traffic accident caused by negligence (negligent driving causing death or injury) or for a violation of the Road Traffic Act does not fall under this ground for revocation relating to specified crimes. A fine also does not fall under this ground. However, regardless of the type of crime, a person sentenced to life imprisonment or to more than one (1) year of actual imprisonment may separately become subject to deportation.

Nonpayment Before April 2027

According to the guidelines, if it is found after the amendment takes effect on April 1, 2027 that a permanent resident willfully failed to pay taxes or premiums after obtaining permanent residency but before that date, this may also fall under the grounds for revocation. However, the decision will not be based solely on the circumstances at a single point in time before the amendment took effect, but will also take into account the person's subsequent payment history.

What If You Cannot Pay?

In short, if you are unable to pay due to unavoidable circumstances such as illness or unemployment, this is not considered “willfully failing to pay.” The guidelines give the following examples of cases that are anticipated to fall, and not to fall, under this ground. Please note that these are examples anticipated by the guidelines, not actual cases in which action has been taken.

Please note that having an installment plan or payment deferral does not always mean you are safe. If you repeatedly fail to pay by the agreed deadlines, your case falls within the examples considered willful nonpayment.

What If You Pay Later?

Even if the nonpayment is later resolved, for example through seizure of assets, this does not necessarily mean that your case will no longer be covered. However, whether revocation or other action is taken is decided by also considering the fact that the nonpayment was later resolved, together with the unpaid amount and period and how you responded to demand notices and similar measures. If you are behind on payments, it is important to pay as soon as possible or to discuss a payment method with the relevant office.

Is Asking for Help Reported?

National and local government officials may notify the ISA if, in the course of their duties, they learn of a foreign national they believe falls under a ground for revocation. However, this is not mandatory. According to the ISA, simply going to a government office to discuss how to pay taxes or premiums is not anticipated to result in a report. If you are having difficulty paying, please consult the office in charge of the tax or premium, and keep a record of the date of your consultation and what was decided.

Must You Leave Japan If It Applies?

As a general rule, no, you will not be required to leave Japan immediately. Even if one of the grounds added by the 2024 amendment applies, the Minister of Justice will, on the Minister's own authority (ex officio), change your status to a status of residence other than “Permanent Resident,” unless it is determined that it is not appropriate for you to continue to stay in Japan. The ISA has stated that in most cases it anticipates a change to “Long-Term Resident” (teijusha) status.

How Is the Decision Made?

The ISA will investigate the facts and then hold a hearing to hear the opinion of the person concerned (called “iken no chōshu”). At the hearing, the person or their representative can state their opinion and submit evidence. Based on this, the ISA will decide whether a ground for revocation applies and, if so, whether to revoke the status of residence or change it to another status. Please note that a report to the ISA alone does not mean it has been determined that a ground for revocation applies.

When Is Status Revoked?

With respect to payments, examples of cases where revocation is anticipated include cases where it is clear from the person's words and actions that they have no intention of paying in the future, cases where the person has repeatedly been delinquent on multiple taxes or premiums and future payment cannot be expected, and cases where the person has been convicted of tax evasion or a similar offense. With respect to crimes, revocation is anticipated where the person is found to have a well-established pattern of offending.

On the other hand, according to the guidelines, even where revocation is found to be appropriate, the ISA may change the person's status instead of revoking it where there is a particular need to consider family relationships or humanitarian factors. In addition, in light of the supplementary provisions of the amended Act, the ISA has stated that it will operate the system carefully, giving full consideration to the person's ties to Japan and living situation.

After a Change of Status

If your status is changed to “Long-Term Resident” or another status, your payment of taxes and premiums will be checked each time you renew the period of stay for that status. If it is later recognized that you meet the requirements for permanent residency, for example by properly paying taxes and premiums, you can obtain permanent residency again.

Effects on Your Family

Revocation or change of status applies only to the person who falls under the ground for revocation. Your family members will not become subject to revocation or change of status simply because they are your family. However, the effect depends on each family member's status of residence, as follows:

• Children: If their status of residence is “Permanent Resident” or “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” there is no effect.
• Spouse: If their status of residence is “Permanent Resident,” there is no effect. If it is “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” the basis for that status will no longer exist, so a change to “Long-Term Resident” or another status will be required.

Please also note that if you are dissatisfied with a decision to change or revoke your status of residence, you can file a lawsuit seeking to have the decision set aside or take other legal action.

What Should You Check Now?

Whether a ground for revocation applies is decided based on a comprehensive assessment of individual circumstances. If you have a history of late or unpaid amounts, organizing the following will make it easier for you to explain your situation.

If you are having difficulty paying, please do not leave the matter as it is; consult the office in charge of the tax or premium. If you receive a notice from the ISA, please first check what it says and any deadlines it contains.

Frequently Asked Questions

I once paid a fine for a traffic violation. Will my permanent residency be revoked?

A violation of the Road Traffic Act or a fine, in itself, does not fall under the newly added ground of “being sentenced to imprisonment for certain crimes.” This is because violations of the Road Traffic Act are not among the covered crimes, and a fine is not imprisonment. However, regardless of the type of crime, a person sentenced to life imprisonment or to more than one (1) year of actual imprisonment may separately become subject to deportation.

I lost my job and cannot pay my National Pension premiums. What should I do?

According to the guidelines, being unable to pay due to unavoidable circumstances such as unemployment is not considered “willfully failing to pay.” The National Pension has systems for exempting or deferring premiums. These do not apply automatically; you must meet the requirements and apply. Please first consult the office in charge, and keep a record of your consultation.

I received a notice from the ISA about a hearing. What should I do?

At the hearing, you can state your opinion and submit evidence. Please check the contents of the notice and any deadlines, gather your payment records and documents explaining your circumstances, and consult a professional as soon as possible. If you need someone to act as your representative, or if a lawsuit or criminal case is involved, we recommend consulting an attorney (bengoshi).