PR: long absences from Japan will count against you
One trip abroad of 6 months or more, or 2 years 6 months abroad in total over the last 10 years, will generally count against a PR application unless there's a reasonable cause.
The revised guideline looks at time spent abroad in the 10 years before an application. Without a reasonable cause, either of these generally counts against you:
- one absence of 6 months or more
- absences adding up to 2 years 6 months or more
What counts as a reasonable cause
ISA hasn’t listed any. Asked to name examples such as overseas postings or caring for relatives, it said absences aren’t marked down automatically and that it will judge each case individually. Its reasoning is that permanent residents are expected to have their life based in Japan.
Not clear yet
The guideline doesn’t exempt the shorter routes from these markers, but it also doesn’t say how they apply to the 3 years of continuous residence on the spouse route. ISA’s response to public comments doesn’t address it, and we haven’t found a practitioner who does either. Until ISA says otherwise, assume they count.
Keeping a record
If you travel a lot, keep a log of every trip with the dates you left and came back. If your own records have gaps, you can ask ISA for your entry and exit records with a personal information disclosure request.
Sources
- 永住許可に関するガイドライン（令和８年１０月１日改定）
Immigration Services Agency · Japanese · official source
- 永住許可に関するガイドライン案改定に係る意見募集の結果について（別紙）
Immigration Services Agency · Japanese · official source
This is information about published rules, not legal advice, and not a decision about your case. ISA decides each application on its own facts. Check with ISA (0570-013904) or a licensed gyoseishoshi before acting. Spotted an error? Tell us