Calculating Residency History for Permanent Residence: From TITP to SSW#

As Japan continues to open its doors to foreign workers, a common career path has emerged: completing the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and transitioning to the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status, with the ultimate goal of obtaining Permanent Residence (PR).

However, calculating the “residency history” required for PR involves complex nuances, particularly regarding how the TITP period is treated under the “10-year residency” and “5-year working status” rules. This article provides an objective explanation of these calculation rules based on current immigration laws and the official guidelines for Permanent Residence.

The Basic Requirements for Permanent Residence#

First, let us establish the fundamental residency requirements as outlined in the “Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence” published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. In principle, an applicant must satisfy the following:

1. Continuous residence in Japan for 10 years or more.
2. Within that period, residence with a working status (or residential status) for 5 years or more.

These two figures, “10 years” and “5 years,” are critical distinctions. “Continuous” means that the visa status has not been broken or interrupted by long periods outside Japan without a valid re-entry permit.

Does the TITP Period Count Towards the “10 Years”?#

Yes, generally, the period spent as a Technical Intern Trainee counts towards the “10 years of continuous residence.”

If a foreign national enters Japan as a Technical Intern Trainee, transitions to the Specified Skilled Worker status without returning to their home country for a period that breaks residency, and continues to live in Japan, the total time is calculated as residency history. Therefore, for the requirement of physically living in Japan for a decade, the TITP period is valid.

Does the TITP Period Count Towards the “5 Years of Working Status”?#

This is the most critical point of confusion. Under the guideline requirement to have “resided with a working status for 5 years or more,” the TITP period is generally NOT included.

The legal objective of the Technical Intern Training Program is defined as “international contribution through the transfer of skills to developing countries,” rather than purely satisfying Japan’s labor shortages (employment). Although interns are engaged in work in practice and are protected by labor laws, for the purpose of Immigration’s PR calculation, this status is viewed as “training” rather than a standard “working qualification.”

On the other hand, Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status (both Type 1 and Type 2) is clearly recognized as a working qualification.

Calculation Example#

Consider a scenario where a foreign national resides in Japan for 3 years under TITP and then works for 2 years under SSW.

• Total Residency (against the 10-year rule): 3 years (TITP) + 2 years (SSW) = 5 years total. (This counts towards the 10-year requirement.)
• Working Status Residency (against the 5-year rule): 0 years (TITP) + 2 years (SSW) = 2 years total. (The TITP period is excluded. Only the 2 years under SSW are counted.)

In this scenario, to apply for Permanent Residence, the applicant must continue working under SSW (or another standard working visa) for at least 3 more years to satisfy the “5 years of work” rule. Furthermore, they must wait until their total time in Japan reaches 10 years.

Effectively, the calculation would be: 3 years (TITP) + 7 years (SSW) = 10 years total (with 7 of those years qualifying as work status). This satisfies both rules.

The Additional Hurdle: The “3-Year Visa” Requirement#

There is another distinct requirement for PR application: “The applicant must possess the longest period of stay allowed for their current status of residence” (currently, a period of 3 years is considered sufficient to meet this “longest” requirement).

For Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 (SSW1), the periods of stay granted are often “1 year,” “6 months,” or “4 months.” It is common for workers to renew their status repeatedly but remain on 1-year visas. To apply for Permanent Residence, one must first succeed in obtaining a 3-year period of stay during an SSW renewal application.

To achieve a 3-year designation, Immigration typically looks for:

• A stable employment record.
• Strict compliance with laws (specifically, no late or missed payments of Residence Tax, Income Tax, National Health Insurance, and Pension).
• Stability of the host organization (employer).

Only when an applicant holds a 3-year visa and meets the residency history (10 years total + 5 years working status) can they proceed to the application stage.

Transition to SSW Type 2 and Permanent Residence#

If a worker can upgrade their status to Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (SSW2), the likelihood of receiving a 3-year (or indefinite) period of stay increases. SSW2 also allows for family sponsorship, which suggests a more stable foundation for living in Japan—a positive factor in PR examination. However, even with SSW2, the fundamental calculation rule remains: the past TITP years do not retroactively count as “working qualification years.”

Conclusion#

When aiming for Permanent Residence via the TITP to SSW route, the timeline calculation is as follows:

1. Total Residency (10-year rule): TITP period IS counted.
2. Working Status (5-year rule): TITP period is NOT counted. The count effectively starts from the transition to SSW.
3. Application Timing: One becomes eligible only after working under SSW (or similar status) for at least 5 years, residing in Japan for a total of 10 years, and currently holding a visa term of at least 3 years.

It is vital to understand that while the Technical Intern Training period is not “wasted” (it counts toward the 10-year total), it does not help shorten the 5-year work requirement. Applicants should plan their long-term career and life in Japan with this dual-standard calculation in mind. Please note that these are general principles; alternative routes, such as the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) point system, utilize entirely different calculation methods.