Scope and Conditions for Family Reunification After Acquiring Permanent Residence in Japan#
Acquiring “Permanent Resident” (Eijusha) status is a significant milestone for foreign nationals living in Japan. It eliminates the need for visa renewals and removes restrictions on employment activities, thereby providing a stable foundation for life in Japan. However, once Permanent Residency is achieved, different rules apply when bringing family members from one’s home country to Japan or changing the visa status of family members already residing in Japan.
This article provides an objective and detailed explanation of the scope, conditions, and recent trends regarding “family reunification” after acquiring Permanent Residency.
Visa Categories for Family Members of Permanent Residents#
First, it is essential to understand the specific visa category used. When a Permanent Resident sponsors a family member, the applicable Status of Residence is “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” (Eijusha no Haigusha to).
Before acquiring Permanent Residency, if the sponsor was in Japan on a work visa (such as “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”), their dependents would typically hold a “Dependent” (Kazoku Taizai) visa. There are significant differences between the “Dependent” visa and the “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” visa, particularly regarding employment rights.
Key Benefit: Removal of Employment Restrictions#
Under the “Dependent” visa, family members are generally not permitted to work. To work, they must obtain “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted,” which limits them to 28 hours per week (part-time).
In contrast, the “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” visa has no such employment restrictions. The spouse or child can work full-time, engage in manual labor, or even start a business. This change significantly contributes to the economic stability of the household, as the family is no longer reliant on a single income source or limited part-time wages.
Scope of Eligible Family Members#
It is a common misconception that obtaining Permanent Residency allows one to bring any relative to Japan. The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act strictly defines who is eligible.
1. Spouses#
Only legally married spouses are eligible. In Japanese immigration practice, “de facto” marriages (common-law partners) are generally not recognized as valid for this visa category. A valid marriage certificate from the home country (and typically registered in Japan as well) is a mandatory requirement.
2. Children (Biological and Adopted)#
Children of Permanent Residents are eligible. This applies to biological children as well as adopted children (both regular and special adoption).
- Minors: Bringing minor children is relatively standard, provided the parent can support them.
- Adult Children: The screening becomes much stricter for children who have reached adulthood. The immigration authorities will assess whether the child is still dependent on the parent or if they should be financially independent. Merely being a child of a Permanent Resident is often insufficient for an adult child to obtain this visa; there usually needs to be a reason necessitating parental care or support.
3. The High Hurdle for Parents#
A critical point of caution is that parents are not included in the scope of the “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” visa. Acquiring Permanent Residency does not grant an automatic right to bring parents to live in Japan.
To bring parents, one must apply for a “Designated Activities” (Tokutei Katsudo) visa for humanitarian reasons. However, the criteria for this are extremely strict. It is generally only granted if:
- The parent is elderly.
- The parent is suffering from an illness requiring care.
- The parent has no other relatives in their home country to care for them.
- The Permanent Resident in Japan is the only person capable of providing support.
Requests based solely on a desire to live together or to have the parents help with childcare (babysitting grandchildren) are almost universally rejected. The immigration authorities maintain a strict stance to prevent overburdening the Japanese social welfare system.
Conditions and Recent Screening Trends#
When screening applications for family reunification, the Immigration Services Agency places heavy emphasis on the sponsor’s “financial capability” and “compliance with public obligations.”
Economic Foundation (Independent Livelihood Requirement)#
The sponsor (the Permanent Resident) must demonstrate sufficient income to support the entire family without relying on public assistance. While there is no officially published minimum annual income, the amount must realistically cover living expenses for the increased number of household members.
A significant trend in recent years is the rigorous verification of tax and social security payments. It is not enough to simply earn a high income; the sponsor must be a model resident.
- Tax: Residence Tax (Juminzei) and Income Tax must be paid on time.
- Social Security: Enrollment in and timely payment of National Health Insurance and National Pension (or Employees’ Pension/Health Insurance) are scrutinized.
Even a few missed or late payments in the recent past can lead to the denial of the family member’s visa application. The authorities view the payment record as an indicator of the sponsor’s stability and responsibility.
Stability of the Permanent Resident Status#
Discussions regarding amendments to the Immigration Control Act have recently focused on the potential revocation of Permanent Resident status for those who maliciously fail to pay taxes or social insurance premiums. This stricter legislative atmosphere indirectly affects family reunification. If the sponsor’s own status is precarious due to non-compliance with public obligations, inviting family members becomes nearly impossible.
Conclusion#
For family members, transitioning to the “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” status offers the profound advantage of unrestricted employment, allowing for a more integrated and stable life in Japan. However, the scope of eligible family members is limited essentially to spouses and dependent children. Bringing parents remains exceptionally difficult and is reserved for humanitarian cases.
Furthermore, the screening process strictly evaluates the Permanent Resident’s history of tax and social security payments. To successfully bring family to Japan, maintaining a clean record of public obligation fulfillment and a stable economic foundation is more critical than ever.