Does a History of Calling the Police Affect Immigration Procedures?#

Many foreign residents living in Japan harbor a significant anxiety: “Will getting involved with the police negatively impact my visa status?” This concern is particularly acute when considering future applications for the extension of period of stay or for permanent residency. Whether one calls the police as a victim of a crime, or if the police are called due to a heated domestic dispute, understanding how a “history of police reports” affects immigration screening is crucial for long-term stability in Japan.

Here, we will objectively explain the impact of police interactions on immigration procedures, based on the principles of the Japanese immigration system and practical operational standards.

Reporting as a Victim or Witness Generally Has No Negative Impact#

To state the conclusion first: simply having a record of calling the police as a “victim” of a crime or accident, or reporting an incident as a witness, does not, in principle, lead to the denial of an immigration application.

The Japanese police exist to maintain public safety and order. Regardless of nationality, every person residing in Japan has the right to receive police protection. What the Immigration Services Agency evaluates during screening is primarily the applicant’s “Good Conduct” (known as soko-yoken in the context of Permanent Residency, though general good behavior is expected for all statuses). Being a victim of a crime and seeking help does not constitute “bad conduct.”

For instance, if you report a burglary, an assault on the street, or a stolen wallet to the police, filing such a report will not be treated as a negative factor in your next visa renewal or permanent residency application. On the contrary, following appropriate legal procedures to report a crime can be interpreted as respecting the rules of Japanese society.

Cases Involving Domestic Disputes or Noise Complaints#

The situation often becomes confusing when the police intervene in private matters, such as arguments between couples (including potential Domestic Violence) or noise complaints where neighbors call the police on the foreign resident.

Without Arrest, It Is Not a “Criminal Record”#

If police officers arrive at the scene, listen to the situation, calm things down, and leave without taking anyone into custody—or even if you are taken to the police station for questioning but released shortly after without charges—this usually does not result in an “arrest” or “prosecution.” While this may be colloquially referred to as “police trouble” (keisatsu-zata), it is distinct from a legal “criminal record” (zenka).

Immigration strictly scrutinizes records where criminal penalties have been imposed. Therefore, simply receiving a warning for noise or having police mediate a quarrel is unlikely to lead directly to the revocation of a status of residence or the denial of a renewal.

Concerns Regarding Stability of Life#

However, if police reports are frequent, there is a risk that it could affect the screening from a different perspective. For example, if a foreign resident holding a “Spouse or Child of Japanese National” visa is repeatedly involved in police-intervention level fights with their spouse, Immigration may question the “stability and continuity of the marriage.”

The problem in this scenario is not necessarily the police record itself, but rather the fact that a peaceful marital life is clearly not being maintained. If Immigration becomes aware of this instability, it could result in a shorter period of stay being granted (e.g., 1 year instead of 3 years) or, in extreme cases where the marriage is deemed to have lost its substance, difficulties in renewing the status.

Cases That Clearly Affect Screening#

The type of police interaction that definitely negatively impacts immigration screening is when the applicant becomes a “suspect” (higisha) and receives legal punishment.

Arrest and Detention: The fact of being physically detained is taken seriously. Even if the case results in non-prosecution (including suspension of prosecution), the details and circumstances of the incident may affect the immigration examiner’s impression of the applicant’s conduct.
Fines or Heavier Penalties: If a summary indictment leads to a criminal fine (bakkin)—which is distinct from minor administrative traffic fines (hansokukin)—it is highly likely that the applicant will be judged as failing to meet the requirement of good conduct.
Grounds for Deportation: If a sentence exceeds a certain level of severity (e.g., imprisonment, even with a suspended sentence, in certain categories), the foreign resident may become subject to deportation (taikyo-kyosei) rather than just a visa denial.

For Permanent Residence applications, “Good Conduct” is a mandatory requirement. The standards applied here are stricter than those for standard renewals. Even minor violations of the law, if repeated, can be viewed as a failure to comply with Japanese laws, leading to denial.

Furthermore, regarding data sharing, the Immigration Services Agency and the National Police Agency cooperate under the Ministry of Justice and other frameworks. While not every trivial call to the 110 emergency number is automatically pushed to the Immigration database in real-time, records of arrests and criminal dispositions are systematically shared.

One common fear among foreign spouses is that a Japanese partner might threaten, “If you call the police, I will have your visa cancelled.” It is important to understand that a spouse does not have the legal authority to cancel a visa; only the Immigration Services Agency can do that. If you are a victim of domestic violence, the priority should be your safety. Japanese law has provisions to protect victims, and in certain cases, victims of DV can change their status to “Long-Term Resident” to remain in Japan independently of their abusive spouse.

Conclusion#

A history of calling the police does not, in itself, immediately invite a visa denial. Specifically, seeking help when you feel your safety is threatened is a legitimate right, and you should not hesitate to call the police out of fear for future immigration screenings.

The critical point for Immigration is whether you have committed a crime or received legal punishment. As long as you are living in compliance with Japanese laws and are not the perpetrator of a crime, simply having a record of consulting or reporting to the police will not penalize you. However, if a situation escalates into legal trouble where you are suspected of a crime, it is strongly recommended to consult with a legal professional immediately.