Important institutional changes are on the horizon for foreign professionals building their careers and staying long-term in Japan. As the Japanese government has decided to introduce a new period of stay category for the "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)" status of residence—designed for skilled foreign workers—it is expected to significantly impact the path to obtaining permanent residency in the future.
On August 4, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan announced a draft ministerial ordinance amendment to add a "5-year" option to the periods of stay for the "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)" status of residence. This amendment is interpreted as a measure to enhance legal stability for foreign workers wishing to stay in Japan long-term and to ensure equity with other professional visa categories.
Limitations of the Current Specified Skilled Worker (ii) System and Background of the Amendment
Currently, the periods of stay granted to foreign nationals holding a Specified Skilled Worker (ii) visa are divided into four categories: 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. In other words, the maximum period of stay that can be granted at one time is only 3 years, causing the inconvenience of having to renew the visa periodically.
The main point of this amendment is to add a "5-year" option to these periods of stay. Compared to other employment-related statuses of residence in Japan, such as "Nursing Care," which already offer a maximum period of stay of 5 years, this change aims to guarantee an equally stable stay environment for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) holders and maintain institutional balance.
Linking to a New "Essential Requirement" for Permanent Residency Applications
The reason this amendment is particularly important for foreign residents is that it is directly linked to the eligibility requirements for applying for permanent residency.
To apply for permanent residency (PR) in Japan, applicants must, in principle, hold the maximum period of stay allowed under their current status of residence. According to government policy, once the "5-year" period of stay is established for Specified Skilled Worker (ii), holders of this visa will, in principle, need to have obtained this "5-year" status of residence to be eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Therefore, for Specified Skilled Worker (ii) workers aiming to obtain permanent residency in Japan, this means that beyond simply extending their period of stay, an essential gateway has been added that they must pass through to proceed to the permanent residency screening stage.
Future Schedule and Plans for Establishing Specific Requirements
The Japanese government began a public comment period for this ministerial ordinance amendment on August 4, 2026, which will run until September 3 of the same year. Following the necessary procedures, the amendment is targeted to take effect in early January 2027.
However, a 5-year period of stay will not be granted uniformly to all Specified Skilled Worker (ii) holders. The Immigration Services Agency plans to establish specific screening criteria for granting the 5-year period of stay. This is expected to include key evaluation criteria such as the foreign national's work performance and diligent tax payment record, with detailed guidelines to be further coordinated and announced in the future.
Foreign workers planning to settle long-term in Japan should carefully check the specific requirements to be announced in the future and pay close attention to managing their tax payments and employment history.
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Source: 時事通信