Guides

Days outside Japan and the 2026 permanent residence guideline

On 1 October 2026 the Immigration Services Agency of Japan revised its guideline on permanent residence (永住許可に関するガイドライン). The revised text describes absences abroad with concrete periods. Here is the text, what it does and does not say, and how naturalisation differs.

The original text

Section 2-5(6), "residing for a long period as a member of Japanese society":

申請時点において、原則として引き続き１０年以上の期間本邦に在留しているかを考慮要素とし、（中略）また、これらの期間については、基本的に本邦に居住していることが求められることから、申請時点から過去１０年以内において、合理的な理由なく、一回の出国で半年以上不在とした期間がある場合又は通算して２年６月以上不在とした場合は原則として消極評価をします。

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 永住許可に関するガイドライン (revised 1 October 2026) (checked 2026-10-31)

Our translation (not official): the applicant is in principle expected to have stayed in Japan continuously for 10 years or more, including 5 years or more continuously with a work or residence status. Because these periods basically require living in Japan, if within the past 10 years from the application there was, without a reasonable reason, a period of absence of half a year or more on one departure, or absences of two years and six months or more in total, this is in principle assessed negatively.

When it applies

Section 6 says: 「本ガイドラインの改定は令和９年４月１日以降の申請から適用します。」 (The revision applies to applications made on or after 1 April 2027.) A separate exception in section 6 brings forward only sections 2-4(2) and 2-5(7), which are about income and public burden, not absences.

We have not confirmed whether the guideline in force before this revision mentioned absence numbers. If you apply before 1 April 2027, ask the immigration bureau or an adviser how absences will be treated.

Months, not days

The guideline says "half a year" (半年) and "two years and six months" (２年６月). It does not convert them to days and does not say whether the departure and return days count. The counter therefore:

• marks a trip as half a year or more when you were outside until at least the day before the same date six months after your first day outside;
• compares your total with the number of days between the reference date and the date two years and six months earlier;
• lets you choose whether the departure and return days count, starting with the cautious choice that counts both.

"Without a reasonable reason" and "in principle"

The guideline does not list what counts as a reasonable reason. Section 1-2 also says the decision is made by considering all circumstances of each case and that the guideline only sets out basic ideas about factors to consider. So a total above or below the lines is not a decision.

Naturalisation is different

For naturalisation the Ministry of Justice explains the residence condition (Nationality Act article 5(1)(i)) as:

帰化の申請をする時まで、引き続き５年以上日本に住んでいることが必要です。なお、住所は、適法なものでなければなりませんので、正当な在留資格を有していなければなりません。

Source: Ministry of Justice of Japan, 国籍Ｑ＆Ａ, Q9 and Q10 (checked 2026-10-31)

In short: you must have lived in Japan continuously for five years or more up to the application, with a lawful status. The ministry publishes no number of days you may spend abroad. Applications go to the Legal Affairs Bureau for your address (Q10), and the ministry asks applicants to consult that bureau (Q11).

Getting exact dates

If you used automated gates or renewed your passport, your stamps may be incomplete. Foreign nationals can request their Japanese entry and departure records (外国人出入国記録, available from 1 November 1970) from the Immigration Services Agency. The fee is a 300 yen revenue stamp per request.

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 出入（帰）国記録の開示請求について (requesting your entry and departure records) (checked 2026-10-31)