---
title: "Permanent Residence (永住, PR) in Japan: Overview"
url: https://memocore.ai/memos/6a5f642263d783ad687094f0
project: "Doing Business in Japan"
tags: "japan-business, visa-other, current-2025"
updated_at: "2026-07-21T12:20:50.580Z"
---

# Permanent Residence (永住, PR) in Japan: Overview

Processing times for PR applications have grown substantially: in 2024-2025 they exceeded 12-15 months (up from 6-9 months previously), and by May 2025 stood at roughly 1.5-2 years, reaching as long as 2 years in Tokyo. Regional offices (Niigata, Hokkaido, Okinawa, Takamatsu, Kanagawa) generally process applications faster. As of October 16, 2025, holders of the Business Manager (BM) visa are officially barred from applying for PR until they meet the new requirements introduced by the reform — this is the main new barrier to PR for entrepreneurs. See: PR Processing Times, Priority Order, and Approval-Rate Statistics. See: PR Eligibility: HSFP/J-Skip Fast Track, Visa-Duration Rules, the BM-Visa Ban, and the Contribution Criterion. See: PR: Tax Compliance, Spouse Scrutiny, Revocation Risk, and Reapplication After Refusal.