Strategies for Applying for Permanent Residence: Examination Timeframes and the Impact of Job Change

Applying for a permanent residence permit through the Highly Specialized Professional (HSP) points system is a very powerful route that can significantly shorten the normal "10 years of residence" requirement. However, there are several points to carefully consider in preparing your application, including the choice of the office with jurisdiction to conduct the review and the timing of your career change.

1. what do you think of the "difference" in the examination period by the competent bureaus?

Currently, permanent residence examinations in major cities in Japan are extremely crowded, and cases that significantly exceed the standard processing time are the norm, especially at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau. On the other hand, it is true that regional immigration bureaus (e.g., Osaka Immigration Bureau and its branch offices that have jurisdiction over Kyoto) tend to proceed relatively smoothly.

What is important here is the "actual state of residence. In principle, applications are made to the immigration bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence, but if you have multiple locations, jurisdiction is determined by which one you apply as your "home base of residence. The examination is premised on which location you actually live and have your residence certificate, not merely on which address you transfer your address on the documents. Although it is understandable that the applicant wants to shorten the examination period, choosing an appropriate jurisdiction that matches the actual situation will result in a shortcut to the approval.

2. the impact of "changing jobs" immediately before and during the application process

One of the most important factors in the permanent residence examination is continuity and stability of employment.

If you are applying to use advanced professional points (80 or more) to reduce the original 10-year residency requirement to one year, you must have maintained continuous points from "one year prior" to that "at the time of application" and "during the review process".

Three points to keep in mind when changing jobs

• Consistency of job descriptions It is a prerequisite that the new job is within the scope of your current status of residence (e.g., technology, humanities, international services).
• Recalculation of points If a job change changes the annual income or addition to the work history, it is necessary to strictly re-calculate whether the 80 points are maintained again. In some cases, especially when changing jobs to a company that has just been established, the category of the company (size and performance) may change, affecting the points.
• Stability Evaluation Immediately after changing jobs, there is often a "trial period," during which the examiner may take a hard look at whether you can settle in your new environment. If possible, it is a safer approach in practice to establish several months' worth of salary in the new location and prove that employment has stabilized before proceeding with the application.

Conclusion

Permanent residency is a qualification to obtain ultimate stability in one's life in Japan. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau will not only look at the present stability, but also at "continuity in the future.

While it is wonderful to choose a location that suits your lifestyle and to advance your career, it is essential to take a bird's-eye view of how your situation will be reflected in the screening process when you apply for permanent residence, which is a major milestone in your career. The first step to a secure approval is to carefully analyze your situation one by one to see if it meets the "purpose of the system".