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No: Japan’s revised permanent-residence guideline does not establish one salary that every foreign applicant must earn. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) describes an income consideration based on the annual income of the applicant’s household, compared with the average income of Japanese households of a similar size. The ISA issued the revision on October 1, 2026.

How Japan’s new income consideration works

The ISA’s guideline summary says the applicant’s household annual income should have continuously reached a level above the average income of Japanese households corresponding to that household’s size. That is a household comparison, not a universal personal salary threshold.

Whose income is included?

The summary defines a household by people who share both a residence and household finances. It says the incomes of members of the same financial household are combined. It also distinguishes an adult or other person who is no longer supported by their parents: that person’s income is considered separately from the parents’ income. The summary does not spell out every possible family or dependency arrangement.

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What the published material does not establish

The ISA summary and Jiji Press’s October 1, 2026 report do not provide specific yen thresholds for each household size or a detailed calculation method. They therefore do not support quoting a single income figure or calculating a precise cutoff for an individual applicant. The materials also do not confirm an exact language-proficiency level.

When the income provision applies

Jiji Press reported on October 1, 2026, that the income provision applies to applications filed on or after April 1, 2026, that remain unprocessed. This means the reported transition reaches some applications filed before the ISA announced the revision. The report says other new requirements take effect in April 2027.

A separate change to period-of-stay treatment

The ISA’s English guide summary says that from April 1, 2027, a three-year period of stay will no longer be treated as the longest period of stay. It describes limited transitional treatment for certain people who hold a three-year period of stay as of March 31, 2027, and receive a decision during that period, for their first application.

Because the application date, processing status, residence period, and decision date can all matter, applicants should check the complete current ISA guideline and transition provisions against their own case.

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What the pension provision says—and does not say

Jiji Press reported that expected future pension benefits will be considered against a benchmark associated with 30 years of participation in Japan’s employees’ pension program, or kosei nenkin, at the applicant’s current income level. That is a comparison involving projected benefits. The report does not say applicants must already have paid into the pension system for 30 years.

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Permanent residence still has broader eligibility requirements

The income and pension considerations sit within a wider review. The ISA guideline continues to refer to good conduct, assets or skills sufficient to support an independent livelihood, and whether granting permanent residence serves Japan’s national interest.

Residence history and public obligations

In principle, the ISA guideline calls for 10 years of continuous residence in Japan, including at least 5 continuous years under qualifying work or residence statuses. The guideline excludes specified statuses from the qualifying period. Applicants must also properly fulfill public obligations, including taxes, public pension and health-insurance premiums, and required notifications.

What permanent-resident status provides

Permanent residence is permission granted by the Minister of Justice under Article 22 of Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. Unlike other statuses, it has no restriction on activities or period of stay. The ISA says applications are therefore reviewed carefully; meeting one income consideration does not by itself establish eligibility or guarantee approval.

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