Discontinuation of Residency Continuity Due to “Absence of One Year or More” in Permanent Residence Applications#

When applying for Permanent Residence (PR) in Japan, one of the most fundamental and critical requirements is to have “continuously resided in Japan for 10 years or more.” The term “continuously” does not merely imply maintaining a valid visa status; it signifies that the applicant has established their primary base of life in Japan and has physically resided there.

This article provides an objective explanation of how an “absence of one year or more” during the 10-year residency period affects the continuity of residency, focusing on the regulations of the Immigration Services Agency and the practical standards of examination.

Criteria for Breaking the “Continuity” of Residency#

In the examination for Permanent Residence, there are specific thresholds regarding absences from Japan that trigger a break (or a “reset”) in the continuity of residency. Generally, the following two scenarios are considered to break continuity:

Leaving Japan for a consecutive period of 90 days (approximately 3 months) or more.
Leaving Japan for a total of approximately 100 to 150 days or more within a single year.

In the context of the question regarding “an absence of one year or more,” this significantly exceeds the standard thresholds mentioned above. Consequently, in almost all cases, the Immigration Services Agency will determine that the continuity of residency has been completely severed.

Regardless of the reason for the absence, a departure of this duration is treated as a period where the applicant’s “base of life was not in Japan.” Even if the applicant returns to Japan with a valid status of residence, the calculation for the required “10 years” generally resets to zero, restarting from the date the applicant resumes their residency registration in Japan.

Why the “One-Year” Mark is Critical#

In Japanese immigration procedures, the duration of “one year” holds significant legal weight, particularly concerning the “Re-entry Permit” system. Understanding the distinction between a “Special Re-entry Permit” and a formal “Re-entry Permit” is essential to grasp why continuity is lost.

1. Expiration of the Special Re-entry Permit#

Currently, mid-to-long-term residents with a valid passport and Residence Card can depart Japan using a “Special Re-entry Permit” (Minashi Re-entry Permit) at the airport without obtaining prior approval. However, this Special Re-entry Permit is valid only for “one year from the date of departure” (or until the expiration of the current visa, whichever comes first).

If an individual departs using this system and does not return within one year, their status of residence automatically lapses (expires). Once the status of residence is lost, the history of residency naturally terminates at that point. Even if the individual obtains a new Certificate of Eligibility and returns to Japan later, this is legally processed as a “new entry,” and the previous residency period cannot be aggregated with the new period.

2. Possession of a Formal Re-entry Permit#

If an applicant obtains a formal “Re-entry Permit” from a regional Immigration Services Bureau before departure, they can maintain their visa status for an absence of up to five years (maximum). In this scenario, the visa itself does not expire even if the person is away for more than one year.

However, regarding the “continuously residing for 10 years” requirement for Permanent Residence, maintaining a visa status and maintaining actual residency are treated as separate issues. Even if the status of residence is legally preserved via a formal Re-entry Permit, the factual reality of being absent from Japan for more than one year serves as strong evidence that the applicant’s “center of life” had shifted abroad during that period.

Consequently, immigration practice dictates that an absence of one year or more typically resets the residency count for PR purposes, as it indicates a lack of settlement in Japanese society during that timeframe.

Possibility of Exceptions due to “Reasonable Grounds”#

Is it possible to claim an exception if there was a valid reason for the long-term absence? Practically speaking, avoiding a reset of the residency count after an absence of one year or more is extremely difficult.

Even if there were compelling circumstances, such as:

A long-term assignment order (expatriation) by a Japanese company,
Long-term hospitalization for medical treatment,
Caring for an elderly relative in the home country,

The Immigration Services Agency generally views an absence exceeding one year as an objective fact that the individual was not living in Japan. Therefore, the “continuous” condition is not met.

Exceptions are rarely granted and are typically reserved for highly specific cases involving national interest or dispatch by public organizations. For standard corporate assignments or personal family reasons, the residency clock almost invariably resets.

Recalculating the Period for Re-application#

If the residency history is reset due to an absence of one year or more, the applicant must begin accumulating the required residency period again.

Specifically, the count starts from the date the applicant returns to Japan and re-establishes their life (e.g., resuming residency registration). They must then fulfill the “continuously residing for 10 years” requirement (or fewer years if they qualify for preferential treatment, such as spouses of Japanese nationals or High-Skilled Professionals) from that new starting point.

While the previous history of living in Japan is not entirely erased from the records—it remains as a historical fact—it does not count toward the specific “continuous residency” duration required for the current Permanent Residence application.

Conclusion#

In the context of Japanese immigration, an absence of “one year or more” within a 10-year residency history is a decisive factor that breaks the continuity of residency. This occurs either due to the legal loss of status upon the expiration of a Special Re-entry Permit or due to the judgment that the applicant’s center of life was no longer in Japan.

For those aspiring to obtain Permanent Residence, it is crucial to understand that long-term departures carry the risk of resetting the 10-year clock. Careful management of travel schedules and understanding the implications of the Re-entry Permit system are vital for a successful application in the future.