Question 1

Are the new PR rules law yet?

Accepted Answer

No. As of v1 — reporting as of 25–27 Jul 2026, these are proposed guideline revisions reported in news coverage. The ISA guidelines are expected to be revised on October 1, 2026, with the new rules applied to applications from around April 2027. This is not final law and details may change.

Question 2

What income will I need for PR under the new rules?

Accepted Answer

The proposed rules require applicants to earn more than the average annual household income of Japanese citizens. This is interpreted as either ~¥4.5M (single-person practical baseline) or ~¥5.75M (all-household average). The exact government intent is pending confirmation from official guidelines.

Question 3

When do the new PR rules take effect?

Accepted Answer

According to news reports, the ISA guidelines will be revised on October 1, 2026. The income requirement takes effect from this date. The full set of requirements (including pension and language standards) is expected to apply to applications submitted from around April 2027.

Question 4

What's the pension requirement under the proposed rules?

Accepted Answer

Applicants must have projected pension benefits equivalent to 30 years of enrollment in the Employees' Pension (kosei nenkin) at their income level. If your projected pension falls short, you can make up the difference with savings and other assets.

Question 5

Can savings make up a pension shortfall?

Accepted Answer

Yes. News reports explicitly state that shortfalls in projected pension benefits can be made up with savings and other assets. The exact formula for how assets offset pension shortfalls has not yet been specified in public reporting.

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