Complete Guide – Step by Step Process to File PR in Japan

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Below is a deep, step-by-step “80+ points for 1 year” PR guide for Japan, assuming you’re on an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (or similar work status) and using the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional (HSP) points fast-track (often called “deemed HSP” / point-based fast-track). The PR application itself uses the Permanent Resident (永住者) permission process.

0) First confirm you qualify for the “80 points → 1 year” PR fast-track

A. The fast-track rule (what you must prove)

You must prove that:

  • You had 80 points or more continuously for the last 1 year, and
  • You still have 80+ points today (at application time).
    (Immigration’s PR residency-period “review” for highly-skilled points includes the 80 points → 1 year pathway.) (Ministry of Justice)

B. Important: you must prove points for two dates

Most applicants prepare:

  1. Points calculation “as of today”, and
  2. Points calculation “as of exactly 1 year before your application date”
    (practitioners and checklists commonly require both; it’s also consistent with the “1-year continuous” requirement). (愛知のビザ申請デスク)

C. Also make sure you have “clean compliance”

PR is heavily judged on tax + pension + health insurance compliance (no late payments / gaps), plus general law compliance. Immigration’s own PR page includes a strict self-check warning that a single “No” item can make denial likely. (Ministry of Justice)

1) Identify your HSP activity category for points

For most engineers, you’ll use:

  • Advanced specialized/technical activities (高度専門職 1号ロ)

The points sheet you’ll use for PR is the “HSP points calculation table” for your category (1号ロ is common for engineering).

2) Do your points calculation (with evidence for every point)

A. Use the official-style point table logic

The points system evaluates:

  • Academic background
  • Professional career (experience)
  • Annual salary
  • Age
  • Bonus items (licenses, Japanese, research, etc.)

A widely used points-table format shows the categories and an annual salary points table by age (structure example shown here).

B. Your example (based on what you told me)

You said:

  • Age: 41
  • Salary: 14,000,000 JPY
  • Experience: 20 years
  • Degrees: 2 Master’s degrees

This typically clears 80 comfortably via:

  • Master’s degree points (academic)
  • 10+ years experience (career)
  • High salary bracket (salary)
  • Possible extra points for multiple degrees in different fields (if majors differ and you can prove it)

But: your “1 year ago” points depend on your salary and job situation 1 year ago. If your salary rose recently, you might have 80+ now but not for the full previous year. That’s the #1 trap.

C. Evidence you should prepare for each points block

Prepare proof documents (“疎明資料”) for every item you claim:

Academic (学歴)

  • Degree certificate(s)
  • If claiming “multiple degrees in different fields,” include transcripts or documents showing the majors differ (some point tables explicitly ask for evidence when the degree title doesn’t show the major).

Career / work experience (職歴)

  • Experience letters from past employers OR
  • Detailed CV + supporting documents (old contracts, reference letters, etc.)

Salary (年収)

For today:

  • Employment contract / compensation letter
  • Recent payslips
  • Withholding slip (源泉徴収票) or equivalent annual income proof

For 1 year ago:

  • Last year’s withholding slip (源泉徴収票) and/or payslips from that period
  • Contract in effect 1 year ago (if it changed)

Point sheets also note a minimum annual salary threshold: if salary is under a minimum, HSP recognition doesn’t apply even if points add up.

Age (年齢)

  • Passport / resident card (age at the time you are calculating points)

Bonus points (if any)

Examples: Japanese level tests, patents/papers, national qualifications, etc. (only claim what you can strongly prove).

3) Decide which “80-point PR” filing style applies to you

You can fast-track PR in two practical ways:

Method 1: You already hold HSP status (高度専門職)

You submit PR under the “highly skilled” PR category.

Method 2 (very common): You do NOT hold HSP status, but you qualify by points (“deemed HSP”)

Even if you are on an engineering work status, you apply PR by attaching the HSP points calculations + evidence. Law-firm checklists explicitly cover this scenario as “don’t have HSP but have 70/80 points”. (VISAトータルサポート・埼玉)

4) Collect the PR application forms (latest official formats)

A. PR Application Form (永住許可申請書)

The official PR form includes:

  • Your personal info
  • Your job/income
  • Family details
  • Guarantor section (在日身元保証人)

B. Consent letter (了解書)

Immigration introduced/required the PR consent letter (了解書) (commonly required in modern PR filings). (Ministry of Justice)

C. Guarantor form (身元保証書)

This is submitted with the guarantor’s details and signature. (Ministry of Justice)

D. Fee payment slip (手数料納付書)

You typically submit the fee after approval, using the designated slip with a revenue stamp. (Ministry of Justice)

5) Build your document pack (the “80 points / 1 year” version)

Below is the practical full checklist most people use for the 80-point / 1-year PR route (compiled from immigration checklists and current practice).

(A) What you prepare yourself

  1. PR Application Form (永住許可申請書)
  2. Photo (commonly 4cm×3cm) (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  3. Reason letter (理由書) – why you want PR, your contribution, stability, compliance
  4. Consent letter (了解書) (Ministry of Justice)
  5. HSP Points Calculation Sheet – “Today” (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  6. HSP Points Calculation Sheet – “1 year ago” (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  7. Evidence for each claimed point (degrees, experience proof, salary proof, etc.) (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  8. Passport + residence card (usually shown at the counter) (愛知のビザ申請デスク)

(B) Documents you obtain from the city office / tax office

  1. Jūminhyō (住民票) – household/residency certificate (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  2. Resident tax proof (住民税) for the most recent year:
  1. National tax proof (国税): “no tax arrears” certificate (commonly 納税証明書(その3))
    You can obtain tax payment certificates via the National Tax Agency / e-Tax processes. (nta.go.jp)

(C) Social insurance compliance (very important)

  1. Pension payment record for the most recent year (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  2. Public medical insurance payment record for the most recent year (愛知のビザ申請デスク)

Important “latest” note: Immigration pages now mention the health insurance card system change (MyNumber-related reform) from Dec 2, 2024, so you may need to submit alternative proof depending on your insurer (e.g., qualification information/confirmation). (Ministry of Justice)

(D) Employer / work documents

  1. Certificate of employment (在職証明書) or equivalent (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  2. Employment contract and/or job description (helpful, especially if requested)
  3. Salary/income proof:

(E) Guarantor documents (身元保証人)

Your PR form requires a guarantor section.
Commonly submitted:
17) Guarantor form (身元保証書) (Ministry of Justice)
18) Guarantor ID copy (residence card / driver’s license / MyNumber card, etc.) (愛知のビザ申請デスク)

A common requirement: guarantor is typically a Japanese national or PR holder (some guidance states this explicitly). (June Advisors Group)

6) How to get each document (where, how, what to ask for)

A. City office (市役所 / 区役所)

Ask for:

  • 住民票 (with household details as needed)
  • 課税証明書 (latest year)
  • 納税証明書 (latest year)

B. Tax office (税務署) / e-Tax

Ask for:

  • 納税証明書(その3) or equivalent “no arrears” certificate.
    NTA provides official guidance for obtaining tax certificates through their systems. (nta.go.jp)

C. Pension (年金)

Depending on your enrollment (Employees’ Pension vs National Pension), you’ll show:

  • Payment record / statement printouts for the last year (commonly from Nenkin Net / statements), or official certificates.

D. Health insurance (健康保険)

Show proof of:

  • Payment status (if self-paid), or
  • Enrollment/payment via employer records, plus whatever “qualification confirmation” documents apply after the health insurance card system change. (Ministry of Justice)

7) Where to submit (office location) + jurisdiction rule

A. Rule: submit to the bureau that covers your residential address

You submit at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau / branch that has jurisdiction over where you live.

B. Quick bureau location references (examples)

A government contact list includes major regional bureaus (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc.) with addresses/phones (useful as a starting point). (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Example (Tokyo): Tokyo bureau address and phone are commonly listed as 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8255 / 03-5796-7111. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

If you tell me your current prefecture/city, I’ll point you to the exact bureau/branch you should use (without guessing).

8) Submission method, hours, and “online vs in-person” (latest reality)

A. PR application is generally not online

Japan has an Online Residence Application System for many procedures, but PR is commonly listed as excluded from online filing. (大阪・東京・横浜のビザ申請，帰化申請は行政書士法人第一綜合事務所)

B. Go to the counter (bring originals)

Typical reception hours are often weekday daytime (varies by office). Many references list 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 for immigration counters. (fedu.uec.ac.jp)

C. What happens at submission

  1. You submit the full packet at the counter.
  2. They check completeness (not full screening yet).
  3. You receive a receipt / application number.
  4. If anything is missing, you may be asked to supplement later.

9) Fees and how you pay

A. PR fee amount

PR permission fee is commonly 8,000 JPY (paid after approval). (Ministry of Justice)

B. How payment works

  • You usually pay after you’re approved by attaching a revenue stamp (収入印紙) to the fee payment slip. (Ministry of Justice)

(Where to buy revenue stamps: typically post offices and sometimes vendors near the bureau; many bureaus also guide you at the time of approval.)

10) What happens after you apply (screening → approval)

A. Screening

They verify:

  • Your points (today + 1 year ago) and evidence consistency
  • Tax/pension/health insurance compliance
  • Employment stability and livelihood
  • Conduct/compliance overall (Ministry of Justice)

B. Requests for additional documents

It’s common to receive a letter requesting:

  • More proof of salary at a certain period
  • More pension/health insurance proof
  • Clarification on gaps/late payments
  • Missing translations

C. Processing time

Public guidance is sometimes quoted around “months,” but real-world times vary widely by office and case volume. (行政書士うえすぎ事務所 – 外国人のビザ申請支援センター)

11) Guarantor details (who, what they sign, what you submit)

A. Who can be guarantor (practical standard)

Common guidance: guarantor should be:

B. Where guarantor info appears

The PR application form includes a dedicated guarantor section (name, address, relationship, etc.).

C. What guarantor submits (typical)

12) The “80 points for 1 year” pitfalls (avoid these)

These are the most common reasons otherwise-strong candidates get delayed or denied:

  1. You can’t prove 80 points “1 year ago” (salary changed recently; experience threshold crossed recently; degree recognition timing).
  2. Late / missed pension or health insurance payments in the last year. (VISAトータルサポート・埼玉)
  3. Resident tax not fully paid (especially if you moved cities and a bill got missed). (愛知のビザ申請デスク)
  4. Weak documentation for claimed points (e.g., experience not supported by letters).
  5. Foreign documents submitted without Japanese translations (can trigger supplementation).

13) A practical “do-this-now” execution plan (so you can file cleanly)

Step 1 — Lock your “application date”

Pick a target submission day, then define:

  • “Today points date” = submission day
  • “1 year ago points date” = exactly 1 year before submission

Step 2 — Build your points evidence folder

Create two subfolders:

  • Points_Today/
  • Points_1YearAgo/

Put salary and employment proofs in the correct time folder.

Step 3 — Pull compliance certificates

Step 4 — Write the reason letter (理由書)

Focus on:

  • Stable professional career in Japan
  • Compliance (tax/pension/insurance)
  • Long-term life plan in Japan
  • Contribution (skills, role, projects, mentoring, etc.)

Step 5 — Get guarantor pack signed

Step 6 — Submit in person at your jurisdiction bureau

Use the bureau list/address references to identify your office (or tell me your city/prefecture and I’ll point you correctly). (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

東京出入国在留管理局 (Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau) - 50 tips

0) Your case (Tokyo / Koto-ku) — are you eligible after 1 year with 80+ points?

Yes, if you can prove you had 80+ points “1 year ago” and also have 80+ points “today,” and you meet the general PR guideline requirements (good conduct + stable livelihood + PR is in Japan’s interest). (Ministry of Justice)

Your 80-point calculation (HSP route, typical for engineers: 高度専門職1号ロ)

Based on the official-style points tables:

CategoryYour infoPoints
Age410 (40+)
Work experience20 years20 (10+ years)
Annual salary¥14,000,00040 (¥10M+)
EducationMaster’s degree20
Total80

Bonus possibility: If your two Master’s degrees are in different fields, there is an additional +5 category for “multiple graduate degrees in different fields.” (Ministry of Justice)
(You don’t need it since you already hit 80, but it’s helpful as a buffer.)

1) Which “80-point PR” path applies to you?

There are two common “fast-track PR” variants:

  1. You already hold “Highly Skilled Professional” (高度専門職) status
  2. You do NOT hold 高度専門職, but you can prove 80+ points (your case: you’re on an engineering visa)

Immigration has a separate document guidance page/checklist for people who have 80+ points but are not on 高度専門職 status. (Ministry of Justice)

2) Step-by-step process (end-to-end)

Step 1 — Fix your “two reference dates” for points proof

You must prepare points evidence for:

  • A) Today (application date / 申請時点)
  • B) Exactly 1 year before your application date (1年前時点) (Ministry of Justice)

Practical tip: pick an application date (e.g., next month), then count back 1 year and build a “1-year-ago points file” for that date.

Step 2 — Build your “Points Pack” (this is the heart of fast-track)

Create two sets of the same items: one for Today, one for 1 year ago.

2.1 Points calculation sheet (高度人材ポイント計算表)

  • Fill the category for your field (engineer usually uses 高度専門職1号ロ concept).

2.2 Evidence for each points line

  • Education (Master’s): degree certificate (+ Japanese translation if not Japanese)
  • Work experience (20 yrs): experience letters / employment certificates; job descriptions help
  • Salary (¥14M): employer salary certificate / contract showing annual pay, plus withholding slips (源泉徴収票) where possible
  • (Optional) Two Master’s in different fields: evidence both majors differ (to support +5) (Ministry of Justice)

Step 3 — Confirm you satisfy PR “baseline” requirements

Immigration’s PR guideline framework is essentially:

  1. Good conduct (素行が善良)
  2. Stable/independent livelihood (独立の生計)
  3. PR benefits Japan (国益) (Ministry of Justice)

In practice, they focus heavily on:

  • No serious legal/traffic issues
  • Taxes paid properly
  • Pension + health insurance enrolled and paid properly

Step 4 — Prepare your PR core forms (the “Application Pack”)

These are the usual core documents for PR (your exact set is determined by your status/route). (Ministry of Justice)

Core forms typically include

Step 5 — Collect “proof documents” (where you’ll spend most time)

5A) Residence certificate (住民票 / Juminhyo)

5B) Local tax documents (住民税)

You commonly need:

  • 課税証明書 (taxation certificate / income + assessed resident tax)
  • 納税証明書 (payment certificate, if you have payment history)

Koto-ku states resident tax certificates are typically ¥300 per copy at the counter; 課税・非課税証明書 can be ¥200 via convenience store for the latest year, but 納税証明書 is not available via convenience store. (Koto City)

Important “first-year-in-Japan” issue (you are at 18 months):
Depending on timing, you may have limited resident-tax payment history. If you can’t produce something (because it wasn’t billed yet), write it clearly in your 理由書 and submit what you can (e.g., withholding slip, taxation certificate). (This is a common situation for 1-year fast-track applicants.)

5C) National tax payment certificate (国税の納税証明書)

Commonly requested is a national-tax certificate such as 納税証明書（その3） (you can obtain via the tax office / NTA process). Many PR checklists reference this as a key item.

5D) Pension & health insurance proof (超重要)

For PR, Immigration checks enrollment + payments.

  • General PR pages often reference recent pension payment status evidence (e.g., pension office record forms and/or Nenkin Net records). (Ministry of Justice)
  • For the 80-point / 1-year fast track, many checklists specify submitting “the most recent 1 year” of pension/health insurance payment status evidence (because your qualifying period is 1 year). (VISAトータルサポート・埼玉)

Typical acceptable pension proofs (examples seen in official/standard checklists):

  • ねんきんネット printouts (各月の年金記録)
  • 被保険者記録照会回答票 (from pension office) (Ministry of Justice)

Redaction rule: If documents show basic pension number / insurer numbers, black them out (common checklist instruction). (VISAトータルサポート・埼玉)

Health insurance proofs depend on your type

  • If you’re on company social insurance: provide your coverage proof (and related records)
  • If you were on National Health Insurance at any time: provide NHI payment proof for that period

Step 6 — Guarantor (身元保証人) details (what you must arrange)

You need a guarantor form (身元保証書). (Ministry of Justice)

Who can be guarantor (typical)

  • Japanese national, or
  • Permanent Resident / Special Permanent Resident, etc.

What they usually provide

  • Signed guarantor form
  • Copy of an ID (and sometimes proof of residence / employment depending on bureau practice)

What guarantor responsibility really means (practically)

  • It’s generally treated as a “moral support” assurance (not like a bank guarantee), but Immigration expects it to be credible and complete.

Step 7 — Where to submit in Tokyo (Koto-ku jurisdiction)

For Koto-ku residents, the normal submission office is:

Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (東京出入国在留管理局)

  • Address: 5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
  • Reception hours for PR-related procedures are typically shown as 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 (weekdays) (Ministry of Justice)

Tokyo “Application Reservation System” (申請予約)
Tokyo Immigration has an official reservation system; it notes that applications are handled at the 2nd-floor B counter, and reservations use a dedicated lane/time window. (Ministry of Justice)

Step 8 — After you submit (what happens next)

  1. They accept your packet, stamp/record it, and you keep your receipt/reference.
  2. Immigration may send a request for additional documents (追加資料).
  3. Keep everything “clean” during review:
    • continue paying taxes/insurance on time
    • avoid any major violations
    • if you change address/job, handle notifications properly

Step 9 — Fee / payment (収入印紙)

PR permission fee was revised and is widely reported as increased from ¥8,000 to ¥10,000 effective 2025-04-01 (paid by revenue stamp / 収入印紙 when approved). (Ministry of Justice)

(Always pay the fee the way your approval notice instructs; the “stamp payment” happens at approval stage, not at initial filing.)

3) “Master Checklist” — build your submission folder (recommended structure)

Folder 1 — Forms (入管書式)

  • 永住許可申請書
  • 写真 (4×3)
  • 理由書
  • 了解書
  • 身元保証書
  • Self-check sheet (Ministry of Justice)

Folder 2 — Identity / Residence

Folder 3 — Employment & Income

  • 在職証明書 (employment certificate)
  • Salary certificate / contract
  • 源泉徴収票 (withholding slip)

Folder 4 — Taxes (very important)

  • Koto-ku: 課税証明書 + 納税証明書 (as available) (Koto City)
  • National tax: 納税証明書（その3） (typical)

Folder 5 — Pension & Health insurance (very important)

Folder 6 — Points Pack (2 copies: “Today” and “1 year ago”)

  • Point calculation sheet (current)
  • Point calculation sheet (1-year-ago)
  • Evidence for each item (degree, experience, salary, etc.)

4) The #1 pitfall for “80 points / 1 year” applicants (and how to handle it)

Because you’ve been in Japan 18 months, it’s possible you don’t yet have a perfect set of:

  • resident tax “payment history” documents (depending on billing timing), or
  • a full 2-year pension/health record (you literally don’t have 2 years).

For the 80-point route, document guidance commonly focuses on the most recent 1-year evidence for pension/health/taxes where applicable. (VISAトータルサポート・埼玉)
If something is “not issuable yet,” you explain it in the 理由書 and supply the closest official proofs you do have (withholding slip, taxation certificate, employment/salary certificates).

Yes — in principle, Immigration expects a Japanese translation for any document you submit that’s written in a foreign language, even if it’s English. (Ministry of Justice)

That said, there’s an important practical nuance:

  • The legal/standard rule is “foreign-language docs → attach a translation.”
  • In actual operations, for some simple, standard English documents (e.g., a very standard employment certificate or contract with no complex terms), Immigration may not demand a translation in every case.
  • But for PR (永住), officers often ask for Japanese translations to avoid misunderstandings. If you skip translations, you risk getting an “additional documents request” later, which delays your PR review.

What you should do for your PR (80 points) application

Translate these (strongly recommended)

These are commonly part of your points proof and PR review, so translating them is safest:

  • Master’s degree certificates + transcripts (if you submit them)
  • Experience proof from past employers (letters/certificates), detailed role letters
  • Employment contract / offer letter (if in English)
  • Salary/compensation letters (especially if used to prove “1 year ago” and “today” salary)
  • Any foreign civil documents if applicable (marriage/birth certificates, etc.)

Usually no translation needed

  • Japanese-issued documents (住民票, 課税証明書, 納税証明書, 年金・保険 records) — already Japanese
  • Passport/residence card copies (normally accepted as-is)
  • Documents you don’t submit (no need to translate everything you own—only what you include in the application packet)

Can you translate yourself, or must it be professional?

A professional translation is not generally required. Immigration guidance commonly allows translations you prepare yourself (or by a friend/company), as long as they’re accurate. (Ministry of Justice)
What matters is: accuracy + translator identification.

How to format the translation (what Tokyo Immigration expects in practice)

Attach, for each document:

  1. Copy of the original English document
  2. Japanese translation (typed is best)
  3. At the bottom (or last page) of the translation, add:
    • Translator name
    • Translation date
    • Relationship to applicant (e.g., “本人 / 会社担当者 / 友人”)
    • Signature (handwritten is fine)

This “translator name/date/relationship” style is widely used in Japan immigration-related submissions. (Ritsumeikan Admissions)

Copy-paste template (Japanese)

You can put this at the end of each translated document:

  • 訳文作成者（Translator）：＿＿＿＿＿＿
  • 翻訳日（Date）：＿＿＿＿＿＿
  • 申請人との関係（Relationship）：＿＿＿＿＿＿（例：本人）
  • 署名（Signature）：＿＿＿＿＿＿
  • 「本訳文は原本に忠実であることを証明します。」
東京出入国在留管理局 (Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau) - 50 tips

Below is a complete “documents pack” for Japan PR (Permanent Residence / 永住許可) using the 80+ points → 1-year fast track, for a work visa holder in Tokyo (Koto-ku).

1) First: which PR checklist applies to you?

You have two possible “HSP-style” PR routes:

Route A — You already hold HSP (高度専門職) status

You typically submit proof such as the HSP points calculation result notice (ポイント計算結果通知書) and related documents. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

Route B — You do NOT hold HSP status (you’re on Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/etc.), but you qualify by points

You apply for PR using the “80 points for 1 year” evidence set (the PR checklist specifically mentions cases for 80 points / 1 year and includes the public pension/health insurance payment proof requirements). (Ministry of Justice Japan)

From what you wrote (“Engineering visa, opting HSP route”), Route B is usually what you mean.

2) Core PR application forms (mandatory)

These are the “must-have forms” for PR submission:

  1. Permanent Residence Application Form (永住許可申請書) (Ministry of Justice Japan)
  2. Photo (4cm × 3cm, recent) (standard PR requirement)
  3. Acknowledgement (了解書) (Ministry of Justice Japan)
  4. Guarantor / Letter of Guarantee (身元保証書 — PR version) (Ministry of Justice Japan)
  5. Reason Letter (理由書) — free format (why you want PR, stability, contribution, compliance)

Important rules from Immigration:

3) Identity & “show at counter” items (mandatory)

Bring originals (they usually check and return immediately):

  • Passport (original)
  • Residence Card (original)

4) Residence / household document (mandatory)

  • Jūminhyō (住民票) for your household (世帯全員), typically with MyNumber omitted (マイナンバー省略)
    • Koto-ku: can be obtained via ward office / branch, and also via convenience store with MyNumber card (rules/fees vary). (Koto City)

If you have spouse/children applying with you (or your situation depends on family status), also prepare:

  • Marriage certificate / Birth certificates etc. + Japanese translations (see translation section below). (Ministry of Justice Japan)

5) Tax documents (mandatory for 80-point PR package)

A) Local taxes (Koto-ku)

You typically need both:

  • Resident tax “Taxation certificate” (課税証明書 / 非課税証明書)
  • Resident tax “Payment certificate” (納税証明書)

Koto-ku notes (useful for your planning):

  • Convenience store issuance is limited (e.g., taxation certificate only / latest year; payment certificate not via conbini). (Koto City)

B) National tax certificate (Tax office / NTA)

  • National Tax Payment Certificate (納税証明書) — commonly “その3” is used in PR document packs, and it can be requested via e-Tax. (e-Tax)

6) Public pension + public health insurance payment proof (mandatory for 80-point route)

Immigration explicitly requires proof for pension/health insurance compliance, and also instructs masking sensitive numbers:

Masking rule (very important)

If documents show:

  • Basic pension number (基礎年金番号)
  • Health insurer number / insured symbols & numbers
    You must black them out so they cannot be restored. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

A) Pension proof (choose the applicable set)

Typical accepted proofs include:

  • Nenkin Teikibin (ねんきん定期便) showing full record, or
  • Nenkin Net (ねんきんネット) “monthly pension record” printout (各月の年金記録) (National Pension Service)

And if you had any period under National Pension (国民年金), Immigration requires submitting the receipts/copies for that period (for the required timeframe), or submit a reason letter if difficult. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

B) Health insurance proof

You submit proof depending on what you are on:

  • Employee health insurance (社会保険) vs National Health Insurance (国民健康保険)
    The 80-point PR checklist explicitly includes health insurance/pension premium proof items. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

7) Employment & income stability documents (mandatory)

For a work-visa applicant, prepare:

  • Certificate of Employment (在職証明書) (issued by your company HR)
  • Income proof for the relevant year(s): e.g., withholding tax slip (源泉徴収票), salary statement, contract/offer letter, payslips (as supporting)
  • If you changed jobs in the last year: previous employment certificate + explanation

8) 80+ points evidence pack (mandatory)

For the “PR after 1 year with 80+ points”, you should submit:

A) Points calculation sheet (for two dates)

You normally prepare:

  • Points as of the application date
  • Points as of 1 year before the application date (to show you met 80+ for the required 1-year period)

The Immigration points framework and official point-table references are provided by ISA. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

B) Evidence for each point item you claim (match the points table)

For your profile, the common evidence set is:

Education (Master’s degrees)

Work experience (20 years)

  • Experience letters from previous employers, appointment letters, reference letters, or other official proof

Annual salary (14M)

  • Tax certificates + company income proof (source documents should support the salary points)

Age (41)

  • Passport bio page copy (and/or residence card) supports age claim

9) Guarantor pack (mandatory)

You must submit the PR guarantor form (身元保証書). (Ministry of Justice Japan)

Who can be guarantor (common standard):

  • A Japanese national or a Permanent Resident is typically used as guarantor. (Visa Japan)

In practice, immigration commonly wants:

  • Guarantor form filled + signature
  • A copy of guarantor ID / residence status (commonly requested)

(Exact supporting documents can vary by office/case, but the guarantor form itself is required.) (Ministry of Justice Japan)

10) Translation: since all your documents are in English

Yes — for PR, if documents are not in Japanese, attach Japanese translations. (Ministry of Justice Japan)

Translation format tips (works in practice):

  • Keep the translation on A4
  • Include: Translator name + date
  • It does not usually need notarization (unless specifically requested), but it must be accurate and complete.

11) Where you submit in Tokyo (your address: Koto-ku)

For Koto-ku residents, PR is handled at Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (Shinagawa):

12) Payment (PR fee) — when and how

Quick “Everything Checklist” (copy/paste)

Forms

Show originals at submission

  • Passport
  • Residence card

Residence

  • 住民票（世帯全員、マイナンバー省略） (Koto City)

Taxes

  • 住民税 課税（非課税）証明書（直近分） (Koto City)
  • 住民税 納税証明書（直近分） (Koto City)
  • 国税 納税証明書（e-Tax/税務署） (e-Tax)

Pension / Health insurance (mask numbers!)

Work / Income

  • 在職証明書
  • 収入証明（源泉徴収票、給与証明、契約書など補強）

80-point evidence

Translation rule

If you want, paste your exact points breakdown items (which bonus points you’re claiming, if any), and I’ll give you a “documents-to-points mapping” (for each point line: what exact document to attach) so your PR file is organized exactly the way immigration expects.