Required period of time for Permanent Residency.

1 Applying from Work Visa - 10 years

2 Applying from Highly Skilled Professional Visa - 1 or 3 years

3 Applying from Spouse of Japanese or Permanent Visa - 3 years

Requirements for Permanent Residence

(1) The person is of good conduct. 

The person observes Japanese laws and his/her daily living as a resident does not invite any social criticism. 

(2) The person has sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living. 

The person does not financially depend on someone in the society in his/her daily life, and his/her assets or ability, etc. are assumed to continue to provide him/her with a stable base of livelihood into the future.

(3) The person’s permanent residence is regarded to be in accord with the interests of Japan. 

a) In principle, the person has stayed in Japan for more than 10 years consecutively. It is also required that during his/her stay in Japan the person has had work permit or the status of residence for more than 5 years consecutively. E.g. You will not meet this requirement if you have stayed in Japan for 6 years on a "Student" status then 4 more years on "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services" status.

b) The person has never been sentenced to a fine or imprisonment. The person fulfills public duties such as tax payment. 

c) The maximum period of stay allowed for the person with his/her current status of residence under Annexed Table 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act is to be fully utilized. 

For the time being, any person whose period of stay is “three years” shall be regarded as a “person who is allowed to stay up to the maximum period of stay”

I.e. You will need a status which is valid for 3 or 5 years. 

d) There is no possibility that the person could do harm from the viewpoint of protection of public health. 

※ (1) and (2) above do not apply to spouses and children of Japanese nationals, special permanent residents or permanent residents, and requirement. (2) does not apply for those who have been recognized as refugees 

Relaxed requirements for 10-year residence in principle as shown in (3) – a):

(1) The person is a spouse of a Japanese national, special permanent resident or permanent resident, and has been in a real marital relationship for more than 3 years consecutively and has stayed in Japan more than 1 year consecutively. Or, the person is a true child of a Japanese national, special permanent resident or permanent resident, and has stayed in Japan more than 1 year consecutively. 

(2) The person has stayed in Japan for more than 5 years consecutively with the status of long term resident. 

(3) The person has been recognized as a refugee, and has stayed in Japan for more than 5 years consecutively after recognition. 

(4) The person has been recognized to have made a contribution to Japan in diplomatic, social, economic, cultural or other fields, and has stayed in Japan for more than 5 years. 

(5) The person has continuously engaged in activities as a highly skilled foreign professional for 1 year (with 80 points) or 3 years (with 70+ points) consecutively.

Guideline for permission for permanent residence (revised on May 31, 2019)

https://www.isa.go.jp/en/publications/materials/nyukan_nyukan50.html