Job Discussion Forums

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

What are they? Smile

I suspect that there are in fact very few either way, but as I am coming up to the 10 year mark I thought I'd ask before committing myself to a trip to the immigration office.

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I can only think of one at the moment and as usually goes there will be different opinions on the matter.

As a non-permanent resident I believe its possible to stay off the national health care program which can be quite expensive. Yes, Yes, I know the law says that everyone must be enrolled but I know of quite a few people who have been here a long time and are not on the program.

I imagine that becoming a permanent resident may have the effect of having standing laws applied to yourself more vigorously and therefore you really be unable to opt out of the national health care plan. If you are considering becoming a permanent resident maybe this doesnt bother you too much.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

With PR, you don't have to return to immigration to renew your status...ever. The only reason to go is to get a reentry permit every 3 years.

With PR, if you had previously been married to a Japanese, a divorce or loss of a spouse does not force you to get a different kind of visa (work visa, that is).

With PR, it is often easier to get bank loans (although not a requirement).

With PR, you might be considered more strongly for some jobs because it looks like you are more serious to staying here.

saloc · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 102

Basically the pros are what Glenski said. Also, although you can buy property without PR, it is usually easier if you have it. Haven't come across any disadvantages yet.

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

So even permanent residents have to pay the 'gaijin tax' of a re-entry permit every 3 years? In that case, PR largely seems a waste of time unless one wants a bank loan.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Personally, if you're eligible and you plan on staying you'd be stupid not to get it. One less thing you have to worry about.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Smooth Operator,
Stupid to have PR? Well, that's one opinion, but consider this. If you are here for the long term, you may end up getting married to a local. (I use the editorial "you", meaning anyone.) A spouse visa is one thing, but if the spouse dies (and people do) or chooses to get a divorce (rates are fairly high), you could not continue on a spouse visa and would have to go through the motions of getting that 3-year renewable work visa. Not needed if you have PR.

As for disadvantages, I have found only one. If a person decided to give up PR and return to his homeland (or simply go elsewhere in the world), one cannot collect the lump sum pension refund. PR holders are not eligible.

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

Thanks guys, this prompted me me to do some more reading about PR. For me personally, the fact that PR holders are eligible for karakikan seems the most attractive reason to get it, although other people will have other motivations.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Well if ever a thread was worth real cash, this is it.

I had no idea that I wouldn't be able to get my pension refund if I got my PR. That's worth a cool 800.000 yen (I think) to me.
And as I am married to a foreigner there doesn't seem to be enough pluses to warrant it.
Guess it's the three yearly visit to the immigration office.

Oh and what's "karakikan" ?

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

Does anyone know what happens if you get a PR and then leave Japan for a number of years. Is your visa still valid? Would you have to return at least once every 3 years to get a new re-entry visa? Or do you have to give up the PR when you leave?

markrendl · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Osaka

I believe as long as you check back in within the valid period of your reentry permit, you're good to go. In that respect, Japan is more liberal than the US, which I believe requires green card holders to check in once a year.

Another advantage, of perhaps questionable value, you can go thru the returning Japanese lines at the airport rather than lining up with foreign visitors. I've never opted to do that as there've always been more Japanese than foreigners on planes I've happened to come back on.

Oh, and you will have to visit immigration whenever you get your passport renewed as they have to transfer your PR visa to your new passport; but once every 10 years is better than once every three Smile

Mark

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PR is not a visa, but other than that technicality in terminology, you STILL have to return by the end of your 3-year reentry permit (unless there were extenuating circumstances that allowed you to get an extension). I mean, look at it practically. How can one be called a PERMANENT resident if one lives away from that country for YEARS?

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

If you're an American, you can also transfer your old age pension to the the US social security system or transfer your US contributions here (since a few years ago when an agreement was signed between the US and Japanese governments).

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

By the way, anyone with a re-entry permit can go through the Japanese lines at the airport, you don't have to have permanent residence. Since the Japanese people don't fill out an arrival form and get processed more quickly it has always seemed to be faster to me to go in the Japanese lines, even with only a few foreigners arriving.

I once went in the "foreigner" line and was told I should have been in the other one.