Foreigners can get permanent residency, but for the most part they are not immediately eligible. They will have to spend a specified number of years on a resid

Foreigners can get permanent residency, but for the most part they are not immediately eligible. They will have to spend a specified number of years on a residence visa before being eligible for permanent residency. In normal circumstances, it takes 10 years, though it’s reduced to 5 years for those married to Japanese citizens, and it can be reduced even further for immigrants who meet the Japanese government’s criteria for being “highly skilled,” which typically entails advanced university degrees and professional work experience.