Permanent residence applications: foreign documents and Japanese translations (marriage and degree certificates, statement of reasons)

Sources checked: 29 October 2026

Most documents for a permanent residence application are issued by Japanese offices, but depending on your category you may also submit a marriage or birth certificate issued abroad, or a degree certificate from a foreign university. You can also write the statement of reasons in a language other than Japanese. Documents in a foreign language need a Japanese translation attached.

The translation requirement

The Immigration Control Act's Enforcement Regulations require a translation to be attached to any submitted material written in a foreign language. Before an amendment on 1 October 2026, this was Article 62, with the same wording.

法又はこの省令の規定により法務大臣、出入国在留管理庁長官、地方出入国在留管理局長又は入国審査官に提出するものとされる資料が外国語により作成されているときは、その資料に訳文を添付しなければならない。

Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Enforcement Regulations, Article 66

Each of the Immigration Services Agency's permanent residence pages says the same:

提出書類が外国語で作成されている場合には、訳文（日本語）を添付してください。

Immigration Services Agency: permanent residence application pages (Japanese)

Writing the statement of reasons in another language

The statement of reasons (理由書) explains, in any format, why you need permanent residence. Long-term residents, people with work-related statuses or Dependent status, highly skilled professionals and others submit one (it isn't on the list for spouses and children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents). If you write it in a language other than Japanese, it needs a translation.

※ 日本語以外で記載する場合は、翻訳文が必要です。

Immigration Services Agency: permanent residence 2 and others, statement of reasons (Japanese)

The guarantor form (身元保証書) is available in English, and the letter of understanding (了解書) in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Korean, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Nepali, Thai and easy Japanese.

The main foreign documents, by category

Of the documents in the Agency's lists, these are the main ones that may be issued by a foreign authority:

Applicant	Main documents that may be issued abroad
Spouse of a Japanese national	A marriage certificate issued by an authority of the applicant's country of nationality
Spouse of a permanent resident or special permanent resident	The marriage certificate with the spouse
Child of a permanent resident or special permanent resident	A birth certificate
Long-term resident (定住者)	A document proving the family relationship (one of: a Japanese family register, birth certificate, marriage certificate, certificate of an acknowledgement (認知) notification, or similar)
Work-related statuses and Dependent	For Dependent (家族滞在) only: a document proving the family relationship (as for long-term residents)
Highly skilled professional (80 or more, or 70 or more, points)	Evidence for the points: a graduation certificate and degree certificate, work history (a document from each past employer showing how long you did the work and what it was), proof of foreign qualifications or awards, and so on

For highly skilled professionals, documents showing that your total reaches the required points are enough; you don't need evidence for every item. If you submit a points calculation result notice (高度専門職ポイント計算結果通知書), you don't need evidence for that point in time.

Each document from a foreign employer or university that is in a foreign language needs its own translation. The Agency may ask for documents not on its lists during its review.

Documents in English

None of the permanent residence pages has a note waiving translations for documents in English. The Business Manager (経営・管理) status page says English employment certificates and degree certificates generally need no translation, but that note covers only those two documents for Business Manager applications.

For permanent residence, attach a Japanese translation to English degree certificates, employment certificates, marriage certificates and birth certificates too. The law and the pages set no translator qualification and nothing the translation must state (such as the translator's name).

Validity and originals

Each page says certificates issued in Japan must be no more than three months old (「日本で発行される証明書は全て、発行日から３か月以内のものを提出してください」). No validity period is set for certificates issued abroad.

Submitted documents are generally not returned.

原則として、提出された資料は返却できませんので、再度入手することが困難な資料の原本等の返却を希望する場合は、申請時に申し出てください。

Immigration Services Agency: permanent residence application pages (Japanese)

Changes in 2026, and when they apply

The permanent residence fee changed on 1 October 2026. The fee, paid when permission is granted, is ¥200,000. It may be reduced to ¥20,000 for people who meet certain requirements.

（注２）２０２６年９月３０日までに受付した申請については、当該申請に係る許可が１０月１日以降となっても、改定前の手数料（１０，０００円）による納付となります。

Immigration Services Agency: permanent residence application (Japanese)

The permanent residence guidelines were revised on 24 February 2026 and again on 1 October 2026. Which version applies depends on the date you apply:

Application date	Guidelines that apply
Up to 31 March 2026	The 24 February 2026 version
1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027	The 24 February 2026 version, except for the income provisions (Part 2, 4(2) and 5(7)), which follow the 1 October 2026 version
From 1 April 2027	The 1 October 2026 version

Under the 1 October 2026 version, the special rule for spouses of Japanese nationals, permanent residents and special permanent residents requires a genuine marriage of five years or more and three or more years living in Japan (「実体を伴った婚姻生活が５年以上継続し、かつ、引き続き３年以上本邦に在留していること」); the 24 February 2026 version requires three years and one year. Japanese ability (B1 level or above) also becomes a factor, but the guidelines don't say which documents prove it.

The translation guidance on each category's page is as described above as of the date this page was checked. The document lists may change for applications from 1 April 2027, so check the latest guidance before you apply.

Questions

Does a statement of reasons written in English need a translation?

Yes. The pages for the categories that submit a statement of reasons say a translation is needed if it is written in a language other than Japanese.

Do English degree and employment certificates need a translation?

Yes. The permanent residence pages have no note waiving translations for English documents. The note that generally waives them covers only certain Business Manager documents.

Can I translate the documents myself?

The law and the Immigration Services Agency's published guidance say nothing about who may translate.

If I applied in September 2026 and am granted permission in October, what is the fee?

Applications received by 30 September 2026 pay the old fee of ¥10,000, even if permission is granted on or after 1 October.

This page is general information. The documents required and the format of translations differ by country and office, and can change. Check the current guidance of the office you are submitting to before you file.