Japan Permanent Residency in 1 year? What I've learned so far. 

The one thing you missed is that you didn't cover the fact that many of Japanese cities have been designated as special economic zones and you can apply for a "Start Up Visa". It's a much better way to get started by comparison to the Business Manager Visa. You don't need a GK or KK, 5M yen, or an office at the beginning. In fact you don't even have to have all that ironed out until you apply for the Business Manager visa at the end of 1 year. That said you do have to have a business plan, the business does have to be in the industries of focus for the city you apply to and the city has to believe your business idea is viable. I'm doing this in Fukuoka which was the first city to offer this visa. I'm slightly shocked at the kinds of businesses that have been approved so it's easier than you think but I do think you need to have a very well thought out plan and you do need to execute it as there are monthly checks and interviews on your progress. I had planned to do the Business Manager visa until I found out about the startup program. Did I mention that cities like Fukuoka have startup support to help you write your application, form your company, help you with accounting, finding an office space, etc, etc, etc all for FREE? Steer clear of paying an immigration lawyer for help. The government is already offering this service for free.

Thanks for the knowledge! I would love it if Japan had a Retirement Visa but I don't think that'll ever happen since the last thing Japan wants is more old people.

Thank you for your content. I find it straight to the point, and packed full of information based on your own experience thus far. Also very interesting and relevant as you are not going down the spousal route. Look forward to more of your vids!

Thank you, Eric..this video was excellent and good news.

your content is sooooo goood.. thank u very much.. God bless u and ur family and ur journey!

Thanks and very educational! I am planning on making a similar video, but unfortunately primarily for Americans working at a military installation under SOFA status. Keep up the good work!

Having been to Nozawa a number of times can I suggest a business idea. Something I'd really like to do myself. From what I understand Nozawa has a bit of a reputation for producing successful athletes. Yet from what I can tell it doesn't have any modern training facilities. Every time I go in that SpaArena I see this huge wasted space full of massage chairs (or it was last time I was there a few years ago). It's the perfect space for a gym. With a facility like that in place Nozawa would be perfect for local Athletes and Athlete training camps bringing more visitors during the green seasons. You'd just have to convince whoever owns that SpaArena to lease you that space. Nozawa's such a perfect place for Athletes to train I'm surprised it isn't happening already (or is it?). The environment, the altitude, the food, the water, the onsens. Everything about it is the perfect place for an athlete to train.

This guy is amazing! I'm from Ottawa. If anybody is from here...well...yeah government worker life is well.. No wonder he wanted to see the world. I seek the same. Sadly, Canada is not what is used to be either.

Permanent residency in 1 year requires 80 points not 70. It's mainly salary based so if you have a good salary, went to college, can pass N2, etc. it's possible!

When I was a student at UBC in Vancouver, "permanent students" did exist. Mostly they drank beer and shagged loose women. Nominally, they were enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program, which might take them seven or eight years to complete, and then they would sign up to do some sort of bum-fuck Masters Degree. UBC did not care, as long as they came up with the required tuition fees. Is this viable in Japan? (Rhetorical Question: What is the difference between Lifelong Learning and Permanent Residency?)

It is incorrect to suggest that a 10-year wait is still necessary for PR. I agree it is unlikely in 1 year, though. I got mine after 6 years doing it by myself but could have got it earlier as I already had the then required 80 points - it just hadn’t occurred to me that it was what I wanted and was relatively straightforward. A Japanese spouse helps in terms of translating documents to Japanese, not having to submit several documents and being a good reason in the personal statement for staying permanently in Japan. N1 is not required for PR, but combined with a Masters will get you 45 points straight off. Academic background, career-related research, annual salary, and university ranking got me to 80 points.

So what have you decided to do? Being married to a Thai and having lived in Thailand for over two decades, I can certainly see splitting time between both. With houses so affordable I guess it would be feasible to be in Japan for two months or so twice. That way you could just do it on tourist visas I guess

As far as setting up a company, would working as a part-time independent software developer (e.g., doing contract programming for a 3rd party) count as a valid business? How profitable would the company need to be, e.g., would you need to make well over 5M yen each year?

Do they give residency permission for retirement? What if you just want to go there to enjoy your time? If you have enough money that you don't need to work anymore for the rest of your life. Looks like a good deal for the country to me, someone wanting to go there to expend their bank account in the country, would the give residency in a case like this?

Looked through the points system site, and... I'm studying for a master's in Japan, soon will also continue for a PhD here. If I calculated things correctly, I would likely only need to publish 1-2 more papers within the next 3 years, and possibly get a decent enough salary to actually be eligible for permanent residency straight after graduation. Cool beans.

There are dating sites... for those who are looking for love 😊 I would think that learning the language first would be a good idea, then look for love.

My goal in the next 5-10 years is to sell my house and take the equity to start an Airbnb with multiple small apartments in Japan. That should work as far as the business visa. I just need to figure out any regulations for starting an Airbnb there.

My route to retire in Japan is to, buy a house and go to school for 3 years. Hopefully, meet someone and get married, and live happily ever after in beautiful Japan.

How to marry sexy Japanese girls ?