Are there reasons why I shouldn't maintain Permanent Residency status?

[Foremost]

I've had PR for at least 20 years but haven't lived in Japan since 2007. Early 2022 I will be entering Japan again and am planning to get a new reentry permit and renew my residency card. It seems like a good thing to have in case I need someplace to live in the future, which is why I've held on to it. My wife is Japanese, so there's a greater possibility of that happening than were I single or married to someone of another nationality. We're planning next year either to take a job in South Asia or, if that falls through, to retire to Thailand.

I'm wondering if there are good reasons for me to give up PR? Under Covid circumstances, it seems desirable as those with PR status are permitted reentry, but in coming years that advantage may go by the wayside. Assuming I lost PR and we wanted to return to live in Japan, I assume I could get a spouse visa and renew that every few years until I expire.

Any thoughts?

I have an online meeting with an immigration lawyer in a couple of weeks. Any thing I should be asking?

[adamu]

As far as I know, there are no disadvantages to having PR (compared to spouse status) but there are many advantages. The obvious ones are no need to apply for extensions to period of stay, and more respect when entering into contractual agreements. You also live in Japan as yourself, rather than to fulfil a relationship to a Japanese person or company.

In fact, I'm interested to know how you maintained it so long as a non resident. Did you make frequent visits back? Did you get new re-entry permits each time? Did you extend your re-entry permit abroad? Did they ask you any questions about why you are staying abroad for so long?

[Foremost]

Hi, Adamu. Since my wife is Japanese and she has family still in Japan, we visit every few years, at which time I buy a new 5-yr reentry permit. Every seven years the residence card needs to be renewed. Never had any problems with immigration, either at the airport or the city office.

[RetireJapan]

My understanding of this is that it is a grey area, so while it is currently possible to use PR/re-entry permits in this manner, there is a chance enforcement may be changed in the future.

As to the original question, I'm not aware of any reason not to maintain PR.

[TJKansai]

double post

[TJKansai]

I've had PR for at least 20 years but haven't lived in Japan since 2007. Early 2022 I will be entering Japan again and am planning to get a new reentry permit and renew my residency card. It seems like a good thing to have in case I need someplace to live in the future, which is why I've held on to it. My wife is Japanese, so there's a greater possibility of that happening than were I single or married to someone of another nationality. We're planning next year either to take a job in South Asia or, if that falls through, to retire to Thailand.

I'm wondering if there are good reasons for me to give up PR? Under Covid circumstances, it seems desirable as those with PR status are permitted reentry, but in coming years that advantage may go by the wayside. Assuming I lost PR and we wanted to return to live in Japan, I assume I could get a spouse visa and renew that every few years until I expire.

Any thoughts?

I have an online meeting with an immigration lawyer in a couple of weeks. Any thing I should be asking?

Wealthy people who want to plan to leave their estate to their children/grandchildren might consider avoiding PR (and living in Japan for extended periods of time).

I don't know about other countries, but the US is pretty generous when it comes to not taxing inheritance.

[captainspoke]

One possibly very good reason is health care. Thailand does have good care, or so I read, but costs, if they add up, may be steeper.

With PR, I think you could effectively 'move back' here and immediately sign up for 国民健康保険, no questions asked. Cost would be based on your previous year's income, which, since you haven't lived here, would start at the minimum (more the second and following years, depending on your tax filings).

[Foremost]

Right, but then we'd be responsible for paying tax, which we haven't been for the past 15 years. Might it not be cheaper in the long-run to simply buy Thai health insurance?

[adamu]

Hi, Adamu. Since my wife is Japanese and she has family still in Japan, we visit every few years, at which time I buy a new 5-yr reentry permit. Every seven years the residence card needs to be renewed. Never had any problems with immigration, either at the airport or the city office.

Thanks. I realise I'm asking more questions than answering, but I'm assuming you are maintaining a Juminhyo while you live abroad? As far as I understand, Japanese are supposed to submit a 国外転出届 when they leave the country and terminate their residency record, but the only options available to foreigners are to give up their residency status, or keep their residency record going. Assuming you still have an active Juminhyo, does that mean you also pay health insurance / pension?

[Foremost]

Yes, good question, Adamu. My wife filed one of those when we left and we assume it applied to me as well. I'm on her koseki. We haven't paid any taxes since leaving and as far as I know no one has asked.