在留資格を変更しようとする外国人で永住者の在留資格への変更を希望するものは、法務省令で定める手続により、法務大臣に対し永住許可を申請しなければならない。
A foreign national who seeks to change their status of residence to that of "Permanent Resident" must file an application to the Minister of Justice for permission for permanent residence by taking the procedures provided for by Ministry of Justice Order.
前項の申請があつた場合には、法務大臣は、その者が次の各号のいずれにも適合し、かつ、その者の永住が日本国の利益に合すると認めたときに限り、これを許可することができる。ただし、その者が日本人、永住許可を受けている者又は特別永住者の配偶者又は子である場合にあつては次の各号のいずれにも適合することを要せず、国際連合難民高等弁務官事務所その他の国際機関が保護の必要性を認めた者で法務省令で定める要件に該当するものである場合にあつては第二号に適合することを要しない。
If an application as set forth in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the Minister of Justice may grant permission only if the Minister finds that the foreign national conforms to all of the following items and that their permanent residence conforms to the interests of Japan; provided, however, that in the case of spouses or children of Japanese nationals, of residents with permanent residence status or of special permanent residents, they do not need to conform to any of the following items, and in the case of a person whose need for protection has been recognized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or any other international organization and who meets the requirements provided for by Ministry of Justice Order, they do not need to conform to item (ii):
素行が善良であること。
the foreign national's behavior is good; and
独立の生計を営むに足りる資産又は技能を有すること。
the foreign national has sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living.
法務大臣は、前項の規定による許可をすることとしたときは、出入国在留管理庁長官に、当該外国人に対し、その旨を通知させるものとする。この場合において、その通知は、出入国在留管理庁長官が、入国審査官に、当該許可に係る外国人に対し在留カードを交付させることにより行うものとする。
If the Minister of Justice decides to grant the permission provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Minister is to have the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency notify the foreign national to that effect. In that case, this notification is to be made by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency by having an immigration officer issue a residence card to the foreign national pertaining to the permission.
The permission of the Minister of Justice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) becomes effective when the residence card under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been issued.