TOKYO — Japan on Thursday implemented stricter requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency, tightening immigration controls under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Applicants must now demonstrate annual income above the national average and demonstrate conversational Japanese proficiency. Application fees increased 20-fold.
Hundreds of foreign residents queued at immigration offices this week to submit applications before the price increase took effect. Yujie Chono, a 22-year-old American-born university student, waited five hours. Chono, who speaks fluent Japanese, acknowledged concerns about rapid foreign population growth but said Japan must accept foreign workers given its aging population and low birth rate.
Previous guidelines specified no income thresholds, pension contribution requirements, or language proficiency standards. The updated rules represent a significant shift in Japan's approach to long-term foreign settlement.
The policy comes as Japan grapples with a rapidly aging population and persistent labor shortages. Yet opposition to immigration has grown, with anti-immigration sentiment spreading on social media through false claims that foreign nationals receive substantial welfare payments and contribute to rising crime.
Prime Minister Takaichi addressed the concern on X on Sunday, saying that "as the number of foreign residents in Japan increases, the government is facing the fact that some citizens feel anxiety and a sense of unfairness." She committed to promoting "orderly coexistence with foreign nationals."
Experts and business leaders argue Japan must welcome more foreign workers to maintain economic and social stability. The Nikkei business daily recently asserted that "Japan needs to open its doors to more foreigners" and urged the government to "stop viewing foreigners merely as a temporary labor force and instead promote their long-term settlement by expanding Japanese-language education and improving their treatment."
Immigration became a flashpoint in last year's upper house election, when the nativist Sanseito party gained support on a platform describing immigration as a "silent invasion."
The new rules follow the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 2024 tightening of business manager visa requirements. Entrepreneurs failing to meet the new standards are required to leave Japan.
Many foreign residents pursue permanent residency to secure long-term stability, greater employment freedom, and social integration. Without it, they often face barriers to mortgages and other financial services. The new rules are expected to reduce the number of successful applications.
