New rules for foreigners in Japan

SUMMARY

Jeff Richards, host of Japan Today Spotlight, discusses Japan's evolving immigration policies amid rising foreign populations, including higher visa fees, permanent residency requirements, worker caps, and tourism measures.

STATEMENTS

Japan's population is projected to drop below 87 million by 2070 from 123 million now, with foreigners expected to comprise 10% by 2040, already exceeding that in some areas.
The government plans to increase visa renewal and status change fees by up to 40,000 yen, and permanent residency fees from 10,000 to over 100,000 yen, to fund multiculturalism support.
Permanent residency requirements may include Japanese language proficiency starting April 2027, alongside a raised minimum income threshold, potentially favoring wealthier expats.
The revised Immigration Act allows revocation of permanent residency for neglecting public obligations like taxes and health insurance, applicable to all foreign residents.
A new training and employment system will cap foreign workers at 426,000 in its first two years from 2027, replacing the criticized technical intern program across 17 sectors.
Stricter enforcement targets part-time work for international students, limited to 28 hours weekly, and the visa category for engineers and humanities specialists.
Tourism policies include tripling the departure tax to 3,000 yen and introducing a 3,000 yen JESTA pre-travel screening fee by 2028 to combat overtourism and risks.
Foreign residents numbered 3,956,619 by June 2025, up 5%, led by Chinese, Vietnamese, and South Koreans, driven by labor shortages in regional areas.
Prime Minister's coalition seeks tighter controls on foreigners due to illegal activities causing public anxiety, while experts advocate for coexistence to sustain society.
Business groups push for a prime minister-led headquarters to integrate foreign workers, emphasizing quality talent acquisition and addressing education and social services.

IDEAS

Rapid foreign population growth in rural Japan is revitalizing depopulated areas, with one Hokkaido village now over one-third foreign nationals.
Visa fee hikes aim to align Japan with Western standards but could deter mid-income workers, exacerbating labor shortages in essential sectors.
Undefined Japanese language proficiency for permanent residency creates uncertainty, potentially excluding long-term residents who contribute economically.
Capping foreign workers at 426,000 might stifle economic recovery, as businesses rely on them to keep factories and fisheries operational.
Tourism debates overlap with immigration, using departure tax revenue to mitigate overtourism, yet it burdens Japanese travelers too.
Political rhetoric frames foreigners as sources of anxiety, fueled by media and populist parties, despite their role in countering Japan's demographic decline.
Local farmers value foreign labor but express unease over cultural changes, highlighting tensions between economic need and social harmony.
Advocacy groups protest xenophobic policies, demanding a basic law for foreigners' human rights amid increased government surveillance.
Rising wages in neighboring countries threaten Japan's appeal to foreign talent, prompting calls for strategic recruitment over passive acceptance.
Integration efforts like language seminars and festival participation could foster inclusion, but vague policies risk alienating potential contributors.

INSIGHTS

Demographic pressures necessitate embracing foreign residents not as a burden but as essential to Japan's survival, transforming societal fears into opportunities for renewal.
Policy vagueness in requirements like language proficiency risks inequity, underscoring the need for clear, inclusive criteria to support diverse contributions.
Economic dependency on foreign labor reveals a paradox: tightening controls may undermine the very workforce sustaining rural and industrial vitality.
Overlapping immigration and tourism debates expose broader anxieties about globalization, where revenue tools like taxes must balance security with accessibility.
Public unease, amplified by media, highlights the urgency of shifting narratives from exclusion to strategic integration for harmonious multiculturalism.
Business advocacy for centralized policy coordination signals a pivotal moment, where focusing on talent quality could redefine Japan's global competitiveness.

QUOTES

"Japan is already a society that cannot survive without coexistence with foreigners."
"Creating an environment where foreigners can successfully establish themselves as part of the workforce would offer significant benefits to Japanese society."
"They're valuable assets and if they were to leave, his company couldn't survive."
"We respect those choices and if they choose to stay, we want to keep supporting them."
"Steps to promote the smooth integration of foreign workers and their families into society are essential, particularly with regard to education and social services."

HABITS

Attend government-sponsored seminars to build Japanese language skills and cultural knowledge for smoother integration.
Participate in local festivals and community activities to foster connections with Japanese neighbors.
Maintain compliance with public obligations like tax payments and health insurance to avoid residency risks.
Seek permission from immigration for part-time work as students, adhering strictly to the 28-hour weekly limit.
Engage in ongoing professional development to transition from training programs to skilled worker status after three years.

FACTS

Japan's foreign residents reached 3,956,619 by June 2025, a 5% increase from 2024, with permanent residents at 932,090.
The technical intern training program currently employs 449,432 foreigners, set to be replaced by a new system in 2027.
Departure tax revenue hit a record 52.48 billion yen in the year ended March 2025, funding overtourism measures.
High foreign concentrations appear in 1,892 municipalities' industrial, tourist, and long-established communities.
Visa-exempt travelers will face JESTA screening by 2028, denying boarding to those flagged for illegal stay risks.

REFERENCES

National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projections on population decline.
Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act amendment effective April 2027.
Technical Intern Training Program, criticized and to be replaced.
Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan nonprofit and Tokyo rally statement.
Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) report on foreign policy headquarters.
GaijinPot blog on PR language requirements and visa fee hikes.
JESTA online pre-travel system, modeled on U.S. ESTA.

HOW TO APPLY

Assess your current visa status and prepare for fee increases by budgeting up to 40,000 yen for renewals or status changes starting next fiscal year.
Build Japanese language proficiency through self-study or seminars to meet potential permanent residency requirements from 2027.
Gather evidence of stable income and 10 years' residency, anticipating a higher minimum threshold that may favor higher earners.
For students, obtain immigration permission for part-time work and track hours to stay under the 28-weekly limit under stricter enforcement.
If in the new training program, complete three years to transition to specified skilled worker status, noting the 426,000 cap in initial years.

ONE-SENTENCE TAKEAWAY

Japan must strategically integrate growing foreign populations to counter demographic decline while addressing integration and security concerns.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Establish a basic law guaranteeing human rights for foreigners to counter xenophobia and promote true coexistence.
Define precise language proficiency and income levels for permanent residency to reduce confusion and ensure fairness.
Create a prime minister-led headquarters for coordinated foreign policy, focusing on education and social integration.
Invest departure tax revenue in community programs that ease cultural tensions in high-foreign areas.
Shift recruitment to prioritize skilled talent quality, enhancing Japan's appeal amid rising regional wages.

MEMO

Japan's aging society faces an inexorable shift: its foreign population is surging faster than anticipated, reshaping not just demographics but the very fabric of policy and community life. Host Jeff Richards, in a recent Japan Today Spotlight episode, delves into these changes, from visa fee hikes to permanent residency hurdles, as the nation grapples with labor shortages amid a projected population plunge to under 87 million by 2070. Already, foreigners make up 10% of residents in dozens of municipalities, including a Hokkaido village where they exceed one-third—a stark reminder that economic vitality in rural areas hinges on this influx.

Yet, these developments carry unease. The government plans steep increases in visa fees—up to 40,000 yen for renewals and over 100,000 for permanent residency—aimed at funding multiculturalism but aligning costs with Western norms that might exclude everyday workers. Starting in 2027, language proficiency and higher income thresholds could bar many, while revocation powers for tax neglect apply broadly. Critics decry the vagueness, warning it favors the wealthy, even as a new worker training system caps entrants at 426,000 across sectors like agriculture and construction, replacing a flawed intern program.

Tourism, though distinct, bleeds into the conversation, with a tripled 3,000-yen departure tax and the forthcoming JESTA screening system targeting overtourism's ills—overcrowding, bad behavior—while screening visa-exempt visitors for risks. Record tax revenues of 52.48 billion yen underscore the scale, but so do the numbers: 3.96 million foreign residents by mid-2025, led by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Koreans, filling voids left by urban-bound youth in depopulated regions.

Local voices reveal a divided landscape. Farmers in Aichi Prefecture praise foreign workers' diligence but fret over cultural unfamiliarity; a Nagoya manufacturer calls his Vietnamese staff indispensable. Protests in Tokyo, led by groups like the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, decry surveillance as xenophobic, demanding rights protections. Meanwhile, business leaders urge a mindset shift—from wary acceptance to active talent pursuit—via a centralized policy hub to bolster integration through language classes and festivals.

As Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's coalition tightens reins amid public anxiety stoked by media and populists, experts like demographer Tucasa Sasai insist coexistence is non-negotiable for survival. With proposals still hazy and implementation years off, Japan stands at a crossroads: will it build an inclusive haven or fortify barriers? The Diet's January session may clarify, but the direction points toward a more ordered, if cautious, embrace of global threads in its national tapestry.