Regulation on Permanent Residence of Foreigners

Encouraged by xenophobic sentiment growing among Japanese people, the government of Japan is setting stricter standards for foreigners to obtain license of permanent residence. New standards will include higher income which is equivalent to ordinary Japanese citizens. They also require more contribution to national interest of Japan than ever. It reflects political tendency that a party upholding strict regulation on immigrants attracts public attention. 

The Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party agreed for forming a leading coalition last October on enhancement of measures against illegal activities of foreigners. In the Lower House election in February 2026, ultraconservative Sanseito showed upsurge with policies for stricter regulation against foreigners, including limitation on acceptance of foreign people by reviewing labor system. Conservative parties are competing each other over regulation on foreigners to attract voters who embraces concern on increasing foreign people in Japan.

 

Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act provides that Minister of Justice may grant permission of permanent residence only if it conforms to the interest of Japan. The law determines two conditions; one is that the foreign national’s behavior is good and another is that it has sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living. The government considers to make those conditions stricter.

 

On the condition of sufficient assets, the government is going to require as much annual income as average of ordinary Japanese or more. A rough standard is estimated acceptance of pension which is equivalent to, or more than, that of a Japanese who has worked for 30 years. If the foreigner has deposit in bank account, it can be included in the standard that is required for permanent residence.

 

And the new standard will require contribution to positive and actual interest of Japan. When the government assesses the interest, ability of Japanese language to the level in which the person can independently use it will be considered. Good understanding of rules or institution of Japanese society is also required. The rule will be changed in October 2026 and enforced in April 2027.

 

The applicant for permanent residence needs to live in Japan for 10 year or longer. A spouse of Japanese citizen had been able to obtain permanent residence with three years of marriage and one year of living in Japan. This condition will be changed to five years of marriage and three years of living. The government decided to launch a experts’ council to discuss whether it should set a numerical line for accepting foreign residents. It is going to make a basic plan for this issue in March 2027.

 

Japan has 4.12 million foreign residents at the time of the end of 2025, which marked new high in four consecutive years. Sanae Takaichi administration raised the application fee for obtaining status of residence of foreigners. In the case of applying for permanent residence, the cost will rise from 10 thousand yen to 200 thousand yen in the plan now discussed. Takaichi looks like promoting policies intolerant to foreigners.

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