Japan Tightens Rules for Permanent Residence

The government of Japan revised the guideline for foreigner’s permanent residence on October 1st. New rule requires foreigners’ application for permanent residence certain amount of income, which is higher than average of Japanese citizens. The fee for application becomes twenty times expensive. In short, Japanese government only needs foreigners who are richer than Japanese. This tighter regulation reflects political preference of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who are firmly supported by conservative powers. 

Experienced national isolationism for two centuries between 17th and 19th, Japan still keeps a tradition of strict regulation for accepting foreigners. In 2025, only 1,186 people out of 11,298 applicants (1.6 percent) were registered as refugees. Article 22 of  Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act provides that the status of permanent residence can be given only when Minister of Justice recognizes the person as conforming to the interests of Japan. Additionally for permanent residence, the applicant’s behavior needs to be good and has sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living.

 

When Takaichi formed a coalition with conservative Japan Innovation Party (JIP) last October, they agreed on promoting stricter policies for immigrants. They agreed on setting a numeral target in acceptance of immigrants, from the viewpoint of reducing friction between foreigners and Japanese citizens. They also promised to have tighter regulation on illegal activities by foreigners and on their false use of existing institution.

 

Sponsored by the Liberal Democratic Party and JIP, revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act passed the Diet in last May. After the amendment, an applicant for permanent residence needs to have an annual income more than average Japanese, which is about 4.5 million yen. That is 1.5 times higher than the previous standard. New regulation also requires eligibility of receiving pension payout, which is equivalent to a Japanese who had paid pension premium for 30 years. The charge of application for permanent residence jumped up from 10 thousand yen to 200 thousand yen.

 

Immigration Service Agency collected public comments on the revision of immigration law. They included opinions that realized the new policy as exclusion of foreigners. However, the agency regarded it not as a regulation but as a correction of the rule. There is an argument that some foreigners falsely receive public welfare assistance or take advantage of health insurance, which conservative people accuse. Prescription of the government to the problem is not precise application of the rule but reducing the applicants.

 

“We desire to occupy an honored place in an international society striving for preservation of peace, and the banishment of tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance for all time from the earth,” says the preamble of Constitution of Japan. Accepting people who escape from oppression or poverty, pursuing happiness in Japan, must meet the principle of its supreme law. Nevertheless, the government of Japan cannot get rid of its meritocratic behavior.

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