Japan plans tougher permanent residency norms for foreigners from October

Japan is planning to tighten its permanent residency rules for foreign nationals as early as October by introducing clearer eligibility criteria, including a minimum income threshold and pension-related requirements, according to Nikkei.

The Immigration Services Agency is preparing revised guidelines that would require applicants to continuously earn more than the average annual household income of Japanese citizens. The move is aimed at ensuring permanent residents can support themselves without relying on future public assistance.

Under the proposal, applicants would also generally need to qualify for a pension benefit equivalent to that of a person who has contributed to Japan's Employees' Pension Insurance system for 30 years.


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The revisions seek to make existing permanent residency guidelines more specific. Current rules under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act require applicants to demonstrate good conduct, possess sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood, and satisfy the national interest requirement. However, they do not specify income levels or other measurable standards.

The Immigration Services Agency also plans to introduce detailed criteria for assessing whether applicants meet the national interest requirement. The evaluation is expected to include factors such as Japanese-language proficiency and an understanding of Japanese institutions and systems.

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Separately, the Japanese government is working to formulate a basic policy on accepting foreign nationals by March. A government panel will examine whether to introduce numerical targets for foreign admissions while taking into account Japan's broader population strategy and other considerations.