Japan moves to tighten rules for foreigners

Nearly eight years after moving to Japan for employment, Abdul is contemplating his future after Japan's government intends to tighten rules for permanent residency and citizenship. Abdul, a tech engineer residing in northern Tokyo with his Bangladeshi spouse, expressed uncertainty about potential future restrictions from the Japanese government.

He is preparing applications for both permanent residency and citizenship and is prepared to leave if his applications are denied. Abdul must now demonstrate an annual household income surpassing the Japanese average, prove Japanese-language proficiency, and maintain a pension equivalent to 30 years of payouts to qualify for permanent residency.

Applicants will also have to demonstrate financial independence and a stable life to avoid becoming a burden on society. Sarah Nelkin, an American who has lived in Japan for 14 years, is among those who fear they will not meet the new criteria. As a resident of Japan's entertainment industry, Nelkin is concerned about the potential consequences of application rejection, including relinquishing her US citizenship.

Risa Hagiwara, a professor of economics at Meikai University in Urayasu, noted that these changes signal a shift towards a selective and conditional immigration policy that conflicts with Japan's need for foreign labor due to its shrinking population. Japan's foreign-born population has risen to 4.12 million, or about 3 percent of the total population, according to government data.

As foreign workers address labor shortages, Hagiwara emphasized that Japan must consider the society it wants to build with these individuals. Public opinion has turned against immigration, with 56.3 percent of Japanese respondents opposing accepting more foreigners, up from 35.6 percent in 2024, according to a survey by the Institute of Social Science at the University of Tokyo.