Japan Tightens Migrant Rules, Making Permanent Residency Increasingly Difficult
The Japanese government has officially overhauled the guidelines for permanent residency for foreign nationals. Several requirements have been tightened, ranging from income levels and pension participation to Japanese language proficiency.
The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) stated that these changes are intended to ensure that applicants are capable of living independently and do not become a burden on society in the long term.
“Applicants must not become a burden to society and must be able to maintain a stable livelihood in the long term,” an ISA official said during a briefing at the Ministry of Justice, as quoted by the Japan Times on Friday (2/10/2026).
Under the new regulations, an applicant’s income will be assessed based on whether it is consistently above the average household income in Japan for a family of an equivalent size. The government has not set a single minimum nominal amount but will utilise data from various surveys by ministries, bureaus, and related agencies.
In addition to income, the government will examine the projected pension benefits of applicants. This value must generally be equivalent to the benefits received by someone who has paid employee pension system contributions for 30 years at the required income level. Financial assets may be taken into account if the projected pension is insufficient.
Japanese language proficiency is also now part of the requirements. Applicants are generally expected to possess a minimum of B1 proficiency within the CEFR framework, which is approximately equivalent to the N3 level in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), to ensure they can navigate daily life and integrate into society.
The government will also consider the applicant’s understanding of Japanese systems and regulations. A failure to ensure that school-aged children attend compulsory education may also serve as a negative factor in the assessment process.
The new rules also tighten exceptions for certain groups that were previously not required to meet self-sufficiency criteria, including spouses and children of Japanese citizens, permanent residents, special permanent residents, and refugees.
Meanwhile, the residency duration requirements for spouses of Japanese citizens and permanent residents have been extended from a minimum of three years of marriage and one year of residence in Japan to five years of marriage and three years of residence.
The government has also opened the possibility of revoking permanent resident status for those who intentionally fail to pay taxes, default on public obligations, violate obligations under the Immigration Control Act, or break the law. The ISA received 5,180 public comments regarding the permanent residency status guidelines and 2,850 comments regarding the new guidelines allowing for the revocation of such status.
Japanese Minister of Justice Takashi Yamashita stated that the government wants to ensure that coexistence between Japanese citizens and foreign nationals continues to function well.
“We must not allow a situation where foreign residents who comply with the rules find it increasingly difficult to live in Japan,” he said.