Japan’s government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is proposing to raise the bar for permanent residency, adding new requirements around minimum household income and Japanese-language ability, according to reporting by Bloomberg Opinion. Applicants would also face a check on their ability to remain financially solvent after retirement. The proposals are still subject to change and are expected to be introduced next year.
The plan would draw a clearer line between permission to work in Japan and the separate, permanent right to remain — a distinction Japan has historically left loosely defined, gatekeeping permanent residency mainly by years of residence rather than income or language criteria. Reaction from Japanese media has been sharply critical: the Asahi newspaper called the proposed changes “a revision that will doom the dreams and enthusiasm of foreigners,” while the Mainichi argued “Japan should not shut the door on permanent residents.”
Existing fast-track routes to permanent residency are not affected by the proposal. The points-based system for “highly skilled professionals,” introduced in 2017 under then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, remains in place, as does the ultra-fast “J-Skip” program for very high earners.
