Japan is set to significantly tighten the requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residency. Applicants and their families must have a combined income exceeding the average for Japanese households, and expected pension benefits must reach the level of those who have contributed to the Employees' Pension Insurance for 30 years. The special application provisions for foreigners married to Japanese citizens or permanent residents will also be reduced. New criteria will be established to revoke residency status for those who intentionally fail to pay taxes or social insurance premiums.
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan released a draft revision to the residency approval requirements on August 4. After a public consultation period, the income requirements will take effect in October, while the other revisions are set to be implemented in April 2024.
This reform is part of the Takaiichi administration's policy to raise barriers for foreigners regarding residency and access to social security systems. The Japanese government outlined its intention to review welfare eligibility and permanent residency requirements in a comprehensive foreign policy plan established in January.
Under the proposed changes, to qualify for permanent residency, a household's income must exceed that of the average Japanese household of similar size. This requirement must be maintained consistently, not just temporarily. Income will be calculated based on the entire family unit, including those living abroad if they contribute to the applicant's livelihood.
While specific criteria for determining average household income have yet to be established, it is expected that data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' household surveys will be utilized. Last year, the average annual income for a two-person household in Japan was approximately 5.79 million yen (about $52,300), while a three-person household earned around 7.03 million yen (about $63,500).
Future pension amounts will also be subject to scrutiny. Expected pension benefits must exceed the level received by individuals who have contributed to the Employees' Pension Insurance for 30 years. This measure comes in response to a growing number of cases where permanent residents have received welfare benefits after obtaining residency. Welfare in Japan is a public assistance program designed to support individuals facing financial difficulties.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that there is public opposition to providing welfare benefits to foreigners, which has influenced this reform. Efforts to strictly manage tax and social insurance payment compliance among foreigners began under the Ishiba administration and have accelerated under Takaiichi. Kim Onoda, the first Minister in charge of foreign policy, has been a leading advocate for these changes. Before taking office in 2021, he expressed on X (formerly Twitter) his stance for the abolition of welfare for foreigners, stating that "foreigners who cannot be self-sufficient should return to their home countries, and welfare is the responsibility of their country of nationality." According to government officials, Onoda has emphasized preventing foreigners from exploiting loopholes in the system to receive benefits.
The Japanese government maintains that foreigners are not eligible for welfare under the law. However, humanitarian assistance is provided to special permanent residents and recognized refugees based on a 1954 notification from the former Ministry of Health and Welfare.
In 2024, approximately 2.008 million individuals in Japan received welfare benefits, with around 65,000 of them being foreign heads of households, accounting for 3.24% of the total. This figure includes those whose spouses or children are Japanese citizens. However, the Japanese government does not comprehensively track welfare recipients by residency status. This will become possible after the introduction of the My Number system in June next year. A sample survey was conducted prior to this revision for this reason. The survey indicated an overall welfare recipient rate of 1.62%, with permanent residents at 1.96%.
The Japanese government views the higher welfare recipient rate among approved permanent residents as problematic. As of the end of last year, approximately 4.125 million foreigners resided in Japan, with around 947,000 holding permanent residency, the largest group among residency statuses. This number has been increasing by more than 25,000 annually. A senior official from the Immigration Services Agency stated, "A significant decrease in new permanent residency approvals is expected."
The special application provisions for spouses of Japanese citizens or permanent residents will also be reduced. Currently, applicants must generally have lived in Japan for at least 10 years, but spouses could apply after three years of marriage and one year of residency. According to the Nikkei, the new requirements will increase this to five years of marriage and three years of residency.
New criteria for revoking residency status will also be established. Permanent residency may be revoked for intentionally failing to pay income tax, residence tax, or social insurance premiums. In the assessment of new residency applications, violations of laws or a lack of understanding of Japanese systems will be viewed unfavorably. The requirement that granting permanent residency must "actively and concretely align with Japan's national interests" will also be codified. The criteria for revocation and national interest requirements will take effect in April 2024.
Critics have raised concerns about these changes. An activist supporting foreign residents in Osaka told the Asahi Shimbun, "Many jobs held by foreigners often pay lower wages, and there are many Japanese workers earning below-average incomes as well. I question the rationality of this system." The Asahi reported the case of a Filipino woman who has lived in Japan for over ten years and works as a full-time caregiver after divorcing a Japanese citizen. She intended to apply before the significant increase in residency application fees but found her annual income fell short of the new requirements at under 4 million yen. The activist expressed concern that these changes would not only discourage those already living in Japan but also deter potential workers from coming to Japan, negatively impacting the economy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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