Japan Sets a New Direction on Foreign Residents, Immigration Control, and Social Integration

On 23 January 2026, the Japanese government adopted a new policy package titled “Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and the Realization of an Orderly Coexistence Society.” The policy covers a wide range of areas, including immigration and residence management, illegal stay and unauthorized employment, tax and social insurance coordination, Japanese language education, consultation systems, tourism-related issues, and land ownership transparency.

At its core, the government is pursuing two goals. First, it wants to respond more firmly to public concern about misconduct by some foreign nationals and inappropriate use of certain systems. Second, it wants to build a society in which Japanese nationals and foreign nationals can live safely and prosper together under Japanese law and social rules.

The government is pushing immigration digitalization

A central feature of the policy is further digitalization of immigration administration. The government plans to introduce JESTA, an electronic travel authorization system, during fiscal year 2028. Through JESTA, it aims to strengthen advance screening while reducing waiting times at immigration inspection.

The government also plans to expand information sharing between immigration authorities and other agencies through My Number-linked systems. This will include tax, pension, and health insurance data. In parallel, it intends to promote integration of residence card functions with the My Number framework.

The government is reviewing key residence statuses

The policy identifies several residence categories for stricter operation or further review. These include Business Manager, Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Student, and Permanent Resident.

For example, the government plans to continue reviewing whether Business Manager status holders are running genuine businesses and properly meeting public payment obligations. It also plans to look more closely at cases where foreign nationals may be working outside the permitted scope of the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services category. In the Student category, it plans to re-examine how authorities manage permission for part-time work and other activities outside status.

The government is also moving toward stricter examination of permanent residence and further review of naturalization standards. In the naturalization context, it specifically plans to examine whether applicants should, in principle, have lived in Japan for at least ten years and show integration into Japanese society.

The government is tightening its response to illegal stay and unauthorized work

Another major pillar of the policy is stronger action against illegal stay and unauthorized employment. The government is continuing to promote its “zero illegal stay” approach. It plans to speed up refugee status screening, strengthen removal enforcement, and improve systems for detecting forged or altered residence cards.

It also plans to deepen coordination among immigration authorities, police, labor bureaus, and Hello Work in relation to unauthorized employment and employer reporting. For employers, the message is clear: authorities are likely to look more closely at residence status checks and employment compliance procedures.

The government is linking immigration more closely with tax, social insurance, and healthcare systems

The policy goes beyond immigration procedure alone. The government is also reviewing how foreign nationals use tax, health insurance, pension, medical cost recovery, and other public systems. It plans to use administrative data and inter-agency coordination more actively to improve oversight.

This review also covers unpaid medical expenses, childbirth-related benefits, public assistance administration, child-related benefits, and education support. In many of these areas, the government is still examining the structure and implementation of future measures, but the policy direction is already clear.

The government is placing greater emphasis on Japanese language and understanding of rules

The policy does not focus only on tighter control. The government is also strengthening Japanese language education and promoting understanding of Japanese laws, institutions, and social rules before and after arrival.

Its proposals cover pre-arrival education, language education for workers and everyday life, support for children, and measures affecting Japanese language teachers. It is also considering programs that would help foreign residents, including family members, learn Japanese language and social rules in a more structured way. The government may later treat participation in such programs as a factor in residence-related screening.

The government is strengthening consultation and support systems

The policy also includes practical support measures for foreign residents. The government plans to prepare a “Living and Working Guidebook,” make greater use of the Foreign Residents Support Portal Site, expand consultation systems modeled on FRESC, and further promote communication in easy Japanese.

The policy also covers fees, tourism, and land ownership

The government plans to revise residence permission fees and visa fees, with fee increases under consideration during fiscal year 2026 after the necessary legal amendments.

The policy also reaches beyond immigration in the narrow sense. It addresses illegal minpaku, overtourism, land ownership transparency, condominium transaction fact-finding, groundwater-related issues, and possible future rules on land acquisition from a national security perspective. In these areas, the government is still conducting surveys, organizing issues, and considering future measures.

Practical takeaway

This policy does not put every measure into force immediately. However, it clearly shows where the government is heading. Japan is moving toward a framework with more digital immigration administration, broader information sharing among authorities, closer review of compliance with public systems, and more structured expectations regarding language ability and social integration.