- Japan’s foreign resident population hit a record high of four million in twenty twenty-six.
- Authorities will begin revoking permanent residency for tax and social insurance non-payment in twenty twenty-seven.
- Business manager visa requirements jumped to thirty million yen, causing applications to collapse.
Japan unveiled a new immigration plan on July 31, and the plan's permanent residency enforcement arrives as cross-prefectural moves by foreign residents rise. It is the first overhaul in seven years. The pressure is building.
Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said the government wants order without losing sight of rights. He was blunt.
"We will ensure that granting permanent residence will not place a burden on the public."
"The government will implement the necessary measures while giving full consideration to the human rights of foreign nationals across all initiatives."
The numbers are already large. Japan’s foreign resident population reached 4,031,159, up 353,696, or 9.62%, the highest since the ministry began collecting the figure in 2013. In June 2026, foreign residents made 32,327 cross-prefectural moves, 3,199 more than in June 2025, an 11.0% increase. Mobility is up.
The government has paired the plan with a tougher line on illegal stays. As of January 2026, 68,488 foreign nationals were staying in Japan illegally, and officials launched the "Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan." A 2024 amendment, promulgated June 21, 2024, will let authorities revoke permanent residency for "willful and sustained non-payment" of taxes or social insurance from April 1, 2027. Harder rules are coming.
The squeeze has already reached entrepreneurs. Effective October 16, 2025, the minimum capital for the business manager visa rose from ¥5 million to ¥30 million. New overseas applications for that category fell about 96%. The door narrowed fast.
The latest round also raised fees on July 1, 2026. Japan lifted visa issuance charges and the international departure tax the same day. JESTA became law on May 29, 2026, but it will not launch until March 2029 at the earliest. More costs came first.
Fees rose before permanent residency got tougher
| Change | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Business manager visa | October 16, 2025 | The minimum capital requirement rose from ¥5 million to ¥30 million, and new overseas applications fell about 96%. |
| Visa issuance fees | July 1, 2026 | A single-entry visa is now 15,000 yen and a multiple-entry visa is 30,000 yen. |
| International departure tax | July 1, 2026 | The tax rose to 3,000 yen. |
| Permanent residence fee proposal | March 2026 | A bill proposed raising the PR permit fee from ¥10,000 to a maximum of ¥300,000. |
| Naturalization | April 2026 | The residency requirement was extended from 5 years to 10 years in principle. |
| JESTA | May 29, 2026 | The law was enacted, with launch set for March 2029 at the earliest. |
| PR revocation law | June 21, 2024 | Authorities can revoke permanent residency for willful and sustained non-payment of taxes or social insurance starting April 1, 2027. |
Shoichi Ibusuki said the draft crossed a line. He called it a "disposable labor" mentality.
"Arbitrarily setting such strict requirements in the guidelines that are comparable to laws is an infringement of the Diet's [Parliament's] authority."
The hardest pressure falls on people already settled here
Long-term residents and permanent residents face the sharpest risk. Miss a payment, and the paperwork gets heavier. Miss a filing, and the status problem gets bigger.
Tourists from visa-exempt countries feel less of the squeeze. The biggest 2026 fee increases hit people who need visas. Foreign residents already settled in Japan may be weighing relocation options elsewhere.
The next dates are already set. Officials expect the draft PR guidelines to be finalized around October 1, 2026, and the revocation rule tied to taxes and social insurance takes effect on April 1, 2027. JESTA stays on the calendar for March 2029 at the earliest.
