With Japan Tightening Rules for Foreign Residents, Some Wonder if It’s Time to Say ‘Sayonara’

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Japan has a long history of strict immigration policies and a homogeneous population. However, gripped by a spiraling demographic crisis, the country gradually opened up to foreign workers as well as seeking more international tourists.

But such efforts did not wholly succeed.

Overtourism and reports — some true, others misconceived — of foreign residents flouting local rules have recently fueled the rise of “Japan-first” politics and reshaped the trajectory of what was becoming a more open, diverse and welcoming society.

Last month, the Japanese government, led by conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, said that a range of visa fees would rise in October — the latest in a series of stricter measures for foreigners.

Under the new rules, those looking to settle permanently in Japan will have to fork out 20 times more — 200,000 yen ($1,257) — to become a permanent resident.

Prices for other work and student visas will also rise.

The purpose of the spike in fees is to forge “an orderly society in which foreigners and Japanese citizens coexist,” said Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi.

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The most drastic shifts impact those who plan to stay in Japan for the longest – those applying for permanent residency, a status that grants rights to work, unlimited entries, and infinite stay.

Effective from October, applicants are required to have an income level higher than that of average Japanese households. And from next April, aspiring permanent residents need to have a projected pension fund equivalent to 30 years of payouts. They also have to speak intermediate-level Japanese.

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Earlier this year, the government also tightened rules for foreign business owners, raising the capital requirement of a business manager visa popular among entrepreneurs from five million yen ($31,000) to 30 million ($126,000).

The number of foreign residents recached 4.1 million last year, a record high representing about 3.4% of the Japanese population. More than 930,000 Chinese nationals live in Japan, making it the largest group, while about 70,000 Americans also reside there.

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