Immigration / Visa
Visa categories, permanent residency, naturalization, and immigration policy.
Clear breakdown of Japan's October 2026 permanent residency rule changes: higher income thresholds, steeper fees, stricter language tests, and extended spousal residency requirements.
Community groups and legal experts push back on Japan's sweeping permanent residency overhaul, raising concerns about income thresholds that may exclude long-term residents.
Japan's government announced October 2026 changes raising income thresholds, increasing application fees to ¥200,000, and tightening pension and language requirements for permanent residency.
Japan Times (May 2026): the Immigration Services Agency's 'zero plan' to eliminate illegal overstaying, including new cyber patrols and stronger enforcement.
Practical explainer on Japan's points-based HSP visa system: how points are calculated, the three activity categories, and the accelerated PR pathway.
Japan Times: new bill raises the statutory ceiling for status-of-residence change fees to ¥100,000 and permanent residence applications to ¥300,000.
JETRO guide covering employment status categories, the HSP points-based system, J-Skip, J-Find, and change-of-status procedures.
November 13, 2025 - A comprehensive guide to Japan visa for tourists in 2025. Details on Japan visa requirements, visa policy, visa types and entry procedure at the airport.
February 5, 2026 - As of January 1, 2025, Japan runs programs with 30 countries/regions. Always check current eligibility and any “second-stay” allowances on MOFA before you apply. ... Launched in 2024 as a Designated Activities type, the Digital.
GaijinPot explainer on the new fee ceilings (up to ¥100,000 for status changes, ¥300,000 for PR) — who pays, when the changes take effect, and what to budget.
Comprehensive checklist for permanent residency applications: eligibility requirements, points-track shortcuts, required documents, and 2026 rule changes.
Step-by-step guide to the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — the document required before applying for most Japan visas for spouses, children, and new work-visa applicants.
Japan's Tighter Immigration Controls Yielding Results
(japantimes.co.jp)
Japan Times reporting on falling overstayer numbers following 2025's stricter immigration enforcement measures.
The Immigration Services Agency's official page on the six-month digital nomad residence status, including income and insurance requirements.
The Immigration Services Agency's official multilingual portal covering employment, housing, healthcare, taxes, and emergency procedures for foreign residents.
Japan to likely pass bill raising immigration fees
(japantimes.co.jp)
Status-change and extension fees would rise to ¥100,000, and permanent residence applications to ¥300,000 - budget for this if you're filing soon.
Japan to tighten requirements for naturalization starting April 1
(japantimes.co.jp)
Residency requirement for naturalization doubles to 10 consecutive years, with longer tax/insurance-record screening - relevant if citizenship is part of your long-term plan.
Immigration agency tightens guidelines for permanent residency
(japantimes.co.jp)
Confirms the February 2026 rule change: PR applicants must now hold the maximum stay period for their visa category at filing time, and any late tax/insurance payment can disqualify you.