🇯🇵 Japan’s Policy Shift in 2025 — What’s Happening

Japan’s current administration under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is taking a more enforcement-oriented approach to immigration and residence policy. Rather than drastically reducing foreign residents, the focus is on ensuring orderly, rule-abiding presence of foreigners in Japan.

1. Visa & Residency Fees Are Being Increased

The Japanese government has announced plans to raise visa application and renewal fees significantly — in some cases up to five to ten times higher than before. This will affect fees for study visas, work visas, residence renewals, and permanent residency applications.

This change is designed to bring Japan’s visa fees closer to levels charged in many Western countries, and it may begin applying to applications starting in 2026 and beyond.

🎓 Student Visas (Study) — Rules Still Strict

Although Japan still welcomes international students, authorities are tightening control over how student visas are used:

Students must have proper authorization to work part-time (up to 28 hours per week). Working more without permission is treated as illegal employment and can hurt future visa applications.

Procedures for changing from a student visa to a work visa are being clarified, especially for students planning to start full-time work in April 2026. Applicants must be careful with timing and documentation to avoid delays or rejections.

These tightened rules are part of a broader trend to crack down on misuse of student visas — such as working too many hours or abusing visa status.

💼 Work Visa & Business Manager Visa Reforms

Japan continues to refine its work visa system in 2025. Two major trends are:

Stricter Business Manager Visa Requirements

The requirements for the Business Manager visa have become significantly tougher:

The minimum capital requirement has been increased from about ¥5 million to ¥30 million.

Applicants now generally need Japanese language ability, management experience, and full-time employees for their business.

These changes already took effect in October 2025.

This reform aims to ensure that foreign entrepreneurs are genuinely contributing to the Japanese economy and workforce.

Broader Work Visa Enforcement

In general employment visas — including Skilled Workers and Specialists — authorities are now paying closer attention to compliance with laws, work contracts, and proper documentation. Cases of employers bypassing regulations are being monitored more strictly.

👨‍👩‍👧 Dependent Visa Holders — Life in Japan and Rules

Families entering Japan under dependent visas (spouses, children) are still allowed to live with their sponsors, but:

Dependent spouses who want to work must go through official permission procedures — they aren’t automatically allowed to work.

If the main sponsor fails to fulfill financial obligations, including taxes or insurance, dependent visas can be endangered.

Visa renewals for dependents carry higher fees due to the new fee hike plan.

Overall, stable financial proof and documentation are increasingly important.

💰 Taxes, Insurance, and Compliance — The New Priority

One of the biggest policy changes for foreign residents relates to tax compliance and social insurance payments:

Stricter Enforcement on Unpaid Insurance & Medical Bills

The government is preparing to deny visa renewals or status changes (including work visas, family visas, and other long-term visas) for foreign residents who have unpaid National Health Insurance (NHI) premiums or pension/social insurance contributions. This policy is expected to start being enforced around June 2027.

The basis for this change is that mid- and long-term residents are legally obligated to enroll in NHI and pension systems. The new rules will link immigration status decisions directly with records of insurance payment.

Tax Payment Record Becomes More Important

Beyond insurance, Japan is increasingly emphasizing tax payment compliance for foreign residents:

Unpaid resident tax or national income tax can cause problems when renewing visas or applying for permanent residency.

Authorities are working on connecting municipal tax and immigration databases so that tax compliance becomes a core part of visa screening.

Naturalization Requirements Are Being Reviewed

The government is also considering stricter criteria for naturalization (citizenship).

One emerging idea is that applicants may need to hold a 5-year continuous residence status before applying, with tax and insurance payment history carrying significant weight in the review.

This change would raise the bar for those who plan to become Japanese citizens.

📋 Summary — What This Means for Foreign Residents

Japan still welcomes foreign students, workers, and families, but the environment for staying and advancing (e.g., extending visas or applying for permanent residency) is becoming more demanding in several ways:

Visa Fees:

Fees for visa renewals and status changes are rising sharply, making immigration paperwork more expensive.

Work & Business Rules:

Work visas and business manager visas now have stricter criteria, requiring stronger documentation, capital, and legal compliance.

Student Visa Regulation:

Student work permissions and switching from study to work visas requires more careful preparation and stricter compliance.

Tax & Insurance:

Unpaid taxes and insurance premiums will increasingly affect visa renewal eligibility. From 2027 onward, unpaid NHI or pension payments could block your ability to remain in Japan.

Naturalization:

Becoming a Japanese citizen could require longer continuous residency and stronger financial compliance history.

Japan's Latest Immigration Policies For Students, Workers, and Dependents