Japan foreign resident population reaches record high

The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record high of 4,281,026 as of the end of June 2026, according to the Immigration Services Agency. This represents an increase of approximately 155,000 people since the end of 2025, bringing the foreign population to 3.4% of Japan's total population.

Among the various residence statuses, ‘Permanent Resident’ remains the most common with 961,342 individuals. Other significant groups include those under ‘Technical, Humanities, and International Services’ and ‘Student’ status. However, new entries for the ‘Business Manager’ status saw a sharp decline of 80.9% compared to the same period in 2025, likely due to stricter requirements implemented in October 2025.

In response to rising wages, the Immigration Services Agency is planning to raise the minimum annual salary requirement for highly skilled professionals, which is currently set at 3 million yen. The agency aims to revise ministerial ordinances by the end of March next year to adjust point-based assessment criteria and streamline the screening process for these professionals.