Japan proposes stricter permanent residency guidelines

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has released a draft revision to its guidelines for granting permanent residency, proposing significantly stricter requirements. The new proposal includes an independent livelihood requirement that, in principle, demands an annual income exceeding the average for Japanese households and pension projections equivalent to 30 years of participation in the employees' pension insurance.

Additionally, the draft introduces a national interest requirement, suggesting that applicants must provide “active and specific benefits to Japan,” which may include a demand for Japanese language proficiency at the CEFR B1 level or higher.

Critics, including the Green Party Japan and University of Tokyo Professor Tomoko Ako, have voiced strong opposition. They argue that these high income and pension thresholds could effectively close the path to permanent residency for many foreign residents, including highly skilled professionals and educators. Concerns have been raised that such policies may discourage talented individuals from choosing Japan, potentially harming the country's long-term economic and social vitality.