Thai woman arrested in Japan for four-year visa overstay

Japanese police arrested a 42-year-old Thai woman in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, for allegedly violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. During a vehicle check around 4:30 a.m. on September 24, officers discovered that her permission to remain in Japan had expired on October 30, 2022.

The woman, who reportedly lived and worked part-time in Yokohama, has admitted to the allegations. The incident follows a reported increase in Thai nationals overstaying their 15-day visas in Japan. In response, the Thai government has pledged to address the rising number of such cases to prevent legal complications for its citizens.