Category: Foreign Residents

by Michael Gillan Peckitt December 23, 2025 1
Foreign Residents Immigration Japan Politics

Japanese Proficiency Eyed as Permanent Residency Requirements

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering adding Japanese language proficiency as a requirement for permanent residency for foreigners, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. To obtain the status, foreigners will also be mandated to take a program aimed at helping them smoothly integrate into local communities, the sources said. The envisaged new requirements will be included in a draft package of proposals on policy for foreign nationals, to be compiled next month for submission to the government.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 4, 2025 Number of comments0
Foreign Residents Health Immigration Japan

Japan to Counter Foreigners Refusing to Pay Health Insurance Premiums

Japan’s health ministry is planning to deny in principle the renewal or change of residential status for foreign citizens who refuse to pay national health insurance premiums, it was learned Tuesday. “We’re preparing to start it in June 2027,” health minister Kenichiro Ueno told a press conference. Ueno also said that his ministry will strengthen measures against foreign residents who do not pay medical expenses. The ministry will collect nonpayment information from medical institutions and share it with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.