Japan tightens permanent residency rules for foreigners

Japan has tightened its requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residency, introducing stricter income and pension standards alongside new Japanese-language requirements.
The revised guidelines, officially announced by the Japanese government on Thursday, will largely apply to applications filed from April 2027, while some income-related changes will apply retrospectively to applications submitted from April 2026.
Under the new rules, applicants will be assessed on whether their income has continuously remained above the average income of Japanese households of a comparable size.
Applicants will also face stricter requirements relating to pension contributions and their abilit...