Tourists from around the world continue to flock to Japan’s bustling megacities and quiet onsen towns, generating a record-setting (and sometimes unmanageable) influx of travelers: an increase from 25.1 million in 2023 to 42.7 million in 2025, according to the country’s tourism board. In the face of this boom, Japan is setting more boundaries with visitors, including levying an increased tourist tax and, as of October 1, making it harder for non-citizens to obtain residence status.
The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record 3.96 million people in June 2025, prompting Japan’s immigration agency to tighten its eligibility guidelines for the country's permanent residency permit, which is available to foreign workers who have continuously lived in Japan for at least 10 years. The new rules are just one part of a larger framework of policies adopted by the Japanese government on January 23, 2026 called the “Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance and Orderly Coexistence of Foreign Nationals.”
The government says the policies are designed to address “anxieties and feelings of unfairness felt by some citizens as the number of foreign residents increases,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote in a September 26 post on X. That means applicants to Japan's foreign residence permit will soon face stricter language proficiency requirements, more expensive fees, and a higher income threshold.
If you're pursuing permanent residency or a long-term stay in Japan, here's what you need to know.
What is changing?
The new requirements dictate that applicants must earn more than the average Japanese household income (which was about $36,350 per year in 2024, according to a survey by the country’s health, labor, and welfare ministry). In addition, applicants must now show pension benefits that match what they would have received after 30 years in the country’s employee pension program. (If the applicant falls short on the pension requirement, the guidelines say they can supplement with additional “financial assets," but does not provide specifics beyond that.)
The government also announced a dramatic 20-fold hike in the application fee, which is now 20,000 yen, or about $1,260. That said, the cost is still relatively affordable compared to permanent residency-related applications in countries like the UK, which cost 3,226 British pounds (about $4,261), and the US, which can cost upwards of $10,000, according to Arton.
Qualifying for Japan's permanent residency visa isn't just about financial eligibility. Applicants will also need a proficient understanding of the Japanese language, which the guidelines define as at or above a B1 level on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test; however, it’s not yet clear how applicants will be asked to demonstrate their language ability.
The income changes will retroactively affect applications filed from April 2026. Other changes, such as the pension requirement, will be implemented starting April 1, 2027.
“For Americans thinking of making Japan their long-term home, the message is clear: financial security alone is no longer enough,” Armand Arton, CEO of citizenship firm Arton Capital, tells Condé Nast Traveler. “Applicants must also demonstrate a genuine commitment to living and working in the country, as well as integrating into Japanese society.”
Who is eligible for Japan’s permanent residency permit?
To apply, you need to have lived in Japan for 10 continuous years, with at least five of those years under a work or residence visa. If you’ve been out of the country for more than six consecutive months without a “reasonable” justification, or for a total of two-and-a-half years over the decade, your application could receive “negative” marks.
That said, there are exceptions to the 10-year rule: For example, if you’ve been deemed a “highly skilled foreign professional” or if you’ve been married to a Japanese resident for at least five years (and your spouse has lived in the country for at least three continuous years).
Japan doesn’t want new residents who will bounce in and out of the country, but rather those who will commit to building a life locally: “It’s offering quality of life and cultural immersion, rather than passport power and access,” says Arton.
How to apply
If you meet these payment, income, language, and residency requirements, you can submit your application to a local immigration office in Japan. Applicants should prepare documents such as a copy of your health insurance card and proof that you’ve paid your resident taxes on time (through means such as providing a copy of your bank passbook)
After everything has been submitted, expect a four-to-six-month processing timeline (all form and application details are available at Japan’s immigration agency website).
Interested in moving to Japan? Here are your other options
If you don’t meet the requirements for a permanent residency permit, Japan offers several temporary relocation pathways.
If you’re deemed a “highly skilled professional” who will drive the local economy and academic research, you could get a five-year highly skilled professional residence visa. If you work as an entertainer, a chef specializing in an international cuisine, or in one of the other qualifying industries, you could apply for a working visa, which lasts between three months and five years. (You can check whether you qualify for the highly skilled professional or work visa by checking the evaluation guidelines on Japan’s immigration services website.)
If you have Japanese ancestry, consider applying for a long-term resident visa, which grants you between six months and five years in the country. Or, if you work remotely and want to stay in Japan for six months, the digital nomad visa may be the best fit.
A comprehensive list of all of Japan’s visas is available on its foreign affairs ministry website.