Japan Tightens Permanent Residency Requirements

The Japanese government will tighten the conditions for foreigners applying for permanent residency, according to a report by Kyodo News on July 25, 2026.

The move is seen as an effort to further streamline the screening process, ensuring that those granted permanent residency have made stable contributions and complied with the law over a long period in Japan.

Details of the new criteria have yet to be disclosed. However, observers suggest these changes could affect a large number of foreign workers and their families currently living and working in Japan.

Specific details on the timeline and content of the new regulations are expected to be announced in the near future.