Japan Tightens Permanent Residency Criteria for Foreigners

Kathmandu. The Japanese government is preparing to make the criteria for granting permanent residency to foreign nationals stricter. According to the new system, applicants will now have to prove income exceeding the average income of Japanese families and meet the estimated eligibility for a certain level of pension.

The government plans to amend the relevant directive from October 1 and implement the new rules for applications registered from April next year.

Currently, to obtain permanent residency, it is necessary to meet three main conditions: good conduct, sufficient income or assets to support oneself, and that it is in Japan's interest.

After the new rules are implemented, the applicant's annual income must be higher than the average income of Japanese families. In addition, the level of estimated pension benefit equivalent to participating in the employee pension plan for at least 30 years based on that income will also be required.

If the estimated pension is below the required level, applicants will be able to show their savings or other assets to cover the shortfall. In addition, when evaluating whether granting permanent residency to an individual is in Japan's interest, Japanese language proficiency and understanding of Japanese laws and social rules will now be considered.

According to government statistics, about 947,000 foreign nationals were residing in Japan with permanent residency permits by the end of last year.

According to the government, these new criteria aim to prioritize foreign nationals who can integrate well into Japanese society, are economically self-sufficient, and can contribute in the long term.