'Japan First' wave: Foreign residents weigh leaving as Tokyo tightens immigration rules

Japan has drawn record numbers of tourists in recent years, lured by its clean streets, futuristic cityscapes, rich food culture and a weak yen. The number of foreign nationals living in Japan for work or study also hit an all-time high last year.

But as the Japanese government rolls out a series of tighter restrictions on foreign residents, people who have long called Japan a second home are beginning to wonder whether it is time to say goodbye, CNN reported Friday (local time).

Japan has long maintained strict immigration policies and a relatively homogeneous population. Faced with accelerating population decline and aging, however, it gradually opened its doors to foreign workers and actively courted overseas tourists. The mood has since shifted as overtourism has become a flashpoint and reports have emerged of some foreign residents flouting local rules.

That public sentiment is now feeding a broader "Japan First" political current. The government of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, a conservative, announced last month that it would raise various visa fees starting in October — one of a string of tightening measures targeting foreign nationals.

Under the new rules, the application fee for permanent residency will rise twentyfold to 200,000 yen ($1,280). Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi said the fee increase was intended "to build an orderly society in which foreign nationals and Japanese citizens can live together."

Some foreign residents in Japan, however, fear the move could be the opening shot in a more sweeping crackdown on new immigrants.

Those most affected by the policy changes are the people who plan to stay the longest — applicants for permanent residency. Permanent resident status effectively removes restrictions on employment and places no limits on the number of entries or the length of stay.

Starting in October, permanent residency applicants will need to demonstrate income above the average Japanese household. From next April, they will also need to show projected pension benefits equivalent to 30 years of payments and prove at least an intermediate level of Japanese proficiency.

At a press conference last month, Justice Minister Hiraguchi said that because permanent residency is the most stable form of residency status, "it is necessary to update the self-sufficiency requirements and national-interest requirements to reflect current realities, so that applicants do not become a burden on society."

The Japanese government also tightened rules on foreign business operators earlier this year, raising the minimum capital requirement for the business manager visa — commonly used by entrepreneurs — sixfold, from 5 million yen to 30 million yen.

The number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record 4.1 million last year, accounting for about 3.4 percent of the total population. Chinese nationals made up the largest group at more than 930,000, while approximately 70,000 Americans were also counted among Japan's foreign residents.

The recent tightening followed reports that some foreign residents were driving up housing prices and avoiding national health insurance premiums. Japan operates a universal health insurance system under which all residents pay monthly or annual premiums in exchange for reduced medical costs.

Critics have also alleged that some foreign nationals exploit relatively low barriers to entry by setting up shell companies to obtain residency status. Local frustration has grown over noise and rising prices linked to the surge in tourists.

Yuda Kazuki, a lawyer at Touch Immigration Law Office, said inquiries had jumped recently from people rushing to apply for permanent residency before the rules change. He predicted the new requirements were so stringent that far fewer people would qualify for permanent residency going forward.

A weakening yen is adding to Japan's diminished appeal. With the yen falling to its lowest level against the dollar in 40 years, the real value of income earned in Japan has declined. Rising visa costs and uncertainty over regulatory changes are compounding the problem, prompting more foreign nationals to reconsider settling in Japan. One foreign student wrote on X: "When I had just graduated, there's no way I could have afforded fees like this — I'm barely getting by even now."