Japan is implementing a series of significant immigration reforms from April 2026 through to 2029, impacting work visas, permanent residency, naturalization, border controls and application fees.
Overall, these changes reflect a clear shift toward a more selective, compliance-driven immigration system, with stricter eligibility requirements, higher documentation standards, increased costs, and enhanced pre-arrival screening.
Below is a timeline of the changes:
| Date | Area | Key Change |
| April 1, 2026 | Intra-Company Transferees | Enhanced corporate documentation & income verification |
| April 1, 2026 | Naturalization | Residency requirement increased from 5 → 10 years |
| April 15, 2026 | Engineer / Specialist in Humanities/ International Services | Declaration form + CEFR B2 level language ability
proof requirement for those primarily engaging in interpersonal work using language skills |
| June 14-15, 2026 | Residence System | Introduction of Specified Residence Card (SRC) |
| April 1, 2027 | Permanent Residency | PR eligibility restricted to 5-year status only |
| By 2027: TBD (Legislative process ongoing) | Government Fees | Significant increase in immigration application fees |
| By 2029: TBD (Legislative process ongoing) | Short-Term Visitors | Introduction of JESTA pre-arrival authorization |
Significantly enhanced documentation requirements are now in place, particularly for smaller or less-established entities:
Employers will need to provide more robust supporting documentation, with Certificate of Eligibility, Change of Status and Extension of Stay applications subject to increased scrutiny—particularly for smaller or less-established entities:
While there have been no legislative changes, administrative practice has tightened, bringing naturalization requirements more closely in line with permanent residency standards:
Despite these changes, certain applicants with a special relationship to Japan may benefit from relaxed requirements, including:
Introduction of a Specified Residence Card (SRC) integrating both the Residence Card (RC) and the My Number Card into a single card. Residents will have three options:
Under the new system, certain residence-related details—such as period of stay and permission history—will no longer appear on the card surface but will instead be stored electronically within the embedded IC chip. The My Number will be printed on the reverse side. During the transition, some procedures will remain paper-based and require in-person submission, as online processing is not yet fully available.
With effect from April 1, 2027, only holders of 5-year visas will be eligible to apply for permanent residence, and 3-year visa holders will generally no longer qualify. Exceptions will apply for those who hold a 3-year status on March 31, 2027.
Japan aims to introduce JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), a pre-arrival authorization system similar to ESTA/ ETIAS. JESTA will apply to visa-exempt individuals who intend to engage in short-term stay activities for purposes such as tourism or business trip, including those temporarily staying in Japan for transit or layover purposes. JESTA is currently being developed with the aim of implementation in 2028
The Cabinet has approved a proposal to revise the immigration fee framework, which was passed by the House of Representatives in late April 2026 and is currently before the House of Councillors. The reforms are designed to increase statutory fee ceilings, with actual fees to be prescribed by Cabinet Order.
Proposed Upper Limits (Legal Framework Change):
| Application Type | Current Fee | Proposed Maximum Limit |
| Change/ Extension of Status (CoS/EXT) | JPY 4,000 – 6,000 | Up to JPY 100,000 |
| Permanent Residence (PR) | JPY 8,000 – 10,000 | Up to JPY 300,000 |
Expected Fee Structure (Indicative Levels Under Consideration)
| Type of Residence Status | Indicative Fee Level |
| Short-term status
(e.g. 3-month stay) | JPY 10,000 |
| 1-year residence status | JPY 20,000 – 30,000 |
| 5-year residence status | JPY 70,000 |
| Permanent Residence (PR) | JPY 200,000 |
Taken together, these changes reflect a decisive shift toward a more rigorous, compliance-driven immigration framework, with higher evidentiary standards, more complex processes and longer planning horizons.
They are consistent with a broader policy emphasis on stronger immigration control, stricter screening and more structured management of foreign nationals, while maintaining access to critical talent.
In practical terms, applications will be subject to greater scrutiny, with less tolerance for incomplete or borderline cases. At the same time, digitalisation initiatives—such as integrated residence cards and pre-arrival authorisation—are being introduced alongside transitional operational complexity, while anticipated fee increases point to a significantly higher cost environment, particularly for long-term residency planning.
Overall, the Japanese immigration system is becoming more selective and resource-intensive, making proactive planning essential.
We support our clients by providing proactive, end-to-end immigration advisory and operational support, tailored to evolving regulatory expectations. This includes:
We continue to engage closely with the relevant authorities and monitor policy developments to ensure our advice remains aligned with the latest practices. As further details emerge, we will continue to keep you informed.
If you would like to discuss how these changes may impact your organisation or employees, please contact your usual Vialto representative.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Noriyuki Tominaga
Partner
Jia Ee
Director
Yuko Furuya
Manager
Soohyang Lee
Senior Associate
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