[International] Japan Strengthens Immigration Control, Tightens Regulations for Foreigner Permanent Residency Effective Today
RtiTalk 小編1d ago
According to AFP, Japan today (1st) tightened the requirements for foreigners to obtain permanent residency, as part of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to strengthen immigration controls.
Under the new regulations, which will be implemented in phases, foreign residents wishing to reside permanently in Japan will be required to prove that their annual income is above average and that they can hold daily conversations in Japanese.
The application fee will also be increased 20-fold starting today. AFP reporters observed hundreds of people queuing at an immigration office in Tokyo this week, hoping to complete their applications before the fee hike.
Despite Japan's rapidly aging population and numerous industries suffering from labor shortages, anti-immigrant sentiment is growing, prompting Takaichi to promote stricter control measures for foreigners.
Takaichi posted on X last month on the 27th, stating that as the number of foreign residents in Japan increases, the government faces the reality that some citizens feel uneasy and unfairly treated. She added that she is promoting "orderly coexistence" with foreign citizens.
Anti-immigrant sentiment has spread on social media, with false claims circulating, including allegations that a large portion of Japan's welfare benefits go to foreigners and that foreigners are causing a deterioration of public safety on Japanese streets.
However, experts and many business leaders warn that Japan must welcome more foreign workers to maintain its development.
A recent editorial in the Nikkei Shimbun pointed out that Japan needs to open its doors wider to foreigners, stating that Japan should stop viewing foreigners solely as temporary labor and instead promote their long-term settlement by expanding Japanese language education and improving their treatment.
Source link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=235021
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