Tokyo, Oct. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Immigration Services Agency on Thursday tightened requirements for foreigners to obtain permanent residence by revising its guidelines, requiring applicants to maintain annual income above the average for Japanese households and possess a certain level of Japanese-language proficiency. The income requirement applies to applications filed on or after April 1 this year that remain unprocessed, while the other requirements will take effect in April 2027. Under the immigration control and refugee recognition law, obtaining permanent residence requires good conduct, sufficient assets and skills to make an independent living, and that the applicant’s residence be deemed to be in the national interest. The revised guidelines stipulate that applicants must be judged capable of supporting themselves in the future, with annual income exceeding the average level of Japanese households. The amount of pension benefits applicants are expected to receive in the future will also be taken into consideration, based on whether it reaches the level they would receive after 30 years of participation in the “kosei nenkin” public pension program for employees at their current income level. The required level can also be met with sufficient financial assets to make up for any shortfall in projected pension benefits. The revised guidelines also said applicants must actively and concretely contribute to Japan, with their Japanese-language proficiency and understanding of the country’s systems taken into consideration. From August through September, the agency solicited public comments on the revised guidelines, with some respondents calling for clarification of the income threshold. In response, the agency said that it would refer to government statistics, including the internal affairs ministry’s Family Income and Expenditure Survey and the labor ministry’s Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions when screening applicants. The agency also finalized guidelines for the revocation of permanent resident status, set to come into force in April next year. The guidelines provide examples of cases in which permanent resident status may be revoked due to the deliberate nonpayment of taxes or social insurance premiums. Also on Thursday, a cabinet order raising fees for residence-related procedures for foreign nationals took effect. Fees for changes in residence status and extensions of periods of stay were raised from a flat 6,000 yen to between 10,000 yen and 75,000 yen, depending on the length of stay. The fee for obtaining permanent resident status was raised from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
