Japan Immigration News

Japan Tightens Immigration Policies: New Rules for Tourists from US, UK, Canada, EU Nations

Release Date: 2026-02-15
Media: TTW
Summary: Japan has introduced a broad set of immigration reforms aimed at tightening rules for foreign nationals, focusing on visa renewals, naturalisation, language education, and enforcement. The changes are intended to address public concerns about the growing number of foreign residents while maintaining Japan’s appeal to tourists and business travelers.

Key measures include extending the residency requirement for naturalisation and permanent residence from five to ten years, increasing visa fees from fiscal 2026, and introducing mandatory Japanese language and cultural programs for foreign residents. These steps are meant to promote social integration and manage the rising number of foreign nationals, which reached about 3.9 million in 2024.

The government will also collect data on foreign real estate ownership due to security concerns, particularly in rural areas. In addition, enforcement will be strengthened, with plans to double escorted deportations by 2027 to address overstays and illegal activities.

While most changes target long-term residents rather than short-term visitors, tourists and business travelers may face slightly higher costs, longer visa processing times, and stricter requirements for extended stays. Overall, the reforms aim to balance tighter controls with improved language support and integration programs.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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2026-02-16

Sanae Takaichi is not who you think she is()

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2026-02-15

Sanae Takaichi Wants to Make Japan Great Again. It Won’t Be Easy.(TIME)

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2026-02-15

Japan Tightens Immigration Policies: New Rules for Tourists from US, UK, Canada, EU Nations (TTW)

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2026-02-10

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2026-02-07

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2026-02-06

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2026-02-05

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2026-02-05

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2026-02-05

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2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Japan Considers Significant Increase in Immigration-Related Fees(Newland Chase)

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2026-01-30

Japan to stop notifying lawyers of deportations in advance(The Mainichi)

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2026-01-24

Government shifting away from inclusion of foreigners(The Asahi Shimbun)

Immigration Policy

2026-01-23

Japanese govt. draws up basic policies on foreign nationals(NHK)

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2026-01-19

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2026-01-19

Top execs at Japan convenience stores stress foreign workers' role as gov't eyes clampdown(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy

2026-01-17

Japan’s Immigration Debate — and Where Indian Workers Fit In(Observer Research Foundation)

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2026-01-16

Japan is right to rethink its immigration approach(Japan Times)

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2026-01-14

Government panel proposes mandatory integration program for foreign residents(Japan Times)

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2025-12-22

Advisory council calls for digital border controls and tighter immigration oversight(Japan Times)

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2025-12-22

Panel calls for tighter Japan immigration control, help with language learning(The Mainichi)

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2025-12-08

Japan Continues Cracking Down on Foreigners, for Some Reason(Unseen Japan)

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2025-11-28

Policy talks on foreigners start; land deals, visas high on agenda(The Asahi Shimbun)

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2025-11-27

Don’t believe everything you read in the media about Japan’s strong anti-immigrant sentiment(the Lowy Institute)

Immigration Policy

2025-11-18

Japan’s Stalled Immigration Experiment(Foreign Affairs)

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2025-11-18

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2025-11-18

Survey: 66% back Takaichi’s tougher policies on immigration(The Asahi Shimbun)

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2025-11-12

Japan’s Takaichi Pushes Stricter Rules on Foreign Nationals(The Diplomat)

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2025-11-05

New Japanese government puts foreign nationals in focus(NHK)

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2025-11-04

Takaichi leads first ministerial meeting on policies regarding foreign residents(Japan Times)

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2025-11-01

Ministers to coordinate policies on foreign nationals in Japan(NHK)

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2025-10-25

Can Japan’s New Leader Afford to Go Hard on Immigration?(Newsweek)

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2025-10-23

Onoda says she’ll push Takaichi’s stronger stance on foreigners(The Asahi Shimbun)

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2025-10-22

Japan’s economy needs foreign workers, not the nationalist approach pushed by its new leader(The Conversation)

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2025-10-20

“Japanese-First” – The Rise of the Sanseito Party and Anti-Immigration Efforts in Japan(PA Times)

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2025-10-15

Japan’s baby boom among foreign-born population spotlights demographic timebomb(The Guardian)

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2025-10-15

Asia can learn from Europe’s immigration mistakes(Japan Times)

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2025-10-12

Takaichi’s victory delays Japan’s reckoning with immigration reform(EAST ASIA FORUM)

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2025-09-26

LDP presidential hopefuls take hard-line stance on immigration(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-09-23

Vietnamese Immigration in Japan: Finding the Key to Successful Integration(JAPAN Forward)

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2025-09-19

‘Japanese first’: the mini-Trump on the rise as population crisis bites(Guardian)

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2025-09-19

Nippon Ishin urges cap on foreign residents in Japan(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-09-16

Japan needs an immigration debate, not social media myths(TAIPEI TIMES)

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2025-09-12

Japan needs an immigration debate, not social media myths(Japan Times)

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2025-09-03

Osaka protests are just the start of Japan’s immigration backlash(UnHerd)

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2025-09-01

Japan to review long-term foreign resident policy as population ratio rises(The Mainichi)

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2025-08-29

Fearing Europe-style rifts, Japan weighs tighter immigration(The Asahi Shimbun)

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2025-08-29

Japan to launch broad review of immigration policies amid rise in foreign nationals(Japan Times)

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2025-07-31

Japan governors' group seeks measures to accept foreigners, build multicultural society(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy