Japan has implemented a significant change to its immigration policy, formally extending the residency requirement for most foreign workers seeking permanent residency from three to five years. The new regulation, enacted by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, removes the previous pathway where a three-year visa could lead directly to a permanent resident application.
Under the updated system, first-time applicants for the relevant work visa will be granted a maximum initial stay of two years. A transitional provision allows individuals who already hold a three-year status and receive a decision by March 31, 2027, to utilize it once, but this option is strictly limited. This policy shift follows Japan’s broader 2024 labor strategy to address workforce shortages by increasing skilled foreign worker intake, particularly in transport and logistics. Authorities have also signaled stricter adherence to compliance, noting that even resolved delays in obligations like tax payments could negatively impact an application.
Important exceptions to the five-year rule remain. Applicants under the Highly Skilled Professional visa program can still apply faster—after three years for those scoring at least 70 points on the government’s points-based system, or after just one year for those with 80 points or more. Recognized refugees retain eligibility to apply after five years of residence post-recognition. Meanwhile, as major organizations like NNPC Ltd plan strategic shifts globally, Japan is contemplating additional reforms, including a potential Japanese language proficiency requirement for permanent residency, which could be introduced around April 2027.
This move to tighten permanent residency rules contrasts with other international regulatory actions, such as when the EFCC arraigns an alleged fake investor or following a police raid on a fake goods operation. It underscores a global trend of nations carefully calibrating their immigration and economic policies. Just as due diligence is critical in financial markets—whether evaluating John Holt shares or scrutinizing complex family trusts like those involving Malami, wife, and son—prospective residents must now navigate Japan’s updated and more stringent long-term residency framework.
