Japan Immigration News

Japanese govt. draws up basic policies on foreign nationals

Release Date: 2026-01-23
Media: NHK
Summary: Japan has adopted a new set of basic policies on foreign nationals aimed at building a “safe and secure” society where Japanese and foreign residents can live together under Japanese laws and rules. The package emphasizes tighter management and stronger screening in several areas:

Citizenship / residency: Plans to introduce stricter requirements for obtaining Japanese nationality, and to start a new learning program on Japanese language and rules for foreign residents. The government will consider using participants’ understanding as one factor in residency screening.

Unpaid medical bills: Foreign visitors with unpaid healthcare bills will face tougher scrutiny, with expanded information sharing (including smaller unpaid amounts) from medical institutions to immigration authorities.

Housing / nationality tracking: The government will track nationalities of new residents in public housing to better understand conditions on the ground.

Overtourism: Measures will promote travel to a wider range of destinations beyond major hotspots to ease overtourism pressure.

Real estate / land issues: It will survey short-term transactions for new condos in major cities and purchases by overseas buyers, study foreign examples, and compile a framework by summer for rules on foreign real-estate purchases. It also mentions considering steps for remote islands with unknown owners.

Minister Onoda Kimi said the package reflects issues identified so far, and that her office will act as a command center to coordinate ministries and steadily implement the measures while keeping the public updated.
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