The YCAPS Pub Talk event, “Japan's Residency Rules: What Has Really Changed and How Do They Compare With Other Places?” was held on September 28, 2026 at What the Dickens! in Ebisu, Tokyo. The moderator was John Bradford, Founder of YCAPS, and the event featured Mr. Yuta KATO, Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist, IMS Legal Professional Corporation; Max Xavier REHM, Postdoctoral Assistant at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University; and Ben TANAKA, Founder of RetireJapan.
The discussion focused on the recent changes in policies regarding acquiring permanent residency (PR) and other shifting Visa concerns. The event began with Dr. Bradford drawing attention to the immigration guidelines taking effect in October and followed by exploring the growing uncertainty resulting from the changes, including income requirements, increased application fees, and visa length needed to apply for PR.
The conversation continued with each of the guest speakers framing some of the changes. Mr. Kato explicitly framed the insecurity raised by the uncertainty in the language of the guidelines. While the requirement for an annual income above the national average seems set in stone, the government has not yet released specific numbers nor does it seem likely that they will. Additionally, the dramatically increased application fee and difficulty in acquiring a 5-year visa has created obvious hardships for many residents. Mr. Kato suggested that prospective residents should patiently wait for clearer guidelines which are expected in April, 2027.
Comparing Japan with other countries’ immigration policies, Dr. Rehm pointed out that Japan has a relatively liberal environment; while the Liberal Democratic Party can be conservative, private industry and economic organizations such as Keidanren are opening doors to workers with lower skills. Nevertheless, Japan is heightening its overall barriers, decreasing chances for long-term settlement. Dr. Rehm also highlighted the temporal asymmetry between politicians' decision-making and the bureau's adaptation; visa officers might not be able to react to the new policies very quickly, making the process more discretionary.
Mr. Tanaka offered insight about the current visa situation as well as advice for people who are considering long-term settlement in Japan. PR or citizenship are difficult goals for those who wish to retire in Japan, and due to the new guidelines, as well as the government’s intention to revoke PR from those who violated even minor laws, the situation is still quite stressful for residents, and those in lower-paid jobs will have a difficult time in securing permanent residency. Mr. Tanaka also mentioned that a quarter of his clients are considering leaving Japan.
In the Q&A session, members of the audience raised questions about Japan’s comparatively low salaries, potential outcomes of small business owners' desperation, Japanese-language requirements, and whether Japan will remain internationally competitive in attracting foreign workers. The discussion highlighted the distinction between Japan’s rising demand for foreign labour and its attractiveness for long-term settlement. While Japan’s culture and international soft power remain significant attractions; low salaries, career insecurity, and family considerations may increasingly influence where internationally mobile workers choose to build their futures. In addition, the "petty" mistakes leading to rejection could impact potential resident's choices.
The event concluded with an optimistic prospect for the future. Despite the hardships, all of the speakers genuinely consider Japan a wonderful place of residence. They encouraged residents to keep focusing on everyday matters, and that you will eventually navigate through the hardships and worries in the present. An informal networking session followed the seminar.
The Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies would thank all of our speakers and our audience for participating in the insightful discussion. We would also like to give special thanks to the event’s patron Oliver Ben Karp, without which, tonight's event could not have happened.