Hom Lamsal

After Japan appointed a new prime minister, a majority of Japanese citizens have supported the government’s intention to tighten policies related to foreign nationals. According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun on November 22 and 23, 71% of Japanese people approve of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s proposed stricter policies. Only 10% of respondents opposed the plan, while the rest remained neutral. International media reports indicate that Japan will almost certainly tighten checks on foreign property purchases and residence-permit requirements.

Prime Minister Takaichi recently instructed the Japanese administration to study the actual situation of properties purchased by foreigners across the country and to enforce stricter screening of residence status. Following this, the government has moved forward with strengthening its monitoring system, saying that the legal process for foreigners to live, work, and own property in Japan has become increasingly uncontrolled. According to the government, new and stricter guidelines for foreign workers, labor acceptance, and human-resource management will be issued by January. These guidelines will place tighter oversight on the entry process for foreign workers, company hiring procedures, residence-permit renewals, and controlling illegal stays. The survey also shows rising concern among Japanese citizens about increasing property purchases, long-term residence, and illegal labor involving nationals of China, Korea, Vietnam, and Southeast Asian countries. Analysts say this is why Prime Minister Takaichi’s “strict policy” is becoming popular nationwide. The government has clarified that the policy is not against foreigners but is intended to protect national security, land use, and organized immigration management.

The number of foreign residents in Japan reached 3.956 million as of October 2025. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki stated that foreigners now make up 3.21% of the country’s total population. According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign residents is expected to reach 4.15 million by the end of the year. The number of foreigners entering Japan in the first half of 2025 increased by 20% compared to the same period last year. At this pace, total arrivals this year may reach a record 45 million. The government also reported progress on the plan introduced in May to reduce the number of illegal residents to zero. The number of individuals deported at government expense from June to August doubled compared to the same period last year. However, the total number of deportees during the period remained nearly unchanged at 2,120.

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has advanced a new framework known as the “Zero Illegal Residents Plan”, aimed at enforcing strict immigration control. The plan’s goal is to reduce the number of illegal foreign residents in Japan to zero. It includes speeding up deportation of serious offenders, tightening border checks, and accelerating procedures for refugee or asylum applications. Similar to the U.S., Japan is preparing to implement the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), expected to come into effect soon, for visa-exempt short-stay travelers. Individuals with criminal records or histories of illegal stay may be denied entry.

The government plans to deny visa renewals for medium- and long-term foreign residents who fail to properly pay medical bills, national health insurance, pension contributions, or taxes. This screening will apply not only to technical visas but also to students, family dependents, and other medium- and long-term visa holders. For those who fail to meet their obligations, permanent residency may be revoked. Under recently amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition laws, permanent residence can be cancelled if a person intentionally fails to pay taxes or social insurance, violates immigration conditions, fails to renew residence cards, or is convicted of serious crimes. The government has already issued detailed enforcement guidelines—meaning permanent residence is no longer automatically secure if legal or civic responsibilities are neglected. Japan is also preparing to significantly increase fees for visas and residence procedures to levels similar to Western countries.

After taking office in 2025, the new prime minister instructed ministries to conduct a comprehensive review of immigration and tourism regulations to achieve the “Zero Illegal Residents” goal. This includes stricter visa requirements, revisions to visa categories, and stronger enforcement. Even for short-term stays such as tourism and business, stricter entry requirements will be applied. Reports say that human trafficking under the guise of business visas has become widespread, and the government is preparing legal measures including deportation to crack down on such activities. Stricter conditions have been proposed for foreign entrepreneurs and business-visa holders, including capital requirements and verification of business activities, to prevent ordinary people from being defrauded.

It is worth noting that the large number of Nepalis living in Japan may also be affected by these legal changes. In recent times, human trafficking—particularly involving visit visas, business visas, and jobs in hotels and restaurants—has reportedly been on the rise.