In 2022, Japan received 144 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status), 150% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 55% labour migrants, 41% family members (including accompanying family) and 1% humanitarian migrants. Around 167 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 224 000 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
Viet Nam, China and Indonesia were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Viet Nam registered the strongest increase (104 000) in flows to Japan compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 270%, to reach around 14 000. The majority of applicants came from Sri Lanka (3 800), Türkiye (2 400) and Pakistan (1 100). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Sri Lanka (3 300) and the largest decrease nationals of Myanmar (26). Of the 8 920 decisions taken in 2023, 15% were positive.
Emigration of Japanese citizens to OECD countries increased by 12% in 2022, to 22 000. Approximately 19% of this group migrated to Germany, 19% to the United States and 8% to the Netherlands.
Japan enacted new legislation in June 2024 that will replace the Technical Internship Training Programme (TITP) with a new programme. The new programme aims to secure and develop foreign human resources in fields facing labour shortages at the level of the Specified Skilled Worker‑1 which leads to a potential pathway to permanent resident. The new programme, unlike TITP, allows workers to switch employer within the same job category if they meet certain requirements, and takes measures to counteract excessive fees charged by sending organisations in the countries of origin. The programme will start in 2027.
The fields covered by the Specific Skilled Worker System (the SSWS), introduced in 2019, have been successively expanded to a total of 16 industries in 2024. The latest fields to be included are Automobile transportation business, Railway, Forestry and Wood industry. While SSW‑1 status is designed to work for limited duration (five years), SSW‑2 is designed to work without a limit on the number of extensions of period of stay, sponsor family dependents, and eventually apply for permanent residence. Tests for SSW‑2 have been gradually expanding.
In July 2023, Japan signed a Memorandum of Co‑operation (MoC) with the Kyrgyz Republic on the SSWS. The Kyrgyz Republic is the 16th country to sign a MoC since the launch of the system in 2019.
Japan introduced a status for Digital Nomads in 2024. The duration of stay is up to 6 months. Foreigners must be employed abroad or self-employed and make use of information and communication technology as part of their position. Eligibility requirements include being a national of a visa‑exempt country that has a bilateral tax agreement with Japan; earning a minimum annual income of JPY 10 million (USD 68 300); and holding private medical health insurance.
The Act on the Accrediting of Japanese‑Language Institutes (JLIs) came into force in April 2024 to improve the quality of language teaching to foreign nationals residing in Japan. The changes include a new accreditation system of JLIs based on the quality of education, overseen by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), as well as a credentialing system of Japanese language teacher through an examination and a practical training. Previously, JLIs were not accredited by MEXT.
The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) relaxed the conditions for international graduates from certain vocational schools in Japan to obtain a residence status after their studies. International graduates need to find employment in a field closely related to their studies in order to remain in Japan. The relevance of job duties to the graduate’s major will be judged more “flexibly”, as has been the practice for university graduates and postgraduates. In addition, foreign graduates of certain vocational schools and junior colleges in Japan who are highly proficient in the Japanese language and wish to work in Japan in a different field from their major will be granted a specific “designated activities” visa.
Further information: www.mhlw.go.jp/english | www.isa.go.jp/en | www.moj.go.jp
