Japan's Sanae Takaichi announces new tightened measures for foreigners seeking permanent residency

The measures come as the country’s conservative leader Sanae Takaichi looks to deliver on election promises, which were spearheaded by vast immigration reforms, in her historic supermajority election victory in February.

Japan toughened requirements for foreigners wanting to obtain permanent residency on Thursday, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to tighten immigration controls.

Under new rules that will come into effect in stages, foreign residents wishing to stay in Japan permanently will have to prove their annual income is above average and they can carry casual conversations in Japanese.

Application fees will also rise 20-fold from Thursday. At one immigration office in central Tokyo, hundreds of people queued, hoping to wrap up procedures before the price spike.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a press conference after a cabinet reshuffle at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026

"I understand that over-accepting foreigners might dilute Japan's unique culture. But at the same time, given its low birth rate and aging population, Japan has to accept foreigners," said US-born university student Yujie Chono, who was among those waiting.

Copyright for this text belongs to Euronews.