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Japan The required residence period is being doubled for this acquiring citizenship Adding language requirement as part of comprehensive up to year 10 Political pressure for strict surveillance Of foreigners.
overhaul of immigration rulesThe prime minister was emboldened after ruling coalition partner Nippon Ishin Party said the current standards, which could come into effect next year, were too liberal. Sanae Takaichi To order a formal review.
according to a proposal outline During Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party meeting on December 4, approval of citizenship will depend not only on length of residence, but also “good conduct” and the applicant’s ability to maintain a stable livelihood through personal or spousal income or skills, with wide discretion left to authorities in making the final decision, Japan’s Mainichi The newspaper reported.
Nippon Ishin submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Justice on September 17 urging the adoption of strict measures that would limit the number of foreign residents and establish conditions under which the nationality of naturalized citizens could be revoked.
The far-right Sensito party stepped forward and announced that it would bar you see – naturalized Japanese – from standing as legislative candidates under their banner, while accusing the government of putting foreigners ahead of the ethnic Japanese population.
The government intends to relax the proposed rules, enabling some applicants, such as athletes who have competed in Japan for several years, to obtain citizenship even if they fall short of the 10-year residence rule.
According to Justice Ministry data, the Japanese government received 12,248 citizenship applications in 2024, of which 8,863 were approved during the year.
According to local media, the government is also considering making Japanese language proficiency and civics education mandatory for permanent residence applicants.
The proposed rules have reportedly sparked intense online debate in the country.
While supporters see them as fair for long-term residents, critics argue that Ms. Takachi’s conservative government is creating new barriers to immigration at a time when Japan faces acute labor shortages.
Asahi Shimbun The scheme aims to equip foreign residents with “fundamental social knowledge, primarily language skills”, the report said, quoting government sources.
According to the newspaper, the proposed plan – tentatively called the “Social Inclusion Programme” – was aimed at reducing misunderstandings and friction between foreigners and local communities, while helping to “curb rising xenophobia”.
The initiative will include support measures for children with limited Japanese proficiency before they enroll in local schools.
In 2015, there were approximately 2.23 million foreign residents in Japan. By June 2025, this number grew to about 3.95 million, meaning foreigners made up about 3 percent of its population. Of these, approximately 930,000 foreigners became permanent residents in the country.