On February 10, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued an important notification to local governments nationwide, requiring them to verify the nationality and residence status of foreign nationals when they move into public housing.
This notification is based on the government’s “Comprehensive Measures” policy framework for foreign nationals, decided on January 23rd, and may represent an important policy shift in Japan’s approach to accepting foreign workers.
In this article, from the perspective of an administrative scrivener specializing in residence status and visa applications, we provide a clear explanation of the background and significance of this notification, as well as how foreign residents in Japan and companies employing foreign workers should respond.
1. What is MLIT’s New Notification? – What Has Changed?
Overview of the Notification
On February 10, 2026, a notification was issued to prefectures and designated cities nationwide by the Director of the Housing Development Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The key points are as follows:
- Verify the nationality and residence status of new tenants
- Emergency contact persons must be able to communicate effectively in Japanese
- Encourage local governments to grasp the actual living conditions of existing tenants within reasonable administrative limits
Going forward, foreign nationals’ nationality and residence status will be verified when moving into public housing.
Difference from 14 Years Ago – A Policy Shift
Notably, 14 years ago in 2012 (Heisei 24), the policy regarding foreign nationals moving into public housing was to “accept them as much as possible.”
At that time, when the foreign resident registration certificate was abolished and replaced with residence cards, notifications were issued to promote acceptance of foreign nationals. Similar notifications were issued in 2018 (Heisei 30) when the “Specified Skilled Worker” system was introduced.
However, this time there is no language about “accepting as much as possible,” and the direction has instead shifted toward strengthening oversight of actual conditions.
What is behind this change?
2. Why Was This Notification Issued Now? – Underlying Challenges
Challenges in Areas with Concentrated Foreign Populations
The government’s “Comprehensive Measures” basic policy decided on January 23rd points out that the following problems have emerged due to large numbers of foreign nationals living in public housing and the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), a government-affiliated housing organization, rental housing:
- Rapid increases in foreign national children at nearby schools have placed excessive burdens on educational institutions
- Problems have been reported in certain areas
For example, in some cases where foreign nationals have concentrated in particular public housing complexes, more than half the students at nearby elementary schools are foreign national children, and Japanese language instruction cannot keep pace, causing confusion in educational settings.
This situation is not ideal for either foreign or Japanese children.
Inconsistent Oversight by Local Governments
Additionally, inconsistencies in how local governments track foreign tenants have been identified as a challenge.
Some local governments verify residence status at move-in, while others do not verify it at all. This “inconsistency” makes emergency response difficult.
Difficulty with Emergency Response
In emergencies such as disasters or infectious disease outbreaks, rapid response becomes difficult when nationality or language is unknown.
For example, when providing evacuation information in multiple languages, appropriate information cannot be delivered without prior knowledge of foreign residents’ nationalities and languages.
This notification can be seen as a measure to resolve such challenges and create an environment where foreign residents can live with peace of mind.
3. A Residence Status Expert’s Perspective – The Real Meaning of This Notification
“Appropriate Information Management” Rather Than “Strengthened Control”
Some may perceive this notification as “strengthening control over foreign nationals.” However, from the perspective of an administrative scrivener specializing in residence status applications, this is not about strengthening control, but rather implementing proper information management to realize a harmonious society.
The residence status system provides rules for foreign nationals staying in Japan to reside and conduct activities legally. By following these rules, foreign nationals can live in Japan with confidence, and Japanese society can also accept foreign nationals with confidence.
Verifying Residence Status is Not “Discrimination”
Some may wonder, “Isn’t it discriminatory that only foreign nationals have their nationality and residence status verified?”
However, residence status is a legal system that applies only to foreign nationals without Japanese citizenship, and verifying it is a legal obligation. Just as Japanese citizens have family registers and resident certificates, foreign nationals have residence cards.
This is not discrimination, but a necessary verification procedure based on differences in legal systems.
Preventing Problems Before They Occur
In fact, there are many cases where housing contracts are signed without verifying residence status, only to discover later that the residence status is inappropriate, leading to problems.
For example, if someone who entered Japan on a “Student” residence status works full-time without obtaining permission for activities outside their status of residence, they may face penalties for unauthorized employment. Also, if the period of stay expires without completing renewal procedures, you will be considered to be overstaying your visa.
Verifying residence status at move-in is extremely important to prevent such problems.
4. What Companies Employing Foreign Workers Should Know
Securing Employee Housing is a Corporate Responsibility
For companies employing foreign workers, securing employee housing is an important issue. Without safe and comfortable housing, retaining excellent talent becomes difficult.
Especially for companies hiring foreign workers in rural areas, public housing is one valuable option. With this notification, residence status verification will be required when moving into public housing, so companies need to understand this as well.
Verifying Residence Status is Compliance
Verifying residence status also strengthens corporate compliance. To prevent illegal employment, it is a legal obligation to verify residence status and permission for activities outside the status of residence at the time of hiring.
Similarly, by verifying residence status at the time of housing contracts, companies can reconfirm that employees are staying legally.
Housing Support is Key to Recruitment and Retention
Competition for recruiting foreign workers will only intensify going forward. For companies to be chosen in this environment, housing support will become an important differentiating factor.
For example, the following support can be considered:
- Provision of public housing or company housing
- Housing search support through partnerships with real estate companies
- Provision of guarantor agency services
- Residence status verification support in cooperation with experts such as administrative scriveners
Such initiatives build confidence among foreign workers and trust in the company.
5. For Foreign Residents in Japan – Future Response and Key Points
What is Required When Moving into Public Housing
With this notification, the following will be required when moving into public housing:
- Verification of nationality
- Verification of residence status
- Emergency contact person (someone who can communicate effectively in Japanese)
These are mechanisms to create an environment where you can live with peace of mind. They are definitely not intended to exclude foreign nationals.
Verify Your Residence Status Early
If you are considering moving into public housing, first verify your own residence status. Check the residence status and period of stay listed on your residence card, and if the expiration date is approaching, complete renewal procedures early.
If your period of stay expires, you will be considered to be overstaying your visa, and you will not only be unable to move into public housing, but unable to stay in Japan at all.
Utilize Expert Support
If you have questions about residence status renewal or changes, housing contracts, etc., please consult with experts such as administrative scriveners.
As administrative scriveners, we provide comprehensive support from residence status applications to securing housing so that foreign nationals can live in Japan with confidence.
6. Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) Response – Already Implemented
This notification did not include any special instructions regarding the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), a government-affiliated housing organization, rental housing.
The reason is that UR already examines and tracks the nationality and residence status of foreign tenants at move-in through resident certificates and other means.
In other words, UR has already implemented the response required by this notification, and public housing is now being asked to adopt similar measures.
7. Comparison with Past Notifications – Policy Evolution
2012 (Heisei 24) Notification
With the enforcement of the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which abolished foreign resident registration certificates and switched to residence cards, a policy was indicated to “accept as much as possible, taking regional circumstances into consideration.”
2018 (Heisei 30) Notification
Similar notifications were issued when the revised Immigration Control Act was enacted, introducing the “Specified Skilled Worker” system to accept foreign workers in industries facing serious labor shortages.
2026 (Reiwa 8) Notification
This notification does not include language about “accepting as much as possible,” and has instead shifted toward strengthening oversight of actual conditions.
This change indicates that foreign acceptance policy is shifting from “quantity” to “quality,” and from “acceptance” to “coexistence.”
8. Toward Realizing a Harmonious Society – What We Can Do
Balancing Appropriate Rules with Warm Understanding
Realizing a harmonious society requires both appropriate rules and warm understanding.
This notification is not intended to exclude foreign nationals, but is a measure to create an environment where both foreign nationals and Japanese citizens can live with peace of mind through proper information management.
As administrative scriveners, we take this notification positively and will continue to provide support so that foreign nationals can live in Japan with confidence and companies can employ foreign workers with confidence.
The Role of Experts
Administrative scriveners are professionals in residence status applications. We can provide comprehensive assistance from residence status verification, renewal, and changes to housing contract support.
If you are a foreign national or a company employing foreign workers and have any concerns, please feel free to consult with us.
Summary
This notification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism strengthens oversight of foreign nationals moving into public housing. This is not to exclude foreign nationals, but is a measure to realize a harmonious society where both foreign nationals and Japanese citizens can live with peace of mind through proper information management.
We hope that foreign residents in Japan, companies employing foreign workers, and local communities will build a better society together while understanding and supporting each other.
We at Niseko Visa Application Support Center will continue to serve as a bridge and provide ongoing support.
▼For more details, please see this article: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2cd94d010135acd5fbcea4d7bf9602773b351feb
[Contact Us] For inquiries regarding residence status applications, visa applications, housing contract support, and other matters related to foreign employment, please feel free to contact our office. Initial consultations are free.
