- ■ Introduction: Why This News Matters
- ■ Summary of the Proposal: What Was Actually Requested
- ■ A Brief Review of Japan’s Status of Residence System
- ■ For Foreign Residents: There Is No Cause for Alarm
- ■ For Employers and HR Professionals
- ■ Coexistence with the Local Community
- ■ Why Consulting a Specialist Is Sound Risk Management
- ■ Conclusion: Those Who Understand the Rules Are Best Prepared
■ Introduction: Why This News Matters
On April 23, 2026, Governor Motohiro Ono of Saitama Prefecture attended the Nine Metropolitan Governments Summit — a regular meeting of the governors and mayors of the Tokyo metropolitan area (one metropolis, three prefectures, and five designated cities) — and proposed that the participating local governments jointly petition the national government to ensure “appropriate and strict enforcement of immigration and residency management.”
Approximately 1.67 million foreign residents — roughly 40% of all registered foreign nationals in Japan — live within these nine jurisdictions. This proposal is therefore more than a local initiative; it signals a likely direction for Japan’s immigration policy going forward.
As a Gyoseishoshi lawyer (certified administrative procedures specialist) focused on visa and status-of-residence applications, I will explain in this article what the proposal actually says, how it should be interpreted under current law, and what concrete steps foreign residents and companies employing foreign nationals should take now.
■ Summary of the Proposal: What Was Actually Requested
The core of the proposal consists of two points.
First, it raises concerns that certain individuals enter Japan under visa-exemption arrangements and then repeatedly file refugee recognition applications without legitimate grounds, using this process to extend their stay. The governor noted that, in some municipalities, this has contributed to a sense of unease among local residents.
Second, the proposal calls on the national government to take thorough countermeasures, including — where necessary — the temporary suspension of reciprocal visa-exemption arrangements.
Governor Ono has, since last year, repeatedly referred to the situation in and around Kawaguchi City and Warabi City, where an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Kurdish residents of Turkish nationality live. However, the joint request from the nine metropolitan governments does not name any specific country and is framed as a “general policy framework.”
The key point to understand is this: the proposal targets misuse of procedural gaps in the system. It is not a move to tighten rules on foreign nationals who hold a legitimate status of residence and live or work in Japan lawfully.
■ A Brief Review of Japan’s Status of Residence System
To interpret this proposal accurately, a short review of the residency framework is useful.
Foreign nationals residing in Japan for the medium to long term hold one of the statuses of residence defined under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (ICRRA). Common examples include:
- Work-based statuses: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Skilled Labor, Business Manager, Specified Skilled Worker, Highly Skilled Professional
- Status-based categories: Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Long-Term Resident
- Others: Student, Dependent, Designated Activities
Separately, the visa-exemption arrangement allows nationals of designated countries and regions to enter Japan for short-term purposes — typically tourism or short business visits — for up to 90 days without first obtaining a visa. As of 2026, Japan maintains such arrangements with approximately 70 countries and regions.
The current concern focuses on a pattern in which an individual enters under visa exemption and then files successive refugee recognition applications, leveraging provisions that permit continued stay while an application is pending. The “Designated Activities” status granted under Article 61-2-6 of the ICRRA, together with the rules on the suspensive effect of deportation, were designed to protect those genuinely in need of international protection. Ensuring their proper and intended use is precisely the issue being debated.
■ For Foreign Residents: There Is No Cause for Alarm
If you hold a legitimate status of residence — a work visa, spouse visa, Permanent Resident status, Long-Term Resident status, or similar — this proposal will not directly disadvantage you. I frequently receive questions such as, “Will my renewal become more difficult?” The scope of the proposal is different from your situation.
That said, the following points deserve even more careful attention than before:
First, applications for extension of period of stay can be submitted up to three months before the current period expires. Begin preparation early rather than at the last minute.
Second, if the nature of your activities changes, you must file an application for change of status of residence. In the event of a job change, the “Notification Concerning the Contracting Organization” must be submitted within 14 days.
Third, for those considering Permanent Residence, the principal requirements include: a continuous stay of ten years or more in Japan, good conduct, and sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood. Payment records for resident tax, income tax, pension contributions, and health insurance premiums are being examined with increasing scrutiny.
Those who live by the rules deserve to have their rights protected through accurate information and proper procedures.
■ For Employers and HR Professionals
As immigration enforcement tightens, the compliance standards expected of employers continue to rise. The following are key practical checkpoints.
[Checkpoint 1] Due Diligence at the Time of Hiring
Always inspect the original Residence Card of each candidate and record:
- Name, date of birth, and nationality
- Type of status of residence and period of stay
- Work restrictions (if any)
- Whether “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted” has been issued, and its scope
For student part-timers, the permitted work is, in principle, limited to 28 hours per week, and up to 8 hours per day during long school holidays. Exceeding this cap can expose the individual to illegal employment and the employer to the offense of “promotion of illegal employment” under Article 73-2 of the ICRRA, which carries up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 3 million yen.
[Checkpoint 2] Managing Residence Card Expiration Dates
Centralize expiration management in a spreadsheet or HR system, with automatic alerts three months and one month before expiry. Missed renewals affect not only the employee but also your hiring strategy.
[Checkpoint 3] Alignment Between Actual Duties and Status of Residence
For employees hired under the “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” status, regularly verify that they are not routinely assigned duties outside the scope of that status. The actual nature of work may be reviewed at the time of renewal.
[Checkpoint 4] Notifications Regarding the Acceptance of Mid- to Long-Term Residents
When hiring or separating a foreign national, the employer may be required to file both the “Report on the Employment Status of Foreign Workers” with Hello Work and the “Notification Concerning the Acceptance of Mid- to Long-Term Residents” with the Immigration Services Agency. Missing mandatory notifications can negatively affect the overall credibility assessment of the organization.
■ Coexistence with the Local Community
A central theme behind this news is the concept of “community unease.” Alongside legal reform, fostering mutual understanding in local communities is essential for a truly coexistent society.
Employers can make a meaningful contribution by offering Japanese language support, life-orientation guidance, and bridges to local neighborhood associations for their foreign employees. These initiatives reduce turnover and strengthen local ties. Foreign residents, in turn, build trust through the small daily practices — proper waste separation, noise awareness, and simple greetings — that often matter most.
Follow the rules. Complete the procedures. Engage with the community. When these three align, “a society of coexistence” ceases to be a slogan and becomes a lived reality.
■ Why Consulting a Specialist Is Sound Risk Management
The ICRRA is amended frequently, and administrative notices and examination guidelines are updated on an ongoing basis. Keeping up with the latest changes is challenging — particularly for business owners managing a company and for individuals whose first language is not Japanese.
A Gyoseishoshi lawyer is one of the few national qualifications authorized to handle immigration filings. A Gyoseishoshi who has completed the notification for application agency services may submit documents to the Immigration Services Agency on behalf of the applicant, saving the individual from attending the office in person and ensuring document consistency in advance.
Early consultation is particularly advisable in cases such as:
- A company filing its first Certificate of Eligibility application
- Re-application after a prior denial
- Permanent Residence or naturalization applications
- Family reunification (Dependent or Long-Term Resident)
- Status changes involving complex job transitions
■ Conclusion: Those Who Understand the Rules Are Best Prepared
Saitama Prefecture’s proposal targets the misuse of procedural gaps in immigration and refugee recognition. It is not a tightening of rules aimed at foreign residents who hold legitimate status, nor at companies that employ foreign talent properly. That said, the overall direction of immigration administration is clearly moving toward stricter enforcement — this is an operational reality that practitioners observe firsthand.
For foreign residents: begin renewal preparations early, and keep tax and social insurance payments in good order. For employers: establish a reliable routine covering Residence Card management, mandatory notifications, and verification that duties match the status of residence. When in doubt, make effective use of a qualified specialist.
Our office handles the full range of immigration-related matters — Certificate of Eligibility applications, extensions, changes of status, Permanent Residence, naturalization, and ongoing corporate compliance advisory. From the very first consultation, we listen carefully and recommend the safest and most rational path forward for your company or your personal circumstances.
A society of coexistence is built, one person at a time, through knowing and respecting the rules. We hope this article offers a useful first step on that path.
▼ Reference article (The Asahi Shimbun / Yahoo! News Japan)
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/14f89cfca65667c01df5c92e3b9254e50537c5c0
