Japan is preparing a broad tightening of its immigration and naturalization policies, including effectively doubling the residency requirement for citizenship and imposing stricter language and compliance standards for permanent residents.
The proposed changes, now being compiled by the government and ruling coalition, would raise the standard period of residence for citizenship approval to 10 years in principle, while also strengthening screening requirements for permanent residency, according to reporting by Asahi Shimbun and corroborated by government policy coverage in The Japan Times.
Citizenship Law to Be Enforced More Strictly
Although Japan’s Nationality Law formally lists five years of residence as the minimum requirement for naturalization, the government does not plan to amend the statute itself. Instead, officials intend to implement tougher standards through revised administrative guidelines.
Justice Ministry officials have emphasized that the law establishes only baseline eligibility, not an automatic entitlement to citizenship after five years. This operational approach allows authorities to raise expectations without reopening the legislation, a position outlined in government briefings cited by Asahi Shimbun.
Applicants must also meet existing statutory conditions, including good conduct, financial independence, adulthood, and Japanese language ability sufficient for daily life, as stipulated under Japan’s Nationality Law.
Political Pressure From Ruling Coalition
The review was initiated after criticism from coalition partner Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), which argued that Japan’s current system was internally inconsistent. The party highlighted that citizenship — the country’s most consequential legal status — could be obtained after fewer years of residence than permanent residency.
That criticism prompted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to order a policy review, aligning with broader ruling-party discussions on immigration management reported by The Japan Times and domestic wire services.
Approval Data and Planned Exceptions
According to Justice Ministry data reviewed during the policy discussions, 12,248 citizenship applications were submitted in 2024, with 8,863 approved, an approval rate of approximately 70 percent.
Government sources have confirmed that the stricter 10-year benchmark will not be absolute. Exceptions are expected for individuals deemed to have made significant contributions to Japan, such as long-serving athletes or professionals with deep ties to the country.
These exemptions are intended to preserve flexibility while responding to political pressure to tighten standards overall, according to officials familiar with the review process cited by Asahi Shimbun.
Permanent Residency Rules Also Tightened
In parallel, the government plans to strengthen requirements for permanent residency permits. The move builds on a 2023 amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law that allows permanent residency to be revoked for serious violations such as deliberate tax nonpayment.
As of mid-2025, Japan had approximately 930,000 permanent residents, representing about 20 percent of the country’s foreign population, according to government figures cited in Asahi Shimbun.
Officials are now considering formalizing Japanese language proficiency as a requirement for permanent residency, with the specific level still under review.
Language Programs and Longer Stay Requirements
The government is also weighing the creation of a standardized language and civic education program for foreign nationals. Completion of the program could become a factor in residency screenings or a mandatory requirement for permanent residence.
Current guidelines already require permanent residency applicants to have lived in Japan for at least 10 years, maintained a clean legal record, and fulfilled public obligations such as tax and social insurance payments.
However, officials plan to tighten enforcement by extending the required maximum stay under a single residence status from three years to five, according to policy discussions reported by The Japan Times.
Broader Immigration Policy Review
The measures form part of a wider reassessment of Japan’s foreign national policies being conducted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. An interim report has also proposed setting upper limits on certain visa categories as part of a “quantitative management” strategy.
The party’s recommendations are expected to be submitted to Prime Minister Takaichi in January, with revisions to Japan’s comprehensive immigration policy likely to follow shortly afterward.
