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The Certified NPO Asia Humanities and Cultural Exchange Promotion Association expressed its support on August 21 for the titled statement issued by the NPO National Network for Solidarity with Migrants (Immigration Solidarity Network).
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 is the deadline for collecting organizational endorsements for the statement.
From the Immigration Solidarity Network website, the statement is reprinted.
Statement Strongly Opposing the Tightening of Guidelines on Permanent Residency and Calling for Their Withdrawal
August 7, 2026
NPO National Network for Solidarity with Migrants (MINJUREN)
We, the Immigration Solidarity Network, are a nationwide network organization of individuals and groups aiming to protect the lives and rights of immigrants and their families who live and work in this society, support activities toward their independence, and strive for a better multiethnic and multicultural synergy society.
On August 4, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency announced a draft revision of the "Guidelines on Permanent Residency" (hereinafter referred to as the "New Guideline Draft"). Regarding the independent livelihood requirement for permanent residency, the New Guideline Draft principally requires an annual income level exceeding the average of Japanese households and a projected pension amount that would be received if the applicant had been enrolled in the Employees' Pension Insurance for 30 years at that income level. Additionally, concerning the national interest requirement, it states that applicants must "actively and concretely bring benefits to Japan," and demands Japanese language proficiency at CFER B1 (independent language user) level or higher, thereby significantly tightening the overall criteria compared to the current guidelines. This effectively closes the path to permanent residency for many foreign nationals aiming to become permanent residents, directly contradicts the concept of a multicultural and multiethnic society based on Cultural synergy, and we strongly oppose it.
As of the end of 2025, the number of mid- to long-term residents excluding permanent residents and special permanent residents will reach 2,911,374. Among them are many people who have lived in Japan for many years, built families in Japan, were born in Japan, or have lived in Japan since they were minors—people who have established a living foundation in Japan. However, residence statuses other than "permanent resident" carry the risk of denial upon each renewal. In particular, for employment statuses listed in Table 1, if the specified employment under that residence status can no longer be performed, renewal becomes impossible. The residence status of "permanent resident" is also linked to social credit such as loans. For foreign nationals to live a stable life in Japan and be able to plan for the future, the residence status of "permanent resident" is indispensable.
Regarding the independent livelihood requirement, the new guideline draft states that "it is necessary to be recognized as capable of self-support both now and in the future, and economic conditions equivalent to or higher than those of Japanese nationals are required," while also demanding that "the household income of the applicant's household exceeds the average income of Japanese households adjusted for household size." According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 2025 National Livelihood Survey, the average income for all households is 5,752,000 yen; however, when looking at the relative frequency distribution of households by income bracket, the most common are "2,000,000 to less than 3,000,000 yen" (13.5%), "3,000,000 to less than 4,000,000 yen" (13.0%), and "1,000,000 to less than 2,000,000 yen" (12.2%), with 61.5% of households earning less than or equal to the average income of 5,752,000 yen. In other words, the "income level exceeding the average income of Japanese households" is higher than that of the vast majority of households, and even many people earning income comparable to that of Japanese nationals cannot meet this level. Among foreign nationals, there are many who work in sectors facing labor shortages such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and caregiving—not only those with the "Specified Skilled Worker" or "Caregiver" residence status but also those with "Long-Term Resident" status—who support Japanese society. However, the wage levels in these industries do not reach the "average income," making it extremely difficult for them to obtain permanent residency.
Furthermore, the new guideline draft considers as a factor whether the applicant has worked for 30 years at an annual income level exceeding the average income of Japanese households and, during that period, has been enrolled in the Employees' Pension Insurance, reaching the estimated pension amount that can be received in the future. Under this condition, it will basically be impossible for those who had periods of low income, those who had periods under the National Pension, or those who arrived in Japan later to obtain permanent residency permission.
It goes without saying that it is entirely possible to be self-sufficient now and in the future even without exceeding the average household income, and imposing such strict requirements on being "currently and future self-sufficient" is unnecessary and clearly excessive. This will exclude the vast majority of foreign nationals who have settled in Japanese society and live diligently, and it is an utterly unreasonable interpretation of the independent livelihood requirement demanded by law, as well as being contrary to the principles of administration under the law.
Furthermore, regarding the income requirement, it is an arbitrary measure to apply it retroactively from April of this year, meaning it will also apply to those who have already submitted applications.
Regarding the national interest requirement, the new guideline proposal imposes a Japanese language proficiency requirement equivalent to level B1 or higher. The B1 equivalent level is considered to be around N2 to N3 in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), but foreign nationals who have missed opportunities to learn Japanese due to the lack of public support for Japanese language acquisition over many years will be denied the chance to become permanent residents.
In addition, although the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act exempts spouses and children of Japanese nationals, as well as refugees and those granted complementary protection, from the independent livelihood requirement, the new guideline draft indicates a possibility of negatively evaluating "public burden." Furthermore, regarding the residence period, which is one of the national interest requirements, the current special provisions of "3 years of marriage" (only for spouses) and "1 year of residence" are clearly being extended to "5 years" and "3 years" respectively, representing a clear regression in terms of humanitarian considerations.
The new guideline proposal closes the path to permanent residency for the vast majority of foreign nationals. If the new guideline proposal is enacted, combined with stricter residency screenings and significant fee increases for extending residency periods and changing residency statuses, most foreign nationals will be forced to remain in an unstable legal status in Japan for life or give up residing in Japan altogether. This is especially devastating for foreign nationals who have already established a life base in Japan and have nowhere else to go, fundamentally destroying their life plans. Similar to the sudden tightening of the "Business Manager" status in 2025, this represents a serious betrayal of foreign nationals and their families who have lived diligently trusting the existing system.
In this way, it is absolutely unacceptable to decide on a fundamental revision of the guidelines, which will have a significant impact on the future and life planning of foreign nationals living in Japan, within a short period after publication without even providing an opportunity to hear opinions from the foreign nationals concerned.
At the same time, the negative impact of the new guideline proposal on Japanese society cannot be overlooked. Among foreign nationals living in Japan, those residing under activity-based residence statuses are, in principle, not allowed to engage in activities other than those corresponding to their residence status. This not only severely restricts the activities of these foreign nationals but also, as a result of these restrictions, causes the loss of benefits that these foreign nationals could have brought to Japan if they were allowed to engage in activities freely. Furthermore, if they are confined to an unstable and restrictive situation for a long period, there is concern that foreign nationals will hesitate to establish a life base and contribute to Japanese society—in other words, they may choose not to come to Japan.
On the other hand, in recent years, the number of foreign nationals entering Japan under the “Specified Skilled Worker” status has been increasing. Recently, regarding the food service industry, acceptance was suspended because the number of accepted Specified Skilled Workers was approaching the limit, but industry groups have voiced opposition to this measure. Japanese society has been supported by the labor of many foreign nationals during this time. If the system is fixed on the principle that these people must return to their home countries after working for a certain period, it will cause them to lose the living foundations they have built in Japan and also erase their connections within local communities.
The tightening of permanent residency will result in draining vitality from Japan. This is fatal for Japan, which has already entered a society of declining birthrate, aging population, and population decrease.
We strongly oppose the new guideline proposal that tramples on the lives and dignity of foreign nationals and causes irreparable damage to Japanese society, and we demand its withdrawal.
Original Statement Text (to the Immigration Network page)
Public comments are being accepted until September 4
If you like, please be sure to submit your opinions (public comments). It is okay even if they are brief or divided into sections.
・Call for Comments on the Draft Revision of the Guidelines for Permanent Residency Permission (Deadline: September 4, 12:00 a.m.)
・Call for Comments on the Draft Guidelines Regarding the Revocation of Permanent Resident Status (Deadline: September 4 at 12:00 a.m.)