Overseas media have highlighted the sharp increase in Japan’s residence screening fees and the tightening of permanent residence requirements, while raising concerns about the spread of fake news stoking anti-immigrant sentiment.
On 1 October 2026, residence screening fees for foreign nationals living in Japan rose sharply, with the fee for permanent residence applications increasing from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. The requirements were also expanded to include income levels comparable to those of Japanese households, Japanese-language proficiency and an understanding of the system, raising the bar for obtaining residence status.
Overseas media have linked these developments to the challenge of securing labour amid Japan’s declining birth rate and ageing population. While expanding the acceptance of foreign nationals is seen as a realistic option, the media have also reported critically on the immigration policies of the right-wing government. Fortune points to 2025 population statistics and the increase in foreign residents, discussing the coexistence of social divisions and population decline in Japanese society.
Al Jazeera has reported on how tighter residence screening is affecting foreign nationals’ life planning and has covered anti-immigrant sentiment in public opinion in Japan. The South China Morning Post, meanwhile, analyses anti-immigrant fake news as a factor fuelling xenophobia.
As an example of misinformation spread through videos and other media, footage of foreign nationals stealing metal from railway tracks was circulated with Japanese subtitles. It was later found to be misinformation in an investigation conducted in September 2026.