Japan Unveils Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control – First Overhaul in 7 Years
Tokyo, July 31, 2026 — Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) unveiled its second basic plan for immigration control and residency management on Friday, marking the first revision to the government's overall immigration strategy in seven years.
The plan introduces measures to promote smoother adaptation of foreign residents to local communities while tightening enforcement against illegal stays. The government will introduce the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), a pre-entry screening system for foreigners intending to visit Japan.
Published: July 31, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team
The second basic plan, officially titled the "Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control and Residency Management," was released by the ISA on July 31, 2026. The first version was released in April 2019.
Aspect | Details |
First Plan Released | April 2019 |
Time Since Last Update | Approximately 7 years |
Legal Basis | Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Article 61-9) |
Review Cycle | Approximately every 5 years (target) |
The government took time to grasp emerging problems related to foreign residents, such as challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the reception of refugees from Ukraine.
"The government will take the required actions, ensuring that the human rights of foreign nationals are fully respected in all efforts."— Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi
Table of Contents – Second Basic Plan for Immigration Control
I. Introduction – Social Change and Immigration Control
Recognition that the influence of foreigners on Japanese society is growing
Need for a comprehensive and systematic approach
Legal basis: Article 61-9 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
Vision for coexistence between Japanese and foreigners in the future
II. Notable Situations Regarding the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals
1. Overall Increase in Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan
(1) Trends in entry and residence for employment purposes
(2) Steady increase in trainees and technical interns
(3) Status of international students and efforts for appropriate acceptance
(4) Increase in people of Japanese descent and foreigners with strong ties to Japanese society
2. Trends and Issues in Violations of the Immigration Control Act
(1) Trends in the number of immigration law violators
(2) Characteristics of immigration law violation cases
(3) Problems caused by undocumented immigrants
III. Major Challenges and Future Policies of Immigration Control Administration
1. Smooth Implementation of Accepting Foreigners
(1) Smooth acceptance of foreign workers needed by Japanese society
(2) Promoting the training and technical internship system
(3) Promotion of academic, cultural, and youth exchanges
(4) Facilitating the settlement of long-term foreign residents
2. Realistic and Effective Responses to Undocumented Immigrants
(1) Strong and effective measures against illegal immigrants
(2) Treatment considering connections to Japanese society
3. Other Major Challenges
(1) Facilitating personnel exchange through deregulation
(2) Further promotion of international cooperation
(3) Appropriate operation of the refugee recognition system
Record-High Foreign Resident Numbers
The new plan comes as Japan faces unprecedented levels of foreign residents:
Metric | Value |
Foreign Entrants (2025) | Approximately 42.43 million |
Foreign Residents (End 2025) | Approximately 4.13 million |
Share of Total Population | 3.35% |
Both Figures | Record highs |
The government acknowledged that future foreign acceptance must be examined from "medium- to long-term and multi-perspective viewpoints".
"The number of entrants and foreign residents is at an unprecedented high level. Systems that are not keeping up need to be improved."— ISA Statement
Key Measures in the Second Basic Plan
1. JESTA – Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization
The plan formally establishes JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) , an advance screening system for foreigners planning to enter Japan.
Aspect | Details |
Purpose | Pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers |
Timeline | Implementation targeted for fiscal year 2028 (by March 2029) |
Process | Travelers submit details online before departure; authorities review and decide whether to approve entry |
Fee | Approximately 3,000 yen (around US$19) |
JESTA is Japan's version of electronic travel authorization systems already in place in other countries, such as the United States' ESTA.
Current Status: JESTA is not yet mandatory. Travelers can still enter Japan under existing visa-waiver rules. If traveling between 2026 and 2027, you still do not need to register for JESTA.
2. Learning Programs for Foreign Residents
The plan includes trial introduction of learning programs to help foreign residents study:
Japanese laws and institutions
Administrative systems
Social rules
3. My Number Information Sharing (From 2027)
From 2027, immigration authorities plan to begin sharing information through the My Number identification system to:
Improve residency management
Identify cases where foreign nationals use a status of residence for purposes different from its original intent
4. Stricter Measures Against Illegal Stays – "Zero Plan"
Authorities will expand measures under the government's "Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan for the Safety and Security of People in Japan" — commonly referred to as the "Zero Plan":
Measure | Details |
Faster Deportations | Accelerated removal procedures |
Increased Enforcement | More operations and joint crackdowns |
Digital Tools | Use of technology to identify illegal overstayers |
Reinforced Structure | Enhanced enforcement staffing and resources |
ISA officials told reporters they had received about 20,000 comments during a 10-day public consultation period. Opinions included calls for tougher screening and enforcement measures. Nevertheless, certain comments expressed worries about human rights issues related to the Zero Plan.
5. Permanent Residency Review & Guidelines
Measure | Details |
Guidelines Creation | Examples of cases that could lead to revocation of permanent resident status |
Transparency | Improve clarity on revocation criteria |
Income Review | Revision of income requirements for permanent residency |
Business Status | Enhanced monitoring of "Business Manager" status holders |
6. Refugee Processing Acceleration
The plan aims to accelerate refugee and complementary protection procedures through:
Additional staffing
Enhanced training
Digitization of documentation
Stronger measures against fraudulent applications
7. Higher Fees for Residence-Related Applications
The plan outlines higher fees for residence-related applications. The ISA has proposed significant fee increases, including:
Application | Current Fee | Proposed Fee |
Permanent Residence | ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 |
The agency hopes to put the fee hikes into effect in October 2026 after a public comment period.
8. One-Stop Consultation Services
One-stop consultation services and cooperation between the central and local governments will also be strengthened to support foreign residents.
Key Dates
Date | Event |
April 2019 | First Basic Plan released |
July 31, 2026 | Second Basic Plan unveiled |
2027 | My Number information sharing begins |
Fiscal 2028 (by March 2029) | JESTA implementation target |
October 2026 (target) | Fee hikes take effect |
Quick Reference: Second Basic Plan Key Points
Category | Key Measure | Timeline |
Pre-Entry Screening | JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) | Fiscal 2028 |
Resident Support | Learning programs for Japanese language & rules | Trial basis |
Digital Integration | My Number information sharing | From 2027 |
Enforcement | Zero Plan – stricter illegal stay measures | Ongoing |
Permanent Residency | Guidelines & income review | Under review |
Refugee Processing | Digitization & staffing increase | Ongoing |
Fees | Higher residence-related application fees | October 2026 (target) |
Quick Reference: Japan Immigration Policy Evolution
Plan | Year | Key Focus |
First Basic Plan | 1992 (reviewed 1999) | Addressing illegal foreign workers, smooth human exchange |
Second Basic Plan | 2026 | JESTA, integration, digital transformation, stricter enforcement |
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