Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 14 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 1 Dec 2025
In force Residency

Residence Card and My Number Card integration

Phased integration of the Residence Card (zairyū kādo) functions into the My Number Card from December 2025, reducing the need to carry two physical cards. Practical effect: simpler municipal interactions, fewer reprint cycles. Mandatory adoption from late 2026.

Who it affects: All non-Japanese residents holding both a Residence Card and a My Number Card.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jun 2025
In force Residency

Permanent Residence revocation framework expanded under 2024 amendments

Diet amendments to the Immigration Control Act (June 2024, in force June 2025) expanded the grounds on which Permanent Residence (eijuken) can be revoked — explicitly including failure to pay tax or social-security contributions and certain criminal convictions. A controversial reform that critics argue erodes the security of long-term-resident status; supporters frame it as integrity enforcement.

Who it affects: Permanent Residence holders, especially those reliant on social-security or tax payment compliance.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2025
In force Visa & immigration

Online Certificate of Eligibility application expanded to all categories

The ISA expanded the online Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application system to cover all categories of work and study visas from April 2025. Previously paper-only for several niche routes. Reduces typical COE processing time by 1–3 weeks for digitally-eligible applications.

Who it affects: Japanese employers sponsoring non-Japanese hires.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 31 Jan 2025
In force Labour

Foreign worker count surpasses 2.3 million for first time

MHLW statistics published January 2025 reported that foreign workers in Japan had surpassed 2.3 million as of October 2024 — the largest single-year jump on record (~12% YoY). Vietnamese, Filipino, and Indonesian workers led the increase, concentrated in SSW and Engineer/Specialist categories.

Who it affects: Broader labour-market context — signals continued integration of non-Japanese workers across sectors.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Oct 2024
In force Labour

National weighted-average minimum wage raised to ¥1,055/hour for FY2024

The Central Minimum Wage Council's recommendation of a ¥50/hour rise — the largest single annual increase ever — was adopted, taking the national weighted-average minimum wage to ¥1,055/hour from October 2024. Tokyo: ¥1,163/hour. Continues a multi-year trajectory toward a ¥1,500/hour 2030s target.

Who it affects: All low-wage workers; SSW workers in particular as their thresholds are pegged to local minimum wages.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 21 Jun 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Startup Japan strategy 2024 update — visa friction reductions

The Cabinet's "Startup Japan" strategic-policy update committed to a series of visa-friction reductions for foreign founders, including expanded participating municipalities for the J-Find/J-Start programmes and faster Business Manager visa renewal cycles for verifiable scaling startups. Several elements have been implemented through 2024–2025.

Who it affects: Foreign founders considering Japan as their startup base.

Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · METI — Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 4 Jun 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Invest Japan strategy targets foreign-investor visa friction

The Council on Investments for the Future approved the Invest Japan 2024 plan, committing to reduced friction in the Business Manager visa pathway for verified inward-investment cases — including expanded JETRO support, English-language application guidance, and pilot fast-track lanes at major immigration offices.

Who it affects: High-net-worth foreign investors and Business Manager visa applicants.

Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · METI — Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jun 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 expanded from 2 to 11 sectors

Cabinet decision of 29 March 2024 expanded the Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 (which permits unlimited renewal, family sponsorship, and a path to permanent residence) from the original 2 sectors (construction and shipbuilding) to 11 — adding agriculture, fishery, food service, accommodation, automobile maintenance, aviation, manufacturing of materials, industrial machinery, and electric/electronic information industries.

Who it affects: SSW Type 1 holders in newly-included sectors gaining a path to long-term residence and family sponsorship.

Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Taxation

Permanent-resident-for-tax test clarified — 5-year non-permanent status

National Tax Agency guidance clarified the threshold at which a foreign resident becomes a "permanent resident for tax purposes" — generally after 5 of the previous 10 years residing in Japan. Permanent-tax-residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-permanent-tax-residents are taxed on Japan-source income plus foreign income remitted to Japan. Material for HSP and long-term Engineer-visa holders.

Who it affects: Long-term foreign residents and Highly Skilled Professionals approaching their 5-year-of-residence anniversary.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · METI — Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Visa & immigration

J-Find / Future Creation Startup Visa extended to 2 years

The Future Creation startup-visa programme — operated by Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other participating municipalities — was extended from 1 to 2 years for selected innovative-founder applicants. Provides a longer runway to register a company and transition to the standard Business Manager visa without leaving Japan.

Who it affects: Foreign founders launching startups under the participating-municipality programmes.

METI — Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ↗ · Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Labour

SSW intake target raised to 820,000 over five years

The Cabinet approved a five-year SSW intake target of 820,000 workers (2024–2028), more than double the original 2019–2023 target. Reflects continued severe labour shortages in care work, construction, and hospitality alongside Japan's aging-population trajectory.

Who it affects: Labour-shortage-sector employers and prospective SSW workers from key origin countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines).

Cabinet Office of Japan ↗ · Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 31 Mar 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Digital Nomad Visa launched as new "Designated Activities" status

Introduced under the "Designated Activities" status of residence on 31 March 2024. Six-month stay, no renewal, ¥10 million annual income, restricted to nationals of 49 jurisdictions. Outside the standard work-visa framework — does not lead to permanent residence. Designed primarily as a tourism-spending and soft-power instrument.

Who it affects: Remote workers from 49 eligible jurisdictions earning ¥10M+/year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 21 Apr 2023
In force Visa & immigration

J-Skip — Highly Skilled Professional fast-track for top earners and top researchers

The J-Skip programme grants HSP-2-equivalent status without going through the points-based scoring to applicants meeting either (a) annual income of ¥20M+ AND a master's degree (¥30M+ AND a PhD/master's for ¥30M tier), or (b) a record of leading research at a recognised institution. Substantial fast-track for senior international hires.

Who it affects: Senior researchers and high-income professionals previously below HSP-2 thresholds.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 21 Apr 2023
In force Visa & immigration

J-Find Visa for graduates of top-100 global universities

The J-Find programme created a 2-year "Future Creation" status of residence for graduates within five years of graduation from a top-100 global university (per QS, THE, or Shanghai rankings). Allows job-search and short-term work activities in Japan without prior sponsorship — a substantive opening for international graduates.

Who it affects: Recent graduates of top-100 universities (per major rankings) considering Japan as a job-search destination.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ↗ · Immigration Services Agency of Japan ↗ · verified 2026-04-19