Japan to Grant Highly Skilled Foreigners Indefinite Residence

October 11, 2018

Tokyo- Japan will grant indefinite residence to highly skilled workers from abroad under a planned resident status program for foreigners, it was learned Thursday.

Two types of status will be created under the program, which the government aims to introduce next April to cope with domestic labor shortages, according to an outline of the program.

Type one status, which will allow up to five years of residence, will be granted to foreigners with "considerable levels of knowledge and experience" and Japanese skills enough for daily life.

If type one holders are recognized as highly skilled professionals, including through tests, their status will be upgraded to type 2, which will allow indefinite residence. Type 2 holders will also be permitted to bring their spouses and children to Japan to live.

The government is considering applying the program to foreign workers in more than 10 industry sectors including nursing care, agriculture, construction and accommodation.

It plans to regularly monitor labor forces in the sectors covered by the program. If labor shortages in the sectors are found resolved, the government will stop granting the new status.

The government also plans to urge companies hiring type one holders to provide support for them, including assistance in learning Japanese, advice on daily life and information about administrative procedures. Jiji Press