Promulgated June 5, 2026 (Act No. 32); effective dates set by cabinet order
On June 5, 2026, Japan promulgated a law amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act together with the special act on landing applications by foreign nationals holding certain passports (Act No. 32, Official Gazette extra No. 125). The bill was submitted to the 221st (special) Diet session on March 10, 2026 and passed on May 29. It has two pillars. First, revisions to the fees for permission to change residence status and related procedures, effective on a date fixed by cabinet order no later than March 31, 2027. Second, the creation of JESTA, an electronic travel authorization system, effective on a date fixed by cabinet order no later than March 31, 2029. Until now Japan had no pre-travel electronic authorization requirement for visa-exempt visitors; this amendment establishes the legal basis for one. Actual fee amounts, JESTA application procedures, scope and start date will be set by cabinet order before entry into force. Article-level changes are published on the Immigration Services Agency page as PDFs (outline, bill text, statement of reasons, and old/new comparison).
The impact arrives in two stages. First, the fee revisions take effect no later than March 31, 2027. If you plan to apply for a change of residence status or a related permission, the amount you pay may depend on when you file once the cabinet order fixes the date and the amounts. Where an employer covers these costs, internal application rules and budgets may need review. Second, JESTA takes effect no later than March 31, 2029. After that, visa-exempt short-stay travelers will be covered by an electronic authorization step before departure, so inviting family or friends to Japan will mean checking pre-travel procedures, not just booking flights. For now, only the legal framework is fixed: the actual start date, fee amounts and application method await the cabinet orders and their publication.
From June 2027, mid-to-long-term foreign residents who chronically default on national health insurance or pension premiums and ignore payment guidance will, in principle, be denied residence status renewal or change. Municipal and immigration systems link in FY2026 to reflect arrears automatically.
From April 2027, "Technical Intern Training" abolished, replaced by "Training Employment". 2026 is preparation period. N5 Japanese required, voluntary transfers allowed, can transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) after 3 years.
Japan opened public comment (Aug 4-Sep 3, 2026) on stricter Permanent Residency guidelines: household income above the Japanese average, pension outlook, B1 Japanese.