The Japanese government has made an unusual decision to urgently increase the staff of the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) by more than 200 members mid-fiscal year. This measure aims to strengthen crackdowns on illegal foreign residents and tighten border quarantine and visa screenings. The Japanese government plans to approve the relevant cabinet order amendment in a cabinet meeting in late July 2026.
While civil servant increases are typically aligned with regular budget planning, implementing such a large-scale emergency increase mid-year is highly unusual. This reflects how seriously the Japanese government views the current issues of illegal stay and unauthorized employment. This measure is expected to directly impact the status of residence screenings for foreigners currently residing in Japan or preparing for study, working holidays, or employment.
Strengthening Crackdowns on Illegal Stays and Targeted Deployment of Immigration Control Officers
The number of illegal residents in Japan remains high. The figure, which stood at approximately 83,000 as of January 1, 2020, was recorded at around 68,000 as of January 1, 2026, showing no significant decline.
In response, the Japanese government has decided to increase the number of "immigration control officers"—who are solely responsible for detecting and cracking down on illegal residents—by about 50. They will be deployed primarily in Ibaraki Prefecture, where the highest number of unauthorized employment cases has been reported, to conduct on-site enforcement. Crackdowns are expected to intensify in regions centered around Ibaraki Prefecture, with enhanced unannounced inspections at suspected unauthorized workplaces.
Major Increase of 180 Immigration Inspectors: Stricter and Faster Screenings
The number of "immigration inspectors" responsible for status of residence screenings and fact-finding investigations will also be significantly increased by about 180. This is aimed at thoroughly investigating the reality of unauthorized employment, which is difficult to detect through paper-based screenings alone.
Through this staff increase, the Immigration Services Agency aims to achieve the following changes:
- Enhanced on-site investigations: Moving beyond simple document reviews, there will be an increase in direct investigations to verify whether normal activities are actually taking place at the relevant companies or schools. The goal is to thoroughly uncover unauthorized employment hidden behind paperwork.
- Faster processing and clearing backlogs: This will lay the groundwork to more quickly process status of residence screenings, which are currently delayed due to heavy workloads.
- Stricter status of residence screenings: Rigorous investigations will be conducted to prevent document forgery and fraudulent applications.
As a result, while the waiting time for foreigners who apply normally for their status of residence may be somewhat reduced, the verification of submitted documents and on-site investigations are expected to become much more demanding and strict than before.
Shifts in Foreigner Policy: Establishing New Expert Panels and Discussing Educational Systems
In addition to the staff increase, the Japanese government is reviewing its overall policy on accepting foreign nationals. The government plans to establish a new expert panel related to foreigner policy by July 2026. This panel is expected to discuss specific numerical targets, such as the ratio of foreign residents to the total population.
Furthermore, through another expert panel, the government plans to design a new system to help foreigners learn Japanese culture and social rules. This is interpreted as a measure to help foreign residents settle stably within Japanese society and prevent conflicts with local communities.
This large-scale staff increase at the ISA and the accompanying policy shifts carry significant implications even for foreign students, workers, and working holiday participants residing legally in Japan. The accuracy of documents submitted during visa applications and renewals has become more critical than ever, and since monitoring for unauthorized employment and regulatory violations will be tightened, special care must be taken in maintaining and managing one's status of residence.
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Source: 読売新聞