Japan’s government is considering tougher actions against foreign residents who fall behind on public health insurance or pension contributions. Under the proposed changes, individuals who do not comply with payment requests could face restrictions on changing or renewing their residency status.
The Welfare Ministry and the Immigration Services Agency aim to incorporate payment records into the screening process for residency applications. If adopted, the measure is expected to start around June 2027.
Foreign nationals staying in Japan for three months or longer are required by law to enroll in the national pension and health insurance programs. Yet the Welfare Ministry notes that foreign residents’ combined pension contributions for the fiscal year ending March 2025 amounted to about 49.7 percent of what was due. A survey of 150 local governments found that foreign residents paid, on average, 63 percent of their health insurance premiums through the end of last year.
There have been instances of people leaving Japan with health insurance arrears while still receiving medical services, the ministry said. To address this, authorities plan to give local governments the option to allow new arrivals from abroad to pay their health insurance premiums upfront in a lump sum, starting next April.
The changes reflect ongoing efforts to tighten compliance with Japan’s social security programs among non-citizens, while balancing the needs and rights of foreign residents living in the country. The government has not yet released detailed criteria or enforcement protocols for how payment records will influence residency decisions.
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