A major change has been announced for foreigners planning to stay long-term or obtain permanent residency in Japan. On July 3, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan released the "Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Justice Project Team (PT) Report," outlining the creation of a tentative "Japanese Language and Lifestyle Learning Program" designed to help foreigners systematically learn the Japanese language, local systems, and rules.
The core of this report is that completion of this program could directly impact future visa renewals and permanent residency screenings. Here is a summary of the key details that foreigners preparing to live in Japan or already residing there must know.
What Is the "Japanese Language and Lifestyle Learning Program"?
This program is being promoted based on the "Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals" decided by the government in January 2026. The goal is to help foreign residents settle stably into Japanese society and live in harmony with local residents.
The program is broadly structured around two main pillars:
- Japanese Language Learning: Developing basic Japanese language skills necessary for daily life and work.
- Lifestyle Learning: Learning Japan's unique social rules and systems. Specifically, this includes waste separation and disposal methods, tax and social insurance systems, how to use the healthcare system, disaster prevention measures, and local community etiquette and manners.
Providing Learning Opportunities Online and Offline
The government targets a wide range of foreign nationals entering Japan for mid-to-long-term stays. In particular, by actively utilizing Information and Communication Technology (ICT), they plan to provide opportunities for foreigners to study in advance before entering Japan (pre-arrival). In addition, they are considering combining this with in-person classes after arrival in Japan.
Potential Link to Visa Renewals and Permanent Residency Screenings
The most noteworthy aspect of this announcement is its connection to visa screenings. The report suggests considering the reflection of program enrollment history or completion status as an important requirement (factor for consideration) in the screening process for permanent residency applications and certain long-term residency visas.
This means that when renewing a long-term visa or applying for permanent residency in Japan in the future, simply fulfilling the residency period requirement may not be enough; whether one has diligently completed the government-provided social integration education could become a crucial evaluation criterion. In essence, applicants will need to officially demonstrate their efforts to abide by rules and communicate as members of Japanese society.
Future Implementation Schedule
The government has presented a step-by-step roadmap for the concrete execution of the program:
- Fiscal Year 2027: Infrastructure, such as a "course management system" to manage course registration and completion status, will be established.
- Fiscal Year 2028: The actual program will be run as a pilot (test) to prepare for full-scale implementation.
This policy is interpreted as a systematic preparatory step by the Japanese government to accept foreign residents as equal members of the local community, rather than just simple labor or short-term visitors. Foreigners planning to settle in Japan long-term should keep a close eye on the specific completion criteria and program implementation schedules to be announced in the future.
Tools: Internet Finder
Source: 出入国在留管理庁