Japan’s national government plans to allow local governments to require some foreigners to prepay National Health Insurance premiums and pension payments. The measure aims to prevent unpaid premiums and other overdue payments.
The move reflects the government’s growing effort to tighten administrative control over foreign nationals. Japan has also introduced stricter visa rules, higher fees, and tougher driver’s license procedures. Together, these moves show a cautious approach toward managing foreigners living or staying in the country.
Foreign resident payments lag behind average
Japan’s health ministry will allow local governments to require foreign residents and others to prepay National Health Insurance premiums, in an effort to curb unpaid bills.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has notified local governments that foreigners and others enrolling in Japan’s National Health Insurance may be required to prepay their premiums. The ministry issued the notice with examples of related ordinance revisions.
The move is seen as an effort to prevent unpaid medical fees and insurance premiums by foreign residents. Each municipality will decide whether to introduce the system, which could begin as early as April next year.
According to the notice dated October 29, the rule applies when the head of a household was not registered as a resident in Japan as of January 1 of the previous fiscal year, when premiums are assessed. To avoid discrimination based on nationality, the measure also includes Japanese nationals.
Municipalities that adopt the system may require up to one year of premiums to be prepaid. If the payment deadline passes without payment, authorities can impose a “delinquent tax disposition,” which allows them to forcibly seize the person’s property.
The notice also states that those with “special circumstances” can be exempted from prepayment. Examples include large households with high annual premiums or cases likely to require refunds due to moving out during the fiscal year.
Foreign residents accounted for 4% of National Health Insurance members in fiscal 2023, totaling 970,000 people. A survey by MHLW covering 150 municipalities found that, as of the end of 2024, the payment rate among foreign residents was only 63%. This was lower than the overall payment rate of 93%, which includes Japanese nationals.
These changes come amid Japan’s broader trend of tightening policies concerning foreign residents.
Japan’s increasing foreign resident crackdown
In recent years, the government has introduced several new rules and proposals that make administrative procedures more stringent.
One example is the stricter application process for the Business Manager residence status. Japan has revised the eligibility criteria for the Business Manager visa, which allows foreign nationals to operate or manage businesses in the country.
The revision took effect on October 16, 2025. Previously, applicants were required to have capital or investment of at least 5 million yen. Under the new system, they must have 30 million yen or more, six times the previous amount.
In the past, there were no clear standards for Japanese language ability. Applicants or related personnel were not necessarily required to speak Japanese. However, the new system requires either the applicant or a full-time employee to demonstrate a considerable level of Japanese proficiency. Industry and practitioner guidance often equates this to around Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level B2 or Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level N2.
Visa fee hikes
The government has also proposed visa fee hikes. It plans to raise the departure tax and visa issuance fees and introduce a new fee for pre-entry screening. The move aims to secure revenue without burdening Japanese citizens, as inflation remains high and domestic tax hikes are politically difficult.
The government is also considering raising fees for residency procedures. These fees were already raised in April, marking the first update in 44 years since 1981.
For the new pre-entry screening system for visa-free travelers, Japan plans to charge a fee similar to the U.S., which collects $40 (6,000 yen). The current 1,000-yen departure tax may also be raised to around 3,000 yen, and Japanese nationals will be subject to it as well.
The stricter driver’s license conversion system
Another measure is the stricter driver’s license conversion system. Japan revised the enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Act to close loopholes in the old system. The revision took effect on October 1.
In the old system, applicants for a Japanese driver’s license had to submit a copy of their residence certificate (住民票; jūminhyō) as proof of address. However, some foreign tourists found a loophole by asking hotels to issue a Temporary Leave Permit (一時帰国証明書; ichiji kikoku shōmeisho), which certified that they resided at a given address in Japan, allowing them to bypass the residency requirement.
Under the revised system, all applicants, regardless of nationality, must submit a copy of their residence certificate. This means short-term visitors without residency registration are no longer eligible. The written exam, which previously consisted of ten illustrated multiple-choice questions, now has fifty questions with no illustrations.
The passing score has also risen from 70 to 90 percent, making the test much harder. The practical driving test has become stricter as well, adding new checkpoints such as pedestrian crossings and tighter grading on turns, signaling, and other driving behavior.
Together, these moves reflect Japan’s growing focus on stricter oversight of foreign residents, as the government seeks tighter control over entry, residency, and access to public systems.
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国民健康保険の加入時、外国人らの保険料「前納」可能に…未払い防止へ厚労省通知 読売新聞オンライン
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