뉴스

Dubious immigration brokers helped spark business manager visa crackdown

Shady immigration consulting firms, many in China, help people set up shell companies to apply for a business manager visa, or advertise the option of renting out properties.

Japan gov't mulls subsidies for restaurants, farmers hit by tax cut

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government is considering extending support to restaurant operators and farmers hit by a drop in sales under an envisage

Is Rural Japan Right for You? Factors to Consider Before Moving

Founder of Active Travel Japan and owner of a rural Airbnb shares insights on visas, starting a business and the pros and cons of life in Japan. The post Is Rural Japan Right for You? Factors to Consider Before Moving first appeared on JAPAN Forward.

AI advice in assault case and foreign business visa uproar: Our 5 most-read stories from last week

We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between May 23 and 31. The first story was

Japan increases cap on residency visa fees to $630

Japan passes bill to raise visa fees, introduce online pre-entry screening

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's parliament on Friday passed an immigration control law revision to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by

Japan enacts bill to drastically raise visa-related fees

Under the bill, the statutory upper limit for fees to change residency statuses or extend a period of stay will go from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000.

New Zealand to ease golden visa investment criteria to allow philanthropy

Demand for New Zealand's golden visa — which offers residency in exchange for investments — has been strong since the government revamped the rules in April 2025.

Japan imperial couple likely to visit Kumamoto in September

During an envisaged two-day visit, the emperor and the empress are expected to inspect progress in reconstruction programs in areas devastated by earthquakes in 2016.

Beyond the native speaker myth: Who ‘owns’ the Japanese language?

As Japan considers adding language requirements to permanent residency and other visa categories, it must also reconsider what "proficiency" means.

Thailand cuts visa-free stays, citing crime by foreigners

Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian nation's economy, but foreign arrivals have yet to return to their pre-Covid highs.