By YUTA OGI/ Staff Writer
November 26, 2025 at 18:25 JST
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi discusses immigration policies with Cabinet ministers on Nov. 4. (Takeshi Iwashita)
The government plans to significantly lower the threshold to bar re-entry of foreign visitors with unpaid medical bills in Japan.
The current threshold is 200,000 yen ($1,280), but government may drop the amount to 10,000 yen starting in April 2026. It will soon present the proposal to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for debate.
Currently, foreign visitors who leave unpaid medical bills of 200,000 yen or more are registered in a health ministry database.
The information is shared with the Immigration Services Agency, resulting in stricter screening at the visitor’s next attempt to enter Japan.
From April 2027, the scope of registration may expand to include long-term residents, resulting in rejected visa renewal applications of those in arrears.
The government is also examining subsidies for foreign schools, aiming to ensure local government support is carried out appropriately and transparently.
These measures are part of a broader review of immigration policies the government has pledged to outline as early as January.
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