Campaigners Urge Review of Stricter Japanese Business Visas

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Tokyo:Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for a review of Japan’s newly tightened business visa requirements. 

The movement gained momentum after a video of a long-term foreign resident highlighting the personal impact of the changes went viral, sparking a national debate over immigration policy.

The revised rules, introduced late last year, increased the capital requirement for applicants sixfold. While the government maintains the change is necessary to prevent the abuse of the system and the creation of shell companies, campaigners argue it unfairly penalises established residents. 

Since the implementation, applications for this visa category have reportedly plummeted by 96 per cent.

Government officials have welcomed the decline, stating that the new measures have successfully allayed concerns regarding the misuse of the system for migration.

However, the petitionno w with nearly 60,000 signatures urges the administration to consider the contributions of long-term business owners. This push for stricter controls arrives as the country continues to face acute labour shortages and a declining population.