Japan Tightens Permanent Residency Rules, Raises Fee 20-Fold for Foreigners

Japan has tightened its requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residency, introducing stricter financial, pension and Japanese-language standards while increasing the permanent-residency application fee by 20 times. The revised rules took effect on October 1, 2026, although several of the new requirements will apply to applications submitted from April 2027. Japan’s Immigration Services Agency said the…

Japan Seeks Tax Filing Exemption for Trust-Based Stablecoins

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is proposing to remove certain tax filing requirements for trust-based stablecoins as part of the country’s fiscal 2027 tax reform plans. The proposal is aimed at making it easier for these digital assets to function as everyday payment instruments, particularly as stablecoin adoption grows in Japan. Under Japan’s current rules,…