Japan is preparing to tighten its immigration framework for foreign professionals by introducing new Japanese-language requirements for certain skilled work visas, in a move that could significantly reshape the country’s recruitment of overseas talent.
According to government sources, Tokyo plans to require applicants for the widely used “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” visa to provide proof of Japanese-language proficiency when applying for roles that specifically require communication in Japanese. The new threshold is expected to be set around CEFR B2 level—roughly equivalent to JLPT N2—and could take effect as early as mid-April.
Officials say the measure is designed to prevent misuse of the visa category, after growing concern that some foreign nationals have entered Japan under specialist visas only to be placed in low-skilled positions unrelated to their stated qualifications. The reform would also tighten restrictions on companies previously penalised for labour violations involving foreign workers.
The proposal, however, risks fuelling debate over Japan’s broader immigration strategy. While the government has repeatedly stressed the need to attract foreign talent to offset demographic decline and labour shortages, critics argue that adding further administrative and linguistic barriers may discourage precisely the skilled professionals Japan says it wants to attract—particularly in sectors such as technology, engineering and international business.
Importantly, the requirement is not expected to apply universally, but only to positions where Japanese proficiency is deemed necessary for the role. Even so, the move reflects a broader shift in Tokyo’s immigration philosophy: Japan may still be opening its doors to foreign workers, but increasingly on its own, carefully controlled terms.
