Legal News by Sakura Central Law Office
We regularly share the latest regulatory changes, practical guidance,
and important notices on Residence Status, Specified Skilled Workers, and Succession & Wills.
For residence status applications, immigration procedures, and permanent residency applications, consult Administrative Scrivener Sakura Central Law Office.
On August 4, 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency published a draft guideline on revoking Permanent Resident status, clarifying three revocation grounds added by the 2024 Immigration Act amendment — unpaid public dues, Immigration Act violations, and certain criminal convictions — with illustrative examples.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency updated the Residence Card Reader App on August 19, 2026. Period of stay, type of permission, and date of permission — removed from new-format card faces since June 14 — are now viewable via the app. Date of issuance remains unavailable.
Japan's Second Basic Plan (published July 30, 2026) confirms permanent residence tightening: review of independent livelihood/national interest requirements, plus newly disclosed Japanese-language and systems-education program conditions.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency publishes its first Basic Plan since 2019: stricter permanent residence operation and a new JESTA electronic travel authorization system targeted for FY2028.
Japan's revised Immigration Control Act, enacted May 29, 2026, raises residence status fee caps from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000 and permanent residence fees to ¥300,000, effective October 1, 2026. A new optional MyNumber-integrated "Specified Residence Card" launched June 14, 2026.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency reportedly plans to revise its Permanent Residence Guidelines from October 1, 2026. New benchmarks include income above the national household average and pension benefits equivalent to 30 years of employees' pension enrollment. The spousal special provision is also set to rise. A licensed Gyoseishoshi explains.
For specified skilled worker registered support organization services, consult Administrative Scrivener Sakura Central Law Office.
Following the Immigration Services Agency's August 4, 2026 announcement of a proposal adding a 5-year residence period for SSW Category 2, the migrant support group Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan issued a statement on August 7, 2026 calling for its withdrawal, citing overly strict requirements.
Vietnam's Decree 283/2026/ND-CP (issued July 15, effective September 10, 2026) fines illegal overstay up to 100 million VND. Implications for SSW host employers and registered support organizations explained.
Vietnam Decree 283 (issued July 15, effective September 10, 2026) fines illegal overstay up to 100 million VND. Reports say immigration offices in Japan are congested as people rush to return home before the deadline.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency published a draft ordinance on August 4, 2026, adding a 5-year residence period option for SSW Category 2 (currently 6 months/1/2/3 years). Targeted for implementation in early January 2027 following public comment.
Japan's Ministry of Justice and MHLW issued an improvement order to Iryo Kaigo Network Cooperative and revoked technical intern training plan approvals for multiple host companies including Asahi Technos Co., Ltd.
MLIT revised the Japanese-language requirement for SSW bus and taxi drivers in January 2026. Alongside the existing B1-equivalent standard, A2.2 level is now accepted under conditions such as an accompanying Japanese-language support person.
For will drafting and succession procedures, consult Administrative Scrivener Sakura Central Law Office.
Japan's FY2026 tax reform revises inheritance tax valuation of rental property acquired within 5 years before death, shifting from road-price assessment to 80% of purchase price. Effective for inheritances from January 1, 2027.
Japan's revised Civil Code enacted June 17, 2026 abolishes the hanko (seal) requirement for holographic wills and creates a new Digital Will (Hokan Shosho Yuigon) system. Neither change is in effect yet as of July 2026. A licensed Gyoseishoshi explains what to do now and who should write a will immediately.
From April 1, 2026, property owners can submit their details once to the Legal Affairs Bureau and have future address/name changes automatically registered — free of charge, no digital certificate needed. Avoids mandatory address change registration penalties (up to ¥50,000).
The gift tax exemption for lump-sum education funds (up to ¥15 million from grandparents to children/grandchildren) ended on March 31, 2026 with no extension. New contributions from April 1 onward are fully taxable. Funds already deposited remain usable tax-free under existing withdrawal rules.
The 2026 tax reform extends the deadline for submitting the special business succession plan for unlisted shares by 18 months (to September 2027). The individual business asset deferral deadline is extended by 30 months. Business owners considering succession should review the revised timeline.
The 2026 tax reform closes inheritance tax planning through fractional real estate products, regardless of acquisition date, effective from January 1, 2027. Unlike the "5-year rule" for rental properties, this applies to all existing holdings. Reviewing your estate plan is urgent.
※ Articles are available in Japanese. Click to read the full article.
