- Japan has introduced stricter regulations regarding foreign student enrollment in order to address negligence.
- Japan will no longer issue student visas to foreigners studying Japanese as “research students” or “auditing students.”
- In March 2024, Japan announced new visa rules aiming to increase job opportunities for international students.
As of April 26, the Japan Immigration Service Agency has introduced stricter regulations regarding international student admissions.
Such a measure comes after authorities found in 2019 that the Tokyo University of Social Welfare lost contact with 1,610 international students over three years starting from the 2016 academic year, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to a report by Kyodo News, the new rules require universities and vocational schools to manage foreign student enrollments properly, following revised regulations aimed at preventing inappropriate recruitment and illegal employment.
The Justice Ministry has updated its immigration ordinance to align with the government’s 2019 policy to prevent future issues. This revision notes the importance of schools carefully managing student registrations and urges educational institutions to easily accept students who come to Japan for work reasons.
Furthermore, several students who went missing from Tokyo University were categorized as “research students” who attended preparatory courses at the institution to switch to regular classes.
As a result, the authorities will no longer issue student visas to foreigners studying Japanese as “research students” or “auditing students, as reported by the Kyodo.
Japan Eased Visa Rules to Increase Job Opportunities for International Students
Although tightening rules regarding enrollment, in March 2024, Japan introduced new visa regulations aiming to increase job opportunities for international students.
As the Japanese Immigration Services Agency explained, under the new rules, graduates of state-designated technical schools will have the opportunity to work in professions that may not directly align with their majors.
Furthermore, the Japanese government made it easier for foreign students to stay in Japan and work by changing the rules for the “designated activities” visa, which offers students more work opportunities.
Due to this measure, authorities expect a surge in the number of foreign students working in Japan – about 3,000 per year.
