Easier Permanent Residency for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals—Is Japan Ready? www.nippon.com

Faced with a rapidly graying population, Japan has charted a new course toward opening its doors wider to foreign immigrants, and is hurriedly tearing down hurdles in the way of foreign citizens seeking residence visas. Within the year, a new system that the administration of Abe Shinzō has dubbed a “green card for highly skilled professionals” is to be rolled out. This will allow foreign researchers, corporate managers, and other workers with specialized talents to apply for permanent residence after as little as a single year living in Japan.