The Japanese Ministry of Justice has reportedly made it easier for foreigners to become permanent residents in Japan as the government seeks to attract new talent, keep highly skilled overseas workers and boost productivity.
The new rules will become effective as of the end of March 2017 and will allow some foreign workers to apply for permanent residence after as little as one year in Japan, Business Insider reports.
Highly-skilled professionals are defined as foreigners who receive at least 70 points on the Ministry’s immigration scorecard.
According to the present Japanese immigration rules, the minimum required residence period before foreign nationals can apply for permanent resident status is five years.
The latest changes will reportedly shorten that period to just three years for those scoring over 70 points and only a year for those scoring over 80 points.
The scorecard is based on an assessment of criteria such as professional qualifications, education level, and annual salary.
The changes in Japan come as campaign group 3 Million calculated that up to one million EU citizens are at risk of deportation after Brexit in the UK unless the government comes up with a more simple way of recognising their status in the country.
The 3 Million calculated that it would take the Home Office 47 years to process the three million applications from EU citizens for permanent residency at the current rate, which it warned could leave many unable to have their rights to remain supported.
Meanwhile, 30 per cent of EU citizens are unable to prove their right to residence despite living here legally, leaving one million potentially at risk of deportation from the day the UK leaves the EU.
