Before Considering Moving to Japan: Understanding the Differences from Canada and Australia

Hello everyone. I'm Hiroaki Higuchi, an Administrative Scrivener at Mirai Fuso Administrative Scrivener Office.

Some people considering moving to Japan from overseas may think, "Just like Canada or Australia, if I accumulate enough points, I can get permanent residency," or "If I have a high level of education and English skills, I should be able to get permanent residency in Japan too." However, Japan's residence status system operates on fundamentally different principles from immigration countries like Canada, Australia, and the United States.

If you plan your move to Japan without understanding these differences, you may face situations where things are "completely different from what I expected" or "I didn't know it would be this strict." In this article, I will clarify the critical differences between immigration countries and Japan's permanent residency acquisition system, and provide you with the correct knowledge to realistically consider moving to Japan.

What Are Immigration Countries? Examples of Canada and Australia

First, let's clarify what an "immigration country" means. Canada and Australia are nations that actively accept foreigners as a national policy to achieve population growth and economic development. In these countries, systems exist where acquiring permanent residency itself is the objective.

Canada's Express Entry System

Canada employs a points-based system called Express Entry. In this system, points are calculated based on factors such as age (25-29 years old receives the highest points), education (high points for master's and doctoral degrees), language proficiency (English and French test scores), work experience in Canada, and spouse's education and language abilities.

Once you reach a certain number of points, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency even without a confirmed employer. In other words, "it's possible to obtain permanent residency without having a job secured."

Australia's Skilled Migration Program

Australia similarly operates a points-based skilled migration program. If you qualify for an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List and achieve a certain number of points (typically 65 or more), you can apply for a permanent visa.

Here too, the emphasis is on age (25-32 years old receives the highest points), English proficiency (IELTS scores, etc.), education, years of work experience, and Australian qualifications or work experience (bonus points).

Like Canada, the route of obtaining permanent residency first, then conducting job searches is possible.

America's Green Card Lottery

The United States has a unique system called the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV lottery). This grants green cards (permanent residency) to approximately 50,000 people annually through a lottery. While there are educational and work experience requirements, it's basically a matter of luck to obtain permanent residency.

Japan's Residence Status System: Employment-Based Approach

In contrast, Japan's system is completely different from those of immigration countries. Japan is a country that has not adopted an immigration policy, and the acceptance of foreigners is based on the concept of "accepting necessary personnel in necessary fields for necessary periods only."

The Foundation of Residence Status: Classification by "Activity Content"

Japan's residence statuses are primarily classified by activity content - what you will do while staying in Japan. Representative work-related residence statuses include:

• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services: Engineers, interpreters, marketing personnel, etc.

• Highly Skilled Professional: Points-based, but employment is a prerequisite

• Business Manager: Company managers, business administrators

• Skilled Labor: Foreign cuisine cooks, sports instructors, etc.

• Specified Skilled Worker: Technical workers in 14 fields including nursing care, construction, and agriculture

What's important is that all of these require an "employer" or "business plan" first. Unlike Canada or Australia, where "you can apply for permanent residency if you accumulate points without a job secured," such a system does not exist in Japan.

Permanent Residency Requirements: The 10-Year Rule and Good Conduct Requirements

To obtain permanent residency in Japan (official name: Permanent Resident status of residence), you must generally meet the following conditions:

Basic requirements:

• Continuous residence in Japan for 10 years or more (5 years or more with work or residence status)

• Good conduct, such as not having received fines or imprisonment

• Sufficient assets or skills to maintain an independent livelihood

• Recognition that permanent residence serves Japan's interests

Special provisions for highly skilled professionals:

• 3 years with 70 or more points for Highly Skilled Professional

• 1 year with 80 or more points for Highly Skilled Professional

This 10-year rule is the biggest difference from immigration countries. While Canada and Australia allow "permanent residency first, employment later," Japan operates on "employment first, permanent residency after 10 years."

Why Such a Difference? National Strategy Differences

This difference stems from differences in national strategy.

Immigration Countries' Strategy: Economic Growth Through Population Increase

Canada and Australia are countries with vast territories and relatively small populations. For these nations, accepting immigrants is part of a clear national strategy including labor force population increase, expansion of consumer markets, innovation creation through diversity, and response to aging societies. In fact, Canada set a goal to accept approximately 465,000 permanent residents in 2023, which is about 1.2% of its population.

Japan's Strategy: Qualitative Labor Force Supplementation

On the other hand, Japan has high population density and historically and culturally maintains a strong consciousness as a homogeneous nation. The acceptance of foreign workers is positioned more limitedly and supplementarily for specific industrial sector labor shortage resolution, supplementation of advanced specialized knowledge and skills, and response to internationalization and globalization.

The approach is not "everyone is welcome" but rather "selectively accepting human resources necessary for the Japanese economy and society."

Misunderstanding About the Highly Skilled Professional Points System

Some may think, "Japan also has a points system." Indeed, Japan has a "Highly Skilled Professional Points System." However, its purpose differs from the points systems in immigration countries.

Japan's Highly Skilled Professional Points System is employment-based (employer or business plan required), serves as preferential treatment (shortening of permanent residency acquisition period, spouse's work permission, parent accompaniment, etc.), and points alone cannot obtain residence status - it's merely preferential treatment accompanying residence statuses such as "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services."

In other words, unlike Canada where "if you accumulate points, you'll receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency," it's "a system that shortens the period until permanent residency acquisition for highly skilled professionals working in Japan."

Practical Differences: Timeline Comparison

Let's compare with specific timelines.

Canada and Australia Case

Language test taking and credential assessment (3-6 months), points calculation and profile creation (1 month), ITA (invitation) waiting (several months to 1 year), permanent residency application (6-12 months), job searching after permanent residency acquisition.

You can obtain permanent residency in as little as 1-2 years and then leisurely conduct job searches.

Japan Case

Job searching from outside Japan (indefinite period), obtaining job offer and applying for Certificate of Eligibility (1-3 months), entry and starting work, continuous employment for 10 years (1-3 years for highly skilled professionals), permanent residency application (4-8 months), permanent residency acquisition.

It takes at least 10 years (or at least 1 year of employment for highly skilled professionals).

"Having a Job Doesn't Mean Anyone Can Live Here"

Another important misunderstanding is that "if you get a job offer from a Japanese company, anyone can get a work visa." This is half correct and half wrong.

In Japan's residence status applications, the following points are strictly examined:

Consistency between education and job duties:

• Relationship between university major and work duties in Japan

• Relevant field work experience for vocational school graduates

• Whether job duties fall under simple labor

Company stability and continuity:

• Whether the business actually operates

• Whether the company has the financial capacity to employ foreigners

• Whether it can pay appropriate salaries

In other words, for jobs like "customer service at fast food restaurants" or "simple factory work," you cannot obtain a work visa even if you have an employer.

Obligations and Costs During Residence in Japan: Stricter Enforcement from FY2026

Foreign nationals residing in Japan face stricter obligations than in many immigration countries. Particularly often overlooked is the burden of social insurance premiums.

Mandatory Social Insurance Enrollment

Foreign nationals working in Japan are required to enroll in the following social insurance, just like Japanese nationals:

• Health Insurance and Employees' Pension Insurance: Approximately 15% of salary (about 30% split with company)

• Employment Insurance: About 0.6% of salary

• Income Tax and Resident Tax: Progressive taxation

These burdens may seem surprisingly high depending on your country. For example, with a monthly salary of 300,000 yen, social insurance premiums alone amount to about 45,000 yen per month (about 90,000 yen including employer contributions).

Security and Safety Worth the Cost

On the other hand, in return for this burden, you can receive the following services in Japan:

• Universal Health Insurance System: Out-of-pocket medical expenses are generally 30%

• Pension System: Eligibility for old-age pension, disability pension, survivors' pension (requires certain enrollment period)

• Employment Insurance: Benefits during unemployment, vocational training opportunities

This is a very comprehensive safety net by global standards. Combined with good public safety, clean environment, and advanced medical services, it forms the foundation for living safely and securely in Japan.

Risk of Losing Residence Status If Neglected

However, neglecting these obligations leads to serious consequences.

Stricter examination from FY2026:

• The Immigration Services Agency has announced a policy to strengthen verification of social insurance premium payment status in residence status renewal examinations

• If you have unpaid or delinquent health insurance or pension premiums, the possibility of your residence status renewal being denied is increasing

• Already in some regions, cases requiring submission of social insurance premium payment certificates are increasing

Impact on permanent residency applications:

• When applying for permanent residency, your social insurance premium payment status for the past 5 years is strictly examined

• If you have unpaid periods, you may be judged as not meeting the "good conduct" requirement

• Intentional non-enrollment or delinquency becomes a fatal obstacle to permanent residency applications

In other words, in Japan, it's not enough to just "work and pay taxes" - enrollment in and payment of social insurance is an absolute condition for continuing residence. This can be said to be a strict management system unique to Japan that doesn't exist in immigration countries.

Summary: Correct Understanding Is the First Step to Success

Let me summarize the points that foreign nationals considering moving to Japan should understand.

Fundamental differences between Japan and immigration countries:

• Japan is not an immigration country and adopts a policy of accepting foreign workers in a supplementary manner

• The principle is "employment first, permanent residency after a long period" rather than "permanent residency first, employment later"

• There is a points system, but it's a measure to shorten the permanent residency acquisition period, not a system to directly acquire permanent residency like in immigration countries

To achieve long-term stay and permanent residency in Japan:

• You first need to obtain a job offer from a Japanese company

• Even with a job offer, you must meet educational and job duty requirements

• Continuous employment record for 10 years (or 1-3 years as a highly skilled professional) is a prerequisite for permanent residency

• Compliance with social insurance premium payments and tax payments is an absolute condition for continuing residence

• Examinations are expected to become even stricter from FY2026 onwards

With this reality in mind, if you have the strong will and planning to say "I still want to live in Japan," long-term stay and permanent residency in Japan are fully achievable. Our office also supports residence status applications for foreign nationals aiming for employment and settlement in Japan. We also separately introduce more specific practical roadmaps in related articles such as "How to Achieve Moving to Japan with Zero Connections," so please refer to them.

Was this article useful information for foreign nationals considering moving to Japan? If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to contact us through our office's inquiry form. We hope to be of some help toward realizing your new life in Japan.

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