Proposed Japanese and Life Learning Program | Explanation of its Reflection in Immigration Review

Discussions have begun towards the creation of a new “Japanese Language and Life Learning Program (tentative name)” to help foreign nationals living in Japan learn Japanese and Japanese systems and rules. In July 2026, the Ministry of Justice’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice Project Team (PT) published a report outlining its direction and issues for consideration. Of particular note is the direction being considered to reflect participation in the program in immigration review and applications for Permanent Residence and naturalization. However, this is merely a report at the discussion stage and does not represent a finalized system. This article, prepared by an Administrative Scrivener, provides a clear summary of the report’s contents and explains key points that foreign nationals and accepting companies should be aware of now.

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1. What is the “Japanese Language and Life Learning Program (tentative name)”?

In July 2026, the Ministry of Justice’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice PT published a report titled “Regarding Issues for Consideration and Points of Attention Towards the Creation of a Japanese Language and Life Learning Program (tentative name).” This concept aims for the government to take responsibility for establishing a systematic framework for foreign nationals living in Japan long-term to learn Japanese and the rules and systems of daily life in Japan.

First, it is important to understand the positioning of this report. The report “presents a certain direction while organizing issues for consideration and points of attention,” and the text uses exploratory language such as “Is it not…?” or “How about…?” This means that the framework of the system has not been finalized; rather, it is at the stage of providing a foundation to accelerate future government-wide system design.

This topic is relevant to foreign nationals themselves, as it could affect their future Status of Residence and Permanent Residence, and also to companies accepting foreign talent, as it concerns their support systems. It is valuable to grasp the overall picture at an early stage.

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2. Why is this discussion progressing now?

The background to this discussion is the increase in foreign nationals residing in Japan and the policy challenge of realizing an “inclusive society.” In 2026, the government compiled the “Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and an Orderly Inclusive Society,” which positioned the “consideration of creating a program for learning Japanese language, systems, and rules.” This PT report represents the outcome of discussions to materialize this policy.

The report emphasizes the learning program for three main reasons:

• 🗣️ Smooth Social Adaptation: Learning Japanese and daily life rules at an early stage makes it easier for foreign nationals to live with peace of mind as members of the local community.
• 🤝 Building the Foundation for an Inclusive Society: By systematically providing learning opportunities at the national level, the burden on local governments is reduced, and support from accepting organizations is enhanced.
• 🛡️ Ensuring the Peace of Mind of Citizens: By promoting the sharing of rules and manners, the aim is to create an environment where both foreign nationals and local residents can live comfortably.

The report describes this learning program as “something that can become a social infrastructure for realizing an orderly inclusive society with foreign nationals.” While emphasizing the need for careful system design, it indicates a direction to “start operations early where possible and enhance/improve it” due to it being a “pressing issue at present.”

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3. Program Content (Under Consideration)

The report indicates a direction to structure the program around two pillars: “Japanese language learning” and “life learning.” The depth of learning is envisioned to vary according to the individual’s stage of residence (life stage).

Stage	Main Target Image	Depth of Learning Content (Under Consideration)
Pre-entry / Immediately After Entry	Those coming to Japan or who have just arrived	Basic Japanese + daily life rules and manners
Mid-term	Those who have stayed for a certain period	Advanced content tailored to daily life and work situations
Long-term / Aspiring to Permanent Residence, etc.	Those who wish to live long-term or aim for Permanent Residence	More advanced and broader topics

The volume of learning is intended to be “within a range that allows for compatibility with activities for the purpose of entry (work or study),” with a design that does not burden daily life.

3-1. Learning Methods (Combination of ICT + Face-to-face)

The following directions are being considered for learning methods:

• 💻 Utilization of ICT: To enable learning even before entry, interactive teaching materials using AI, etc., and comprehension checks will be developed.
• 🏫 Face-to-face Training: From the perspective of learning effectiveness, face-to-face training by local governments, etc., will also be implemented and participation encouraged.
• ⏱️ Intensive Learning at an Early Stage: A system will be established for participation before entry and within a certain period after entry.
• 👩‍🏫 Utilization of Specialized Institutions: Certified Japanese language education institutions and registered Japanese language teachers will be utilized.

A phased approach is envisioned, where a common foundation is established using ICT in the short term, and the development of an environment for in-person learning and pre-entry learning is pursued as a long-term goal.

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4. Who will be covered? (Profile of target individuals under consideration)

The report indicates a direction to “broadly target foreign nationals intending to reside in Japan for medium to long terms” as participants. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on enhancing opportunities for groups that tend to have limited learning opportunities.

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Individuals residing under “Dependent” Status of Residence: A group that tends to have limited opportunities for training through employment.
• 🧑‍💼 Sole proprietors, etc., without accepting organizations: A group without support structures like corporations.
• 🎓 Highly Skilled Professionals: The nature of programs for Highly Skilled Professionals will also be considered separately.

On the other hand, issues such as setting the eligible age for participation, considerations for individuals with disabilities who may find participation difficult, and how to apply the program to those already residing in Japan are explicitly stated as “issues to be further considered in the future.” This point is of particular concern to foreign nationals already living in Japan, but it has not been finalized at this time.

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5. [Most Important] Consideration of Reflection in Immigration review and Permanent Residence review

The most noteworthy aspect of this report is the consideration of reflecting participation status in the Immigration review. Specifically, the following points are indicated as “to be considered”:

• 📝 Motivation for early participation: To encourage participation in the system, mechanisms that make participation beneficial to the individual will be considered.
• 🪪 Consideration of making participation a requirement for Permanent Residence and long-term Status of Residence applications: Consideration will be given to making participation in the program a requirement for permission when filing an Application for Permission for Permanent Residence or an application for Status of Residence for certain long-term stays.
• 🎯 Consideration of confirming comprehension in Permanent Residence and Naturalization reviews: In the Permanent Residence and Naturalization reviews, consideration will be given to confirming not only participation but also the level of comprehension of the learned content.
• 🗂️ Development of a participation status management system: A system to manage who has participated and to what extent will be established.

The report also indicates a direction to confirm Japanese language proficiency through completion of educational programs at accredited Japanese language educational institutions or by passing examinations.

🔎 If this direction is institutionalized, “whether one has learned Japanese and daily life rules” could become a factor influencing the approval or denial of Permanent Residence or long-term Status of Residence. However, this is currently at the “consideration” stage, and making participation a requirement has not been finalized.

[Update: October 6, 2026] For Permanent Residence, without waiting for the program to be created, the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence (revised October 1, 2026) have made “Japanese language ability” (B1 level or above under the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education) and “understanding of Japan’s systems and rules” factors considered in the review. They apply to applications filed on or after April 1, 2027. In some cases, such as highly skilled foreign professionals and their families, B1-level Japanese is not treated as a factor. Understanding of systems and rules is to be checked by a method designated by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, centered on the contents of the “Guidebook on Living and Working.” Whether participation in the program itself will become a requirement for permission is still under consideration. The report outlines a vision where local governments, private organizations, and accepting organizations support learning in their respective roles, while primarily focusing on positive motivation to encourage participation. A key feature is the emphasis on a design where society as a whole supports learning, rather than “imposing obligations solely on the individual.”

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6. Impact on Foreign Nationals and What Can Be Done Now

👤 Although the system is still under consideration, it is a development that foreign nationals planning to live in Japan for a long time should be aware of.

• 👤 “Early and steady” Japanese language learning may be advantageous: For Permanent Residence, B1-level or higher Japanese ability and understanding of Japan’s systems and rules will be factors considered in the review for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027 (guideline revision of October 1, 2026). For long-term Status of Residence, elements of Japanese language and daily life learning may also be questioned in the future. Continuing to study little by little from now on will be beneficial, regardless of whether the system is formalized.
• 📚 Increased public learning opportunities expected: The country is moving towards expanding access to learning for Dependent individuals and sole proprietors who previously had limited learning opportunities.
• 📅 Make checking for updates a habit: Details regarding target individuals, participation methods, and reflection in the review process will be clarified in the future. Regularly checking official information from the Immigration Services Agency will provide peace of mind.
• 🗺️ Local rules also a subject of learning: The report indicates a direction to include local rules, culture, and dialects in the learning content. Pay attention to daily life information provided by your local municipality.

There is no need to “take any immediate action” at this time. However, continuing to proactively study Japanese will ultimately broaden your future options.

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7. Impact on and Preparation for Corporate HR Professionals

🏢 This report is not irrelevant to companies that accept foreign talent. This is because the report calls for in-depth consideration of the role of accepting organizations (companies, etc.).

• 🏢 Strengthening Requests for Learning Support to Accepting Organizations: A direction has been indicated to more strongly request organizations accepting foreign nationals for employment purposes to provide learning support not only for the individuals themselves but also for their accompanying families.
• 🤝 Collaboration with Local Communities and Private Sector: Face-to-face training is expected to be handled by local public bodies and private organizations, and companies may also take on the role of connecting employees with local learning opportunities.
• 💻 Consideration for Balancing Work and Study: While the amount of study is expected to be “within a range that allows for balancing with work, etc.,” companies will be challenged to devise ways to secure study time within work shifts and job designs.
• 📈 Opportunity for Retention and Inclusive Society: Workplaces with extensive support for Japanese language and daily life aspects lead to the retention of foreign talent. It can be said that this is an opportune moment to review your company’s acceptance system, even without waiting for institutionalization.

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8. Future Schedule and Uncertainties

The report indicates an approach to proceed cautiously while expediting institutionalization. The following points should be kept in mind regarding the future direction:

• 🧪 Sufficient Trial Period: The direction is to establish a sufficient trial period before full-scale operation and review it while receiving feedback from experts. Government materials show a schedule for the program’s trial to start “during fiscal year 2028 (Reiwa 10)” (materials distributed at the working group meeting on August 18, 2026).
• 🔧 Phased Implementation from What Can Be Done: The approach is a phased one: in the short term, establish a common platform utilizing ICT and begin operation, while pursuing the development of environments for face-to-face learning and pre-entry learning as long-term challenges.
• ❓ Many Undetermined Issues: The scope of eligible individuals, application to those already residing in Japan, the extent of mandatory participation, and specific methods for reflecting participation in Immigration review will be designed in the future, based on discussions with relevant ministries and agencies and opinions from various parties. On July 24, 2026, a “Working Group for Examining the Japanese Language and Life Learning Program (tentative name)” was set up under the government’s expert council, and it met on August 18 and September 18.

In other words, we are at a stage where “the direction is clear, but the details are yet to come.” There is no need to be overly anxious, but it is worth noting the broad trend that “Japanese language and daily life learning could become factors related to Status of Residence and Permanent Residence.”

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9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Has this learning program already started?

No. What was published in July 2026 was a “report summarizing issues for consideration and points to note” towards the establishment of the system. The program itself has not yet started, and is expected to be gradually implemented after a trial period. Government materials state that the trial is to start during fiscal year 2028 (Reiwa 10).

Q2. Will I be unable to obtain Permanent Residence if I do not participate?

Whether participation in the program will become a requirement for Permanent Residence has not been decided at this point. The report is at the stage of stating that it will “consider” making participation a requirement for permission in Application for Permission for Permanent Residence and Status of Residence applications for certain long-term stays. Whether it will become a requirement, its scope, and timing will depend on future system design. However, separately from participation, for Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence filed on or after April 1, 2027, B1-level or higher Japanese ability and understanding of Japan’s systems and rules will be factors considered in the review (Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence, revised October 1, 2026).

Q3. I already live in Japan, will I be eligible?

The application to those already residing in Japan is considered an “issue to be further examined in the future” and has not been finalized. It is necessary to check for further announcements.

Q4. What content will be studied?

It is being considered with two main pillars: “Japanese language learning” and “daily life learning (rules and manners in daily life, local culture, etc.).” The content is expected to vary depending on the stage of residence, such as basic content before and immediately after Landing, and more advanced and comprehensive content for those desiring long-term stays or Permanent Residence.

Q5. Do companies need to take any action?

The report indicates a direction to further request accepting organizations (companies, etc.) to provide learning support for the individuals themselves and their accompanying families. While no immediate obligation arises, it would be beneficial to be aware of creating an environment that allows for balancing work and study, and collaborating with local communities and external resources, at an early stage.

Q6. Where can I find information?

Information regarding the report and future system design will be published on the official website of the Immigration Services Agency (moj.go.jp/isa). When the system materializes, our office will also provide explanations.

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10. Summary: Make Japanese Language Learning a “Proactive Preparation”

The “Japanese Language and Daily Life Learning Program (tentative name)” is envisioned as a new social infrastructure to help foreign nationals smoothly integrate into Japanese society and realize an Inclusive society. In particular, the consideration of reflecting participation status in Immigration review and Application for Permission for Permanent Residence/Application for Permission of Naturalization review is a movement that cannot be overlooked by those who wish to live in Japan for a long time. For Permanent Residence, the guideline revision of October 1, 2026 has already made Japanese ability (B1 level or above) and understanding of systems and rules factors in the review (for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027). However, the program itself is still at the deliberation stage, and details such as eligible individuals, requirements, and timing will be finalized in the future. Therefore, the best thing to do at this stage is for foreign nationals themselves to “proactively continue Japanese language learning,” and for accepting companies to “be mindful of establishing a system that can support learning.” Let’s calmly prepare by checking primary sources for updates on the system.

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This article was written based on publicly available information as of July 2026 and updated with the latest information on October 6, 2026. Details of the system and its implementation period may change in the future. For actual applications, please refer to the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or contact our firm.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture