Miyazaki: 13,834 Foreign Residents, 2nd-Fastest Growth

On October 16, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (hereinafter, the ISA) announced “The Number of Foreign Residents as of the End of June 2026.” The total number of foreign residents nationwide reached 4,281,026, setting a new record high. In Miyazaki Prefecture, the number was 13,834, an increase of 853 people (6.6%) from the end of 2025 (12,981 people). When comparing the increase rates in the prefectural table (Table 4) of the published data, Miyazaki Prefecture ranks second nationwide, following Okinawa Prefecture (7.5%). This article organizes Miyazaki Prefecture’s figures from three perspectives: “trends,” “nationality/region,” and “Status of Residence,” and conveys what can be gleaned from these numbers to corporate HR professionals considering accepting foreign nationals and to foreign residents living in Miyazaki.

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1. Conclusion: Four Key Points for Miyazaki Prefecture as of the End of June 2026

• The number of foreign residents in Miyazaki Prefecture is 13,834. This is an increase of 853 people (6.6%) from the end of 2025, and the increase rate is the second highest nationwide (Okinawa Prefecture is first).
• Compared to the end of 2022 (8,309 people), it is approximately 1.7 times higher. While the number ranks 37th nationwide, the rapid pace of increase is notable.
• By nationality/region, Indonesia (3,796 people) is the highest, followed by Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Nepal. Nepal saw an increase of 300 people in six months.
• By Status of Residence, Technical Intern Training (4,778 people) and Specified Skilled Worker (3,431 people) account for approximately 60% of the total. Compared to the national average (approximately 20%), a larger proportion of people working under Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker is a characteristic of Miyazaki Prefecture.

2. National Situation: 4,281,026, a New Record High

According to the ISA’s announcement, the total number of foreign residents (sum of mid- to long-term residents and Special Permanent Residents) as of the end of June 2026 was 4,281,026, an increase of 155,631 people (3.8%) from the end of the previous year. The breakdown is 4,017,321 mid- to long-term residents and 263,705 Special Permanent Residents.

The top Status of Residence categories are Permanent Resident (961,342 people), Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (516,184 people), Student (479,626 people), Technical Intern Training (457,509 people), and Specified Skilled Worker (444,256 people). The increase from the end of the previous year was significant for Specified Skilled Worker, with 53,960 people, while Technical Intern Training saw a modest increase of 891 people.

3. Trends in Miyazaki Prefecture and Comparison with Kyushu and Okinawa

3-1. Trends in the Number of Foreign Residents in Miyazaki Prefecture

Time Point	Number of Foreign Residents in Miyazaki Prefecture
End of 2022	8,309 people
End of 2023	9,752 people
End of 2024	11,511 people
End of 2025	12,981 people
End of June 2026	13,834 people (6.6% increase from end of previous year)

The number has been increasing at a pace of approximately 1,400 to 1,800 people annually, with an increase of 853 people in the first half of 2026. The proportion of the national total is 0.3%.

3-2. Comparison of 8 Prefectures in Kyushu and Okinawa

Prefecture	End of 2025	End of June 2026	Increase from End of Previous Year
Fukuoka Prefecture	125,501 people	131,422 people	4.7% increase
Saga Prefecture	12,841 people	13,508 people	5.2% increase
Nagasaki Prefecture	17,477 people	18,158 people	3.9% increase
Kumamoto Prefecture	32,372 people	33,945 people	4.9% increase
Oita Prefecture	23,027 people	24,263 people	5.4% increase
Miyazaki Prefecture	12,981 people	13,834 people	6.6% increase
Kagoshima Prefecture	21,480 people	22,733 people	5.8% increase
Okinawa Prefecture	33,402 people	35,894 people	7.5% increase

While Miyazaki Prefecture is one of the prefectures with the fewest foreign residents in Kyushu and Okinawa, its increase rate is the second highest after Okinawa Prefecture, significantly exceeding the national average increase rate (3.8%).

4. By Nationality/Region: Indonesia is the Highest, Nepal is Rapidly Increasing

Nationality/Region	End of 2025	End of June 2026	Increase/Decrease
Indonesia	3,449 people	3,796 people	347 people increase
Vietnam	2,890 people	2,851 people	39 people decrease
Myanmar	1,377 people	1,453 people	76 people increase
Philippines	1,147 people	1,211 people	64 people increase
Nepal	812 people	1,112 people	300 people increase
China	813 people	815 people	2 people increase

Nationwide, Vietnam (693,750 people) ranks second after China, but in Miyazaki Prefecture, Indonesia significantly surpasses Vietnam. In terms of the increase over six months, Indonesia (347 people increase) and Nepal (300 people increase) account for approximately three-quarters of the total increase in the prefecture (853 people). On the other hand, Vietnam decreased by 39 people.

For accepting companies, it is becoming common for people of multiple nationalities to work in the same workplace. Efforts to communicate work rules and safety regulations using easy Japanese or materials in their native languages will be more important than ever.

5. By Status of Residence: Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker account for approximately 60%

Status of Residence	End of 2025	End of June 2026	Increase/Decrease
Technical Intern Training	4,821 people	4,778 people	43 people decrease
Specified Skilled Worker	3,043 people	3,431 people	388 people increase
Permanent Resident	1,298 people	1,312 people	14 people increase
Student	914 people	1,131 people	217 people increase
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services	718 people	836 people	118 people increase
Dependent	564 people	568 people	4 people increase
Designated Activities	333 people	453 people	120 people increase
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	428 people	452 people	24 people increase

In Miyazaki Prefecture, Technical Intern Training (4,778 people) and Specified Skilled Worker (3,431 people) combined total 8,209 people, accounting for approximately 59% of all foreign residents. Nationwide, the total for these two statuses is about 21%, so Miyazaki Prefecture can be said to be a prefecture with a very high proportion of people working under Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker statuses.

Looking at the trends over six months, Technical Intern Training decreased by 43 people, while Specified Skilled Worker increased by 388 people. This suggests a trend of individuals transitioning from Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker, and an increase in new arrivals under the Specified Skilled Worker status (this is our firm’s view, and the publicly available data does not provide reasons). Student (217 people increase) and Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (118 people increase) also saw increases.

Furthermore, the breakdown of Specified Skilled Worker by field and category is explained in “Miyazaki’s Specified Skilled Worker (i) is 3,346 people | By field as of end of June 2026” based on separate public data from the Immigration Services Agency (Number of Foreign Residents with Specified Skilled Worker Status). Please note that the figures may not match due to different source materials.

6. To Accepting Company Representatives and Foreign Nationals

To HR Professionals at Companies

• The Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) will begin operation on April 1, 2027 (Immigration Services Agency “Employment for Skill Development Program Q&A” Q3). In Miyazaki Prefecture, where the proportion of Technical Intern Training is large, many companies are expected to be affected by the system change. The handling of the acceptance quota is explained in “Employment for Skill Development Acceptance Quota | Miyazaki is a “designated area” with up to 3 times the quota.”
• As the number of foreign employees increases, so does the management of their Status of Residence expiration dates. Applications for Extension of Period of Stay for those with a Period of Stay of 6 months or more can generally be filed from 3 months before the expiration date (Immigration Services Agency “Application for Extension of Period of Stay”). It is advisable to create a list of expiration dates for each employee and start preparations early.
• As nationalities become more diverse, there will be more occasions to confirm whether explanations of employment conditions and company rules have been understood. We can also consult on how to create explanatory materials.

To Foreign Nationals

• The number of foreign residents in Miyazaki Prefecture has increased by approximately 1.7 times in the three and a half years since the end of 2022. It is becoming more common to have people from the same country or working under the same Status of Residence nearby.
• Applications for Extension of Period of Stay can generally be filed from 3 months before the expiration date if you have a Period of Stay of 6 months or more. Please check the expiration date on your Residence Card to avoid rushing at the last minute.
• The total Period of Stay for Specified Skilled Worker (i) is generally limited to within 5 years (Immigration Services Agency “Total Period of Stay”). How this is calculated is explained in “Total 5 Years for Specified Skilled Worker (i) | Periods not counted and extension to 6 years.”

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who is included in the “number of foreign residents”?

This is the total number of mid- to long-term residents and Special Permanent Residents. It does not include those whose Period of Stay is determined to be “3 months” or less, “Temporary Visitor” (for tourism, etc.), “Diplomat,” or “Official” (according to the notes in the Immigration Services Agency’s public documents).

Q2. Which period is compared for Miyazaki Prefecture’s 2nd highest growth rate nationwide?

This is the growth rate for the six-month period from the end of 2025 to the end of June 2026. When our office arranged the “Year-on-year increase/decrease rate” for each prefecture in the Immigration Services Agency’s public documents (Table 4), Miyazaki Prefecture (6.6%) was second only to Okinawa Prefecture (7.5%).

Q3. When are these figures published?

The Immigration Services Agency publishes the number of foreign residents at the end of the year (most recently “as of the end of Reiwa 7”) and at the end of June (this time “as of the end of June Reiwa 8”) as press releases.

Q4. Why is the number of Technical Intern Training decreasing?

The public documents do not provide a reason. In Miyazaki Prefecture, Technical Intern Training decreased by 43 people and Specified Skilled Worker increased by 388 people in six months. Therefore, it is believed that a shift of those who completed Technical Intern Training to Specified Skilled Worker is one factor, but this is solely our office’s view.

Q5. If I am hiring a foreign national for the first time, where should I start?

First, the starting point is to confirm which Status of Residence permits the content of the work you wish to assign. The type of work and procedures vary greatly depending on the Status of Residence of the worker. If you are unsure, please consult an Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications.

8. Summary: Increasing Foreign Residents in Miyazaki and Preparation for Acceptance

As of the end of June 2026, the number of foreign residents in Miyazaki Prefecture was 13,834, an increase of 6.6% in six months, making it the second highest growth rate nationwide. Indonesia was the most common nationality, and Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker accounted for approximately 60% of Status of Residence. The Employment for Skill Development Program (ESD) will begin operation on April 1, 2027, and in Miyazaki Prefecture, where the proportion of Technical Intern Training is large, it is expected that more companies will review their acceptance systems. It is advisable to prepare early for managing Period of Stay and explaining to foreign employees.

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As an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, our office assists with the acceptance of foreign nationals and residence procedures.

For procedures that can be filed online, such as applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay, we accept requests from clients nationwide. Meetings are held online (Google Meet, LINE) and documents are exchanged by mail or electronically, so there is no need to visit our office. Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence and for Permission of Naturalization cannot be filed online and must be submitted at the counter, so they are limited to residents of Miyazaki Prefecture. Depending on the procedure and its urgency, you may need to collect your Residence Card at the counter of the immigration office covering the area where you live. Online applications cannot be filed on the last day of your period of stay, so please consult us as early as possible.

• Scheduling Status of Residence changes and extensions for foreign employees
• Advice on establishing an acceptance system for Specified Skilled Worker and Employment for Skill Development
• Consultation on creating internal explanatory materials for acceptance
• Early preparation for Application for Permission for Permanent Residence

Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.

📩 Contact us here

📞 To book a phone consultation: 0985-68-0851

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This article was written based on publicly available information as of October 2026. Statistical figures may be revised after publication. For actual applications, please check the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or contact our office.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama

Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office

Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Sources (Primary Information)

• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding the Number of Foreign Residents as of the End of June Reiwa 8” (Press Release, October 16, 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00070.html
• Immigration Services Agency, Same, Public Documents (Excel, Tables 4-6) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001472327.xlsx
• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding the Number of Foreign Residents as of the End of Reiwa 7” (Public Documents Excel, Tables 5-6) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00062.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Employment for Skill Development Program Q&A” (Q3) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/faq/ikusei_qa_00002.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Application for Extension of Period of Stay” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Total Period of Stay” (Specified Skilled Worker) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/10_00233.html