Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced plans for sweeping changes to the country's immigration rules, according to a report by The Edge Malaysia.

The announcement signals a potentially major shift in Japan's approach to foreign labour and migration at a time when the country faces persistent demographic pressures. Details of the specific measures, including any quotas, eligibility thresholds, or implementation dates, have not yet been released.

Takaichi, who took office as Japan's first female prime minister in October 2024, has indicated that the reforms would be comprehensive in scope. The report describes the changes as "sweeping," suggesting they could touch multiple categories of visas and residence rules currently governing foreign nationals in Japan.

Japan operates several major immigration pathways for foreign workers, including the Specified Skilled Worker programme and the Technical Intern Training Program, alongside long-term residence routes for highly skilled professionals. Any broad reform could affect participants across these schemes.

At this stage, the government has not published the full text of the proposed changes, and no official implementation date has been confirmed. Foreign nationals currently living and working in Japan, as well as those planning to apply under existing programmes, should monitor announcements from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for authoritative details as they emerge.

Passport File will continue to track this developing story and update readers as official specifics — including any revised caps, eligibility requirements, or deadlines — become available.