Japan: immigration

How many people apply for refugee status in Japan?

11,298 people applied for refugee recognition in Japan in 2025, 8.7% fewer than in 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency's release of 27 March 2026. Applicants came from 92 countries, mainly Thailand, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. About 11.6% had applied before.

A separate procedure for complementary protection received 311 applications, mainly from Ukrainians. Decisions in a year include applications from earlier years, so they do not match the number of new applications.

Official sources: ISA: refugee recognition in 2025

How many refugees does Japan accept?

Japan allowed 1,186 people to stay through its refugee system in 2025, according to the Immigration Services Agency's release of 27 March 2026. Of these, 187 were recognised as refugees, 474 received complementary protection and 525 were allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds without either status.

The complementary protection system started on 1 December 2023; since then, refugee applications are also assessed for complementary protection. The totals include decisions on appeals as well as first decisions.

Official sources: ISA: refugee recognition in 2025

How many people overstay their visas in Japan?

68,488 foreign nationals were overstaying in Japan on 1 January 2026, 8.5% fewer than a year earlier, according to the Immigration Services Agency's overstayer estimate. The largest groups were from Vietnam (11,601), Thailand (10,907) and South Korea (10,020).

Most overstayers, 41,607, had entered on short-term visitor status, and 9,323 had been technical intern trainees. Men made up 60.0% of the total. The agency also counted 9,748 new overstayers who were identified during 2025 and were still in Japan on 1 January 2026.

Official sources: ISA: overstayers as of 1 January 2026

How many foreigners visit Japan each year?

42.43 million foreign nationals entered Japan in 2025, a record and 15.4% more than in 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency's entry statistics for 2025. New entrants numbered 39.18 million, led by South Korea (9.23 million), China (7.22 million) and Taiwan (6.39 million).

The total includes residents re-entering after a trip abroad. 98.1% of new entrants came on short-term visitor status. Cruise passengers given special landing permission, 4.05 million, are counted separately.

Official sources: ISA: foreign entries and Japanese departures in 2025

What visas do foreign residents in Japan hold?

Permanent residents were the largest group of Japan's 4.13 million foreign residents at the end of 2025, with 947,125 people, according to the Immigration Services Agency's foreign resident figures for end-2025. They were followed by engineers and specialists in humanities and international services (475,790), students (464,784), technical intern trainees (456,618) and specified skilled workers (390,296).

Specified skilled workers grew fastest, by 105,830 in a year. The total includes mid- to long-term residents and special permanent residents.

Official sources: ISA: foreign residents at end-2025

How many foreign-born people live in Japan?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 2.8%. In 2015 the figure was 2.0%. East Asia & Pacific median: 2.1%; Japan is 12th highest of 30. Worldwide: 116th of 193.

Are more people leaving Japan than arriving?

In 2025, net migration in Japan was 140,579, according to the UN Population Division. Its high point since 2005 was 2017, at 322,564; its low point was 2021, at -34,996. East Asia & Pacific median: -373; Japan is 2nd highest of 30. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 10th highest.

How many refugees are in Japan?

42,450: that is the number of refugees in the country in Japan for 2025, according to UNHCR. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 631, and Japan placed 3rd highest of 18. World rank, highest first: 66th of 169.

How many refugees come from Japan?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Japan at 56 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 10 (2005) to 519 (2007). East Asia & Pacific median: 73; Japan is 18th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 161st of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Japan?

0.1% of GDP: that is personal remittances received in Japan for 2025, according to the World Bank. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.0% of GDP (2005) to 0.1% of GDP (2022). Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.2% of GDP, and Japan placed 15th highest of 15. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 114th highest.