International Definition of Immigration and Japan’s Reality | How to Read the Data
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How to Read “Foreign Residents” and “Foreign Workers” Data
The word “immigration” is widely used in politics, media, and social platforms. However, international statistical definitions and Japan’s immigration-law terminology do not perfectly match. To understand Japan’s current situation accurately, it is important to distinguish between migration, foreign residents, foreign workers, and status of residence.
Key conclusion: For international comparison, the key idea is whether a person has changed his or her usual residence across a national border. In Japan, however, foreign nationals are managed through status of residence and residence-period categories. This creates a gap between the international concept of migration and Japan’s legal terminology.
Three points to understand first
International statistics focus on whether a person has changed usual residence across borders. For long-term migration, 12 months or more is a key benchmark.
Japan does not have a status of residence called “immigrant.” Foreign nationals are managed by status of residence, period of stay, permitted activities, and family or social status.
Foreign residents and foreign workers are not the same statistical group. Residence-based data and employment-based data should not be mixed.
The international concept of migration
In international statistics, migration does not simply mean any trip abroad, foreign tourism, or short business travel. The core idea is whether the person has changed his or her country of usual residence.
Under the United Nations statistical framework, a long-term migrant is generally understood as a person who changes usual residence to another country for at least 12 months. A short-term migrant may be understood as a person who stays for at least 3 months but less than 12 months, while tourism, visits to friends or relatives, short business trips, medical treatment, and similar movements may be excluded.
| Category | International statistical concept | Practical caution |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term migrant | A person who changes usual residence to another country for 12 months or more | This is useful for international comparison, but it does not automatically match each country’s domestic legal categories. |
| Short-term migrant | A person who changes usual residence to another country for at least 3 months but less than 12 months | Tourism, short business travel, family visits, and similar movements may be excluded. |
| Temporary mobility | Tourism, short business trips, visits, and other movements without change of usual residence | This should be treated separately from migration statistics. |
Foreign-born and foreign nationals are also different
Migration can also be measured using indicators such as “foreign-born” and “foreign nationals.” These two indicators are not the same.
This focuses on place of birth. A person who has naturalized and now holds Japanese nationality may still be counted as foreign-born in some statistical frameworks.
This focuses on current nationality. A person born and raised in Japan may still be counted as a foreign national if he or she does not hold Japanese nationality.
This is Japan’s immigration-law framework for classifying permitted activities or family/social status in Japan.
Practical caution: Foreign-born, foreign national, foreign resident, and foreign worker are similar-looking terms, but they refer to different populations. Always check which statistic is being used.
Japan’s main indicator: foreign residents
In Japan’s immigration practice, there is no legal status of residence called “immigrant.” Foreign nationals in Japan are generally managed by status of residence and period of stay.
According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the number of foreign residents as of the end of June 2025 was 3,956,619, the highest level on record. This figure combines mid- to long-term residents and special permanent residents.
- Mid- to long-term residents: foreign nationals staying in Japan under mid- to long-term residence categories
- Special permanent residents: persons with special permanent resident status based on historical circumstances
- Short-term visitors: tourism, short business trips, and family visits are generally outside the core of this statistic
- Persons without valid status: not included as mid- to long-term foreign residents
Do not mix foreign residents and foreign workers
A common source of confusion is treating “foreign residents” and “foreign workers” as the same number. They are not.
Foreign resident statistics describe the overall population of foreign nationals residing in Japan. Foreign worker statistics, by contrast, are based on employer notifications to Hello Work and focus on foreign nationals employed by businesses. The target population, purpose, and legal basis are different.
| Statistic | Main target | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign residents | Mid- to long-term residents, special permanent residents, etc. | Overall foreign resident population, nationality/region, status of residence, and regional distribution |
| Foreign workers | Foreign nationals employed by business operators | Employment-based figures by nationality, status, industry, and workplace |
| Specified Skilled Worker | Foreign nationals residing in Japan under SSW No. 1 or No. 2 | Foreign worker acceptance in designated labor-shortage fields |
For example, the foreign resident population was 3,956,619 as of the end of June 2025, while the number of foreign workers was 2,571,037 as of the end of October 2025. These are not the same statistical population.
Is Japan adopting an immigration policy?
Japan has often explained its foreign-worker acceptance framework as different from what it calls “so-called immigration policy.” At the same time, from an international statistical viewpoint, the number of foreign nationals living, working, studying, forming families, and participating in local communities in Japan is increasing.
For practical purposes, it is more useful to separate the issue into several layers rather than focusing only on whether Japan is or is not an “immigration country.”
- For international comparison, use the concept of change of usual residence
- For Japanese legal practice, check status of residence, permitted activity, family status, and period of stay
- For employment policy, check industry fields, working conditions, and support systems
- For local communities, check education, medical access, disaster preparedness, consultation systems, and multilingual support
How this matters in immigration practice
In administrative scrivener practice, individual cases are not decided by abstract debates over the word “immigration.” For each case, the following practical angles must be reviewed.
Nationality, residence history, family situation, education, work history, actual life in Japan, taxes, and social insurance.
Employment contract, job duties, salary, company stability, support system, and legal compliance.
Application forms, certificates, reason statements, employment documents, family documents, and consistency of evidence.
Conclusion
The word “immigration” is useful, but its meaning can shift depending on whether the discussion is about statistics, policy, or immigration-law practice. For international comparison, the core concept is change of usual residence across borders. In Japanese immigration practice, however, the key framework is status of residence, period of stay, permitted activity, and family or social status.
To understand Japan accurately, it is important to use the right statistic and the right term for the purpose: foreign residents, foreign workers, Specified Skilled Worker, permanent residents, students, and other residence categories.
Consultation on status of residence and foreign employment in Japan
Tommy’s Legal Service supports change of status, extension of period of stay, permanent residence, Specified Skilled Worker, foreign employment compliance, and Registered Support Organization matters. We help clients understand not only general policy discussions, but also the practical requirements for individual cases.
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