06/04/2026
3,175 Permanent Residents Arrested Last Year
As a new development regarding crime among permanent residents in Japan, the police have, for the first time, publicly announced the number of arrests involving permanent residents. According to this data, 3,175 permanent residents were arrested or charged with crimes last year.
The cases include activities such as allowing overstayers to work illegally and involvement in criminal infrastructures, including so-called visa broker operations. Based on this, there is a growing view that, for certain nationalities, a notable number of permanent residents may be involved in illegal activities.
In addition, there are a certain number of cases where individuals obtain permanent residency through sham marriages. In such cases, revocation of permanent resident status is possible. As enforcement becomes stricter, it is expected that the number of permanent residents may decrease in the future.
Furthermore, past illegal activities are increasingly being uncovered over time. In Japan, information sharing among authorities has advanced, meaning that even past actions can later have serious consequences.
The fact that the police have now publicly disclosed arrest figures for permanent residents is highly symbolic and reflects a significant shift in Japan’s immigration and public security policies.
https://www.sankei.com/article/20260402-6YE65VMHNZMMRCIXQ2RTRWET3U/
