Justice Ministry eyes budget boost for policies on foreign nationals

The Justice Ministry plans to seek an increase in funds to finance measures to deal with a surge in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, in its budget request for fiscal 2027, informed sources have said.

The ministry is set to request a total of some ¥985.6 billion for the year from next April, up 15.7% from the fiscal 2026 initial budget level, including funds earmarked for measures related to the Digital Agency.

Specifically, the ministry is slated to expand expenditures related to boosting immigration and residency management services to ¥80.7 billion to realize a society of orderly coexistence with foreign nationals in the country.

Of that amount, ¥26.4 billion will be allocated for development costs and other spending toward introducing the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, an advance screening system for foreigners planning to enter the country.

Related expenses also include costs for measures such as upgrading the online residence application system and strengthening the crackdown on illegal foreign stayers.

Measures to promote the digitalization of legal administration, such as the introduction of JESTA, will be earmarked under a new investment quota for the “Strong and Prosperous Japan” initiative advocated by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The investment framework is expected to allow ministries and agencies to request necessary funding without a preset upper limit.