2026 Visa Strictness: 90% of Companies Eye Subsidized Japanese 'Reskilling' for Foreign Talent

Starting March 2026, Japan will tighten visa requirements for dispatched foreign workers, mandating that a placement must be determined prior to application. A survey by Coach Academy reveals that while 90% of companies recognize this shift, they lack the internal resources to provide adequate training. Consequently, most firms are turning to external programs like Tokyo Japanese Academy, which is part of the METI reskilling subsidy initiative, offering up to 70% off fees to enhance the 'job-ready' Japanese proficiency of foreign staff.