Key Facts
• Government aims to address misuse of social security by some foreign visitors.
• Current threshold for unpaid medical bills is ¥200,000; will drop to ¥10,000 in FY2024.
• Foreigners with unpaid bills may face re-entry bans.
• System upgrades by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare planned for FY2023.
• Information on unpaid bills to be shared with Immigration Services Agency.
• Policy initially targets short-term visitors; expands to long-term residents in FY2025.
• Child allowance fraud by foreign residents also under review.
• New network system for tracking children’s residency to launch in March 2027.
Summary
Japan is tightening regulations to address unpaid medical bills by foreign visitors. Starting FY2024, the threshold for unpaid bills triggering stricter re-entry measures will drop from ¥200,000 to ¥10,000. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare will upgrade systems to share data with immigration authorities, enabling re-entry bans for offenders. Initially targeting short-term visitors, the policy will expand to long-term residents in FY2025, incorporating checks during visa renewals. Additionally, measures to prevent child allowance fraud by foreign residents are being developed, with a new residency tracking system set for March 2027. These steps aim to ensure fairness and proper use of Japan’s social security system.
