The Japanese government has expanded the skilled worker visa program to address labour shortages by admitting up to 820,000 foreigners in various sectors.

The Japanese government has expanded its foreign skilled worker visa program, aiming to address the nation’s shortage of drivers by granting more individuals access to extended stays of up to five years. As reported by the Japanese news agency Kyodo News, this move includes the addition of four new industries to the program, namely road and railway transportation, forestry, and timber sectors. This marks the first expansion of the visa program since its inception in 2019.