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Japan Increases Foreign Residency Fees

Residency fees for foreigners in Japan have risen dramatically.
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Japan has recently raised the fees for foreigners who want to live there permanently. The cost for permanent residency is now 200,000 yen, which is twenty times more than it used to be. Along with the higher fees, applicants must have a stable income and know some Japanese. These changes are part of a new immigration policy.

The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has also increased visa fees by five times. These are efforts to handle the growing numbers of foreign residents. Last year, the foreign population grew by 9.5%. The government wants to make sure its immigration policies are fair and safe for everyone involved.

Because of the new rules, many people hurried to apply before the fees went up. Some worry the high costs will keep valuable workers away. Others think these changes will help manage the immigration system better. Despite the difficulties, the government focuses on creating a secure environment for all residents.

Original news source: Japan raises permanent residency fees for foreign nationals by twenty-fold – BBC News (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1. significantly
2. permanent
3. requirements
4. policy
5. immigration
6. valuable
7. residents
8. stable
9. ensure
10. discourage
11. environment
12. emphasize

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

1. What country would you like to visit and why?
2. Have you ever traveled to another country? Share your experience.
3. What do you think is challenging about living in a new place?
4. How important is it to learn a new language when moving abroad?
5. Why do people want to move to different countries?

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What change has Japan recently made for foreigners wanting to live there permanently?

2. How much is the new permanent residency fee in Japan?

3. Who is the current Prime Minister of Japan associated with the new policy changes?

4. By how much did the visa fees increase in Japan?

5. Why is Japan making these policy changes?

6. What are the new requirements for applicants, besides higher fees?

7. What concerns do some people have about the new fees and rules?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan has recently raised the fees for foreigners who to live there . The cost for permanent residency is now 200,000 yen, which is times more than it used to be. Along with the higher fees, applicants must have a income and know some Japanese. These changes are part of a new immigration policy. The Prime Minister, Sanae , has also increased visa fees by five times. These are to handle the growing numbers of foreign residents. Last year, the foreign population by 9.5%. The government wants to make sure its immigration policies are fair and for involved. Because of the new rules, many people hurried to apply before the fees went up. Some worry the high costs will keep valuable workers . Others think these changes will help manage the immigration system better. the difficulties, the government on creating a secure environment for all residents.

💬 Discussion Questions:

1. How would you feel if your family decided to move to another country?
2. Do you think it is fair to increase fees for living in a new country?
3. How important is it to know the language of the country you move to?
4. What are some benefits of having diverse communities in a country?
5. Do you think countries should have strict or easy immigration policies?
6. In what ways can immigrants contribute positively to a new country?
7. How can governments balance welcoming foreigners and protecting citizens?
8. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multicultural society?
9. How would you make friends in a country where you don't speak the language?
10. What are some challenges foreigners might face when moving to your country?
11. Do you think living abroad is a rewarding experience? Why or why not?
12. How can schools help foreign students adjust to a new country?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. significantly
2. permanent
3. requirements
4. policy
5. immigration
6. valuable
7. residents
8. stable
9. ensure
10. discourage
11. environment
12. emphasize

Meanings

(A) a plan or rule followed by a government
(B) moving to a new country to live
(C) steady, not likely to change
(D) to make sure of something
(E) in a way that is important or large in amount
(F) people living in a place
(G) important or special
(H) to show something is important
(I) the world around us
(J) things needed or wanted
(K) lasting forever
(L) to make someone less eager

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Japan increase for foreigners seeking permanent residency?
(a) Salaries
(b) Fees
(c) Housing
(d) Taxes
2. How many times more is the new permanent residency fee?
(a) Twenty times
(b) Ten times
(c) Five times
(d) Two times
3. Who is the Prime Minister mentioned in the article?
(a) Shinzo Abe
(b) Yoshihide Suga
(c) Fumio Kishida
(d) Sanae Takaichi
4. By how much did Japan increase the visa fees?
(a) Five times
(b) Two times
(c) Ten times
(d) Twenty times
5. What is the aim of Japan's new policies?
(a) To increase taxes
(b) To build new schools
(c) To manage foreign residents
(d) To lower crime rates
6. By what percentage did the foreign population grow last year?
(a) 15%
(b) 20%
(c) 9.5%
(d) 5%
7. What do the new policies require apart from higher fees?
(a) New clothes
(b) Stable income and Japanese knowledge
(c) Passport photos
(d) Plane tickets
8. What do some people worry about with the new fees?
(a) It will create jobs
(b) It will lower traffic
(c) It will increase tourism
(d) It may discourage workers

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Applicants need a stable income.
2. The policy changes are not under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
3. Permanent residency now costs 50,000 yen.
4. Visa fees decreased by five times.
5. The fee for residency is half as much as before.
6. The foreign population grew by 9.5% last year.
7. Japan has increased fees for permanent residency.
8. The government wants fair and safe policies for all.

Writing Questions:

1. Describe how you would prepare for moving to a new country.
2. What are the most important things to learn before living in a new country?
3. Write about a time you had to adjust to a new place or situation.
4. How do you think the culture of a country can affect someone who moves there?
5. What do you think are the best ways to make new friends in a foreign country?

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