Government plans to detect foreigners who dodge mandatory enrollment
Japan’s national health insurance system does not keep records by nationality or residence status, so few municipalities know how much foreigners have contributed in premiums. (Photo by Yoshiyuki Tamai)
TOKYO — Japan is revising its public health insurance system as it seeks to ensure foreigners are up to date on their payments, Nikkei has learned.
The government plans to revamp the national health insurance database in the fiscal year starting April 2026, aiming to use information such as overdue payments to screen foreigners when renewing their residency beginning in fiscal 2027.
