As the anti-immigration rhetoric of US President Donald Trump and other right-wing world leaders spreads, immigration has fallen from grace in Japan, a country that has encouraged the arrival of foreigners to help economic growth in recent years.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba launched a special task force on July 15, the Office for the Promotion of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals, ahead of the national elections on July 20, to deal with “crimes or nuisance behaviors committed by some foreign nationals,” as well as “inappropriate use” of various government systems.
For historical and cultural reasons, Japan has always had strict immigration laws, even though its aging population might benefit from the inflow of young workers.
But Japan is not the only country with a strict immigration policy. In some countries, the process is fairly easy, while in others, it is much more difficult and can take up to 30 years.
If you'd like to know which countries have the strictest immigration laws, then click on to discover more.