Visa perks for those who speak the lingo

The Foreign Ministry plans to give favorable treatment in visa applications and extensions to foreign nationals with a good command of the Japanese language.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura announced the plan Thursday afternoon.

The favorable treatment will include extending the resident status of foreigners with a certain level of Japanese language proficiency to a maximum of five years from the current three.

In addition, visa requirements on professional experience and academic qualifications will be eased.

The ministry expects the measures will motivate non-Japanese hoping to stay here on a long-term basis to learn Japanese. That would lead to an increasing number of foreign nationals with higher professional knowledge and skills working in a country whose population is expected to decline because of low birthrates.

However, the new measures will not lead to any unfavorable treatment of foreigners with poor Japanese language skills, officials said.

The government will continue to permit entry by foreign nationals even if they cannot speak a word of Japanese, they said.

The government plans to assess Japanese language skills based on the results of the Japan Foundation's Japanese Language Proficiency Test and other tests.

The new measures will initially target foreign nationals in specialized professions, such as interpreters, translators and cabin attendants on international flights, who use the Japanese language at work.

The foreign and justice ministries have been discussing the new measures since January, when Komura expressed his intention to link entry requirements and visa status with language skills.

He said improved communication skills will help foreign nationals blend in at their workplaces and local communities.

"(Japanese language skills) are important to enhance their quality of life," Komura said.

The Foreign Ministry intends to implement the measures in fiscal 2009.(IHT/Asahi: May 2,2008)