Japan to Severely Crack Down on Unpaid Medical Bills by Foreign Visitors from FY2026
As the issue of unpaid medical bills by foreign tourists visiting Japan escalates, the government has decided to significantly toughen its countermeasures starting from fiscal year 2026. Specifically, adjustments are underway to drastically lower the threshold for unpaid amounts that would lead to re-entry denial, from the current “200,000 yen or more” to “10,000 yen or more.” The aim of these strengthened measures is to alleviate the burden on medical institutions struggling with unpaid bills and to maintain the fairness of Japan's healthcare system. Information on foreigners who have failed to pay will be registered in a database and will be rigorously taken into account during future immigration screenings. This government policy has been largely welcomed by the public on social media. Many positive comments such as “impressive speed” and “moving in the right direction” have been observed. However, there are also numerous criticisms that “even 10,000 yen is too lenient.” Calls f...