Japan has denied plans to create a special visa category for skilled Nigerians looking to relocate to Kisarazu, a city recently designated as Nigeria’s “hometown” under the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) “JICA Africa Hometown” programme.
The programme aims to strengthen exchanges between African countries and Japanese local governments.
Japanese Foreign Ministry disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
“There are no plans to take measures to promote the acceptance of immigrants or issue special visas for residents of African countries, and the series of reports and announcements concerning such measures are not true,” the statement partly read.
This statement contradicts earlier reports suggesting Japan would introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu.
The JICA Africa Hometown programme involves four Japanese cities paired with four African countries: Kisarazu with Nigeria, Nagai with Tanzania, Sanjo with Ghana, and Imabari with Mozambique.
The programme plans to promote exchanges through various activities, including organising exchange events involving JICA overseas cooperation volunteers.
While Japan has not ruled out accepting highly skilled professionals from Africa, its existing visa programmes, such as the J-Skip visa, cater to highly skilled professionals seeking new opportunities in Japan.
The J-Skip visa offers benefits like fast-tracked permanent residency, family inclusion options, and priority immigration processing.
To qualify, applicants need a job offer from a Japanese organisation, meet specific annual income thresholds, and possess a strong academic background and relevant professional experience.
Nigerian Tribune
