A shrinking population and aging demographics have prompted Japan to re-evaluate its immigration stance and open its doors to foreign workers, CBC reports.

The conservative government may allow up to 345,000 more blue-collar workers into the country over the next five years under two visa categories.

The first category, for unskilled workers, requires the worker to leave after a maximum of five years and does not permit the entry of any family members. The second, aimed at those filling higher-tech jobs, allows families to tag along and provides a potential path to citizenship — but only after a decade, and provided they commit no crimes.

Read more from CBC news.

print