Foreign students, workers, and long-term residents in Japan are expected to face a significantly higher financial burden in the future. On June 24, 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) presented a detailed proposal to a joint meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party to drastically increase fees related to residency procedures for foreigners. If this amendment is passed, the current flat-rate fee system will be categorized by the length of stay, and the fee for permanent residency applications in particular will skyrocket to 20 times the current rate.
Visa Status Change and Renewal Fees to Vary by Duration
Currently, the fee for changing or renewing a status of residence (commonly referred to as a visa) in Japan is a flat rate of 6,000 yen, regardless of the approved period of stay. However, under the new proposal, the longer the approved period of stay, the higher the fee will be. The specific proposed fees are as follows:
- 3 months or less: 10,000 yen (an increase of 4,000 yen from the current fee)
- 1 year: 33,000 yen (an increase of 27,000 yen from the current fee)
- 3 years or more but less than 5 years: 64,000 yen (an increase of 58,000 yen from the current fee)
- 5 years or more: 75,000 yen (an increase of 69,000 yen from the current fee)
As shown, the financial burden increases sharply for longer-term residency permits. For example, international students who must renew their status of residence annually previously paid only 6,000 yen per year, but under the new system, they will have to pay 33,000 yen for a one-year renewal, more than quadrupling their fixed expenses. Working professionals who renew their work visas every three or five years will also face a significant burden, as they will have to pay tens of thousands of yen at once.
However, to improve administrative efficiency, the government plans to introduce a discount system for those who apply online. Except for short-term stay applications of "3 months or less," applicants who apply to change or renew their status of residence online can receive a discount of up to 10,000 yen. Therefore, once the amendment takes effect, actively using online applications rather than visiting the immigration office in person will be key to saving money.
Permanent Residency Application Fee to Skyrocket from 10,000 Yen to 200,000 Yen
The most drastic increase is proposed for the "Permanent Residency" application fee. While the current fee for obtaining permanent residency is only 10,000 yen, the new proposal suggests raising it to a staggering 200,000 yen.
Since obtaining permanent residency is often the ultimate goal for foreigners seeking a stable life in Japan, this fee hike is expected to place a heavy burden on the foreign community planning for long-term residency. Furthermore, permanent residency applications can only be submitted in person at the immigration office counter, just as before. This means that online application discounts will not apply, and applicants will have to pay the full increased amount of 200,000 yen.
Background of the Fee Hike and Future Schedule
This significant fee increase is based on the "Revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Revised Immigration Act)" enacted in May 2026. Through this revised law, the statutory upper limit for residency procedure fees was substantially raised, leading the ISA to calculate the specific fee amounts accordingly.
The Japanese government plans to use the increased tax revenue from these fee hikes to fund support policies for foreigners. Specifically, the funds will be used to improve and expand Japanese language education environments for foreign residents, serving as resources to realize a practical acceptance of foreigners and a multicultural society.
The ISA plans to conduct a public comment procedure soon to gather feedback from the general public and foreign residents before finalizing the specific fee amounts. Once the final plan is confirmed, the new fee system is expected to be fully implemented as early as October 2026. Foreigners residing in Japan are advised to check their status of residence expiration dates and the timing of their eligibility for permanent residency in advance, carefully reviewing their schedules to see if they can apply before the price hike.
Source: 読売新聞