Japan will charge foreign nationals 200,000 yen ($1,280) to apply for permanent residency from October 1, 2026, a twentyfold increase that triggered long lines at immigration offices and heavy traffic on the government's online application portal in the final days before the change took effect.

What changed on October 1?

The fee for permanent residency rose from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. Fees for non-permanent status changes and extensions now vary by length of stay:

• 10,000 yen for stays of three months or less
• Up to 75,000 yen for stays of five years or more
• Applicants facing financial hardship or designated as refugees receive discounts

Before the hike, applicants paid a flat 6,000 yen each time they changed residency status or extended their stay.

Who is affected?

The new fees and eligibility rules apply to foreign nationals applying to change or renew their residency status, with the heaviest impact on those seeking permanent residency.

Applicants for that status must now meet three additional tests:

• A stable income at or above the Japanese average. Government data released in July put average household income at 5.75 million yen as of 2024.
• Expected pension benefits equivalent to someone enrolled in the employee pension system for 30 years. Asset values can substitute if pension benefits fall short.
• Basic Japanese language proficiency, a rule that takes effect from April 2027.

The last requirement has already pushed enrollments at Japanese language schools and sign-ups for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, local media reported.

Why is Japan raising the fees?

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government frames the increases as part of a broader tightening of immigration policy. In an X post before the residency hikes took effect, Takaichi wrote that her government recognises "some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness" as the foreign resident population grows.

"To address these concerns, [the government] is working to ensure that its policies toward foreign nationals are orderly, and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely," she wrote.

Authorities raised visa fees for all foreign nationals in July 2026, a fivefold increase and the first visa fee hike in 50 years. Officials said the move was meant to "reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations."

How big is Japan's foreign population?

The foreign resident population passed 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a record 9.5% increase year-on-year. Takaichi, who took office in October 2025, has made managing immigration one of her signature priorities, even as Japan's ageing workforce continues to depend on foreign labour to fill shortages.

What should applicants do now?

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan is the official source for fee schedules, eligibility rules and application procedures. Applicants should consult the agency's published guidance before submitting paperwork, as the rules on pension equivalence and language testing continue to evolve through 2027.

Discounts remain available for applicants who demonstrate financial hardship or who hold recognised refugee status.