Japan will sharply raise the fees foreign nationals pay for residence procedures from October 1, 2026, following a Cabinet-approved ordinance of August 25, 2026 issued under a revision to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

The headline change affects permanent residence. The permit fee rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 (roughly $1,250) — a twenty-fold increase. Permanent residence applications must still be filed in person, so no online rate applies.

New fee structure

Renewals and changes of residence status move from a flat ¥6,000 at the counter (¥5,500 online) to a tiered structure based on the length of stay granted:

Procedure	Current	From Oct 1 (counter)	From Oct 1 (online)
Permanent residence	¥10,000	¥200,000	n/a (in person only)
Renewal / change — stay up to 3 months	¥6,000 / ¥5,500	¥10,000	¥10,000
Renewal / change — 1-year stay	¥6,000 / ¥5,500	¥33,000	¥27,000
Renewal / change — 5 years or longer	¥6,000 / ¥5,500	¥75,000	¥65,000

Intermediate bands apply for stays of over 3–6 months, 6 months–1 year, over 1–3 years, and 3–5 years, with fees falling between the figures above. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) applications remain free of charge.

Reduced fees for hardship cases

The government states that fees will be reduced for applicants in financial difficulty, including people recognised as refugees.

Rationale

Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi told reporters that the higher fees are needed to fund the policy of building "an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals." He called the measure "extremely meaningful" and said he intends to see it appropriately managed. The Immigration Services Agency has framed the revision as recovering both application processing costs and wider spending on immigration and foreign-resident policy.

Timing matters

Fees are determined by the date an application is received, not decided. Applications accepted on or before September 30, 2026 are charged at the current rates. Foreign nationals with a renewal, status change, or permanent residence application coming due should review their filing timeline now: submitting a few days earlier could mean the difference between paying ¥6,000 and ¥75,000 for a renewal.

The tiered structure also changes the cost calculation for anyone planning a move into self-employment. A Business Manager status change now carries a fee that scales with the period of stay granted, so applicants should budget accordingly.

Key questions answered

When do Japan's new residence permit fees start? October 1, 2026, for applications received on or after that date.

How much will permanent residency cost? ¥200,000 from October 1, 2026, up from ¥10,000. The application can only be submitted in person.

Is filing online cheaper? Yes, for renewals and status changes of more than three months — by roughly ¥3,000 to ¥10,000 depending on the period granted. There is no online discount for permanent residence or for stays of three months or less.

Do the new fees apply to a Certificate of Eligibility? No. COE applications remain free.

Yen-to-dollar conversions are approximate and fluctuate with the exchange rate. The figures above reflect the ordinance approved on August 25, 2026; applicants should confirm current amounts with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before filing.