Japan's permanent residency application fee jumped 2,000% to $1,271 on October 1, 2026, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government tightened the rules for foreigners seeking to live in the country indefinitely.

The fee rose from $64 under the new "Comprehensive Measures for Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals." Authorities also added an annual income floor of $36,428, mandatory Japanese-language tests, and an evaluation of applicants' knowledge of Japanese customs.

What do the new requirements include?

• Application fee: $1,271 (up from $64)
• Minimum annual income: $36,428
• Pension benefits must match what an employee would receive after 30 years of service
• Japanese-language proficiency test required
• Knowledge of Japanese rules and customs assessed for the first time
• Five-year residence permit fee raised to $475 from $38 (a 1,300% increase)

The government can now revoke permanent residency if an applicant fails to pay pension contributions, health insurance, or taxes. Revocation also applies to anyone who violates immigration or criminal law. Previously, the program had no detailed income, pension, or language guidelines.

Who is affected?

The changes target the 947,125 permanent residents in Japan — a figure that has grown roughly 17% from 807,517 in 2020. Foreign nationals now make up about 3.4% of Japan's population of 119 million, the highest share on record.

Tourism and labour migration have surged since the pandemic, driven by a weak yen and companies recruiting overseas staff. Takaichi has framed the new rules as a response to public concerns about the scale of that growth.

"There are citizens who feel anxiety and a sense of unfairness," she wrote on X. She said the policies aim to ensure that "both citizens and foreigners can live safely and securely."

What is the broader context?

Japan's population fell by more than three million between 2020 and 2025. Economists say the country needs millions of additional foreign workers to offset demographic decline and keep the economy running.

The October 1 changes follow earlier 2026 moves. In July, the government raised some tourist visa prices by more than 400%. A separate crackdown on business manager visas lifted minimum capital for small businesses to $188,000, from $31,000. That shift has pushed some longtime foreign residents, including restaurant owners, to leave.

How are critics responding?

Opposition lawmaker Taku Yamazoe of the Communist Party said the government was asserting "foreigners themselves threaten 'safety and peace of mind,'" without offering evidence.

The Mainichi Shimbun, a major liberal newspaper, called the rules "disregard for human rights" in a September editorial. "Many foreign nationals who have chosen to live in Japan and want to spend the rest of their lives here will be robbed of that hope," the paper wrote.

Leny Tolentino, a coordinator at the Kalakasan Migrant Women Empowerment Center, which assists Filipino women in Japan, warned that the increases would "add burdens for migrants especially those with dependents."

What happens next?

Foreign residents already in Japan must now weigh whether to apply under stricter rules. Dennis McAdams, an American teacher who has lived in Japan for 13 years, said his recent permanent residency application was rejected because he was one day late on a pension payment.

"Even a model foreigner might not meet the requirements now," McAdams said. "The tide is shifting, and not in a productive way."

Right-wing "Japan First" groups have pushed for even tougher rules, portraying foreigners as exploiters of visa pathways. Critics warn that approach risks stoking xenophobia and worsening labour shortages.

Applicants can consult the official policy document from Japan's Ministry of Justice for full eligibility criteria and the application process.