Japan Hikes Visa Fees: Renewals ¥75,000, PR ¥200,000

Japan will raise application fees for visa renewals, changes of residence status and permanent residency from Thursday, in a major change to the cost of maintaining long-term residence in the country. The move comes as the Tokyo immigration bureau has been swamped with foreign residents rushing to complete their paperwork ahead of the deadline.

What the New Fees Will Be

Under the new system introduced by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the fee for changing or renewing a residence status will no longer be a flat charge. Instead, the cost will depend on the length of residence granted:

• Fees for renewals and changes of residence status will rise from a uniform ¥6,000 to as much as ¥75,000, depending on the length of stay granted.
• Shorter periods of residence will attract lower fees, while longer periods will carry significantly higher charges.
• The upper limit for permanent residency applications will be set at ¥200,000, up from ¥10,000.
• Online applications will be subject to slightly reduced fees.

Specific figures for certain periods of stay can be found on the Justice Ministry's official website.

Part of Broader Immigration Act Revisions

The new fees are part of revisions to the Immigration Control Act passed in May. The tiered structure marks a departure from the previous uniform ¥6,000 fee for renewals and status changes, meaning applicants granted longer periods of residence will pay considerably more than those receiving shorter stays.

Scramble Before the Hike

Immigration authorities have been bracing for heavy demand ahead of the change, with the Tokyo immigration bureau swamped as applicants seek to file under the current fee schedule before the higher charges take effect.

New Income Guidelines for Permanent Residency

Alongside the fee hike, immigration authorities will also introduce new income guidelines for permanent residency from Thursday. Under the new rules, applicants will generally be expected to have consistently earned more than the average income of Japanese households of comparable size.

Tougher Rules Coming in April 2027

Further changes are scheduled from April 2027. These include:

• A Japanese-language requirement broadly corresponding to level N2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
• Closer scrutiny of applicants' understanding of Japan's institutions and social etiquette.
• A judgment that the applicant's permanent residence would provide a "concrete benefit" to the country.

With fees rising sharply and screening standards set to tighten further, foreign residents planning a renewal, change of status or permanent residency application are encouraged to confirm the exact costs and requirements that apply to their situation on the Justice Ministry's official website.