Japan Is Raising Its Permanent Residency Fee 20-Fold From October

Japan is about to make staying in the country considerably more expensive for some foreign residents.

From October 1, 2026, the fee for permanent residency will jump from ¥10,000 (~$67) to ¥200,000 (~$1,334). Japan is also raising fees for other residence procedures, although some people facing serious financial hardship will be able to apply for reduced charges.

That means anyone planning to apply for permanent residence, change their status, or extend their stay needs to pay attention to when they submit their application.

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How much is the permanent residency fee going up?

The biggest increase is for permanent residency. The current fee is ¥10,000. From October 1, it'll be ¥200,000, a 20-fold increase.

This higher fee comes from changes to Japan's immigration law that allow the government to raise residence-related charges. The new system also provides for reductions or exemptions for people who face financial hardship and need particular consideration on humanitarian grounds.

For someone who has spent years living and working in Japan, that makes the timing of a permanent residency application much more important.

Who has to pay the new fee?

Anyone whose application falls under the new fee schedule will have to pay the applicable charge. The increase isn't limited to permanent residency. Fees for changing a status of residence or extending a period of stay are also going up, with the new charges varying according to the length of the residence period granted.

The government is effectively moving away from the current flat fee structure and tying some residence fees to the period of stay.

The important date is October 1. Applications accepted before the new fees take effect remain subject to the applicable earlier fee rules. Japan's Immigration Services Agency has previously stated that revised fees apply according to when an application is accepted, rather than when the decision is eventually issued.

Who can get the reduced rate?

Japan is also creating a way for some financially vulnerable foreign residents to pay less. But this isn't a general low-income discount.