Japan’s Immigration Fee Increase: What Foreign Residents and Employers Should Know
Tommy’s Legal Service
Japan’s Immigration Fee Increase: What Foreign Residents and Employers Should Know
Japan is moving toward a major increase in immigration procedure fees, including change of status, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence applications. The new fees are not yet in force, but the policy direction is now highly important for foreign residents and employers.
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日本語ページはこちらThis article explains the status of Japan’s proposed immigration fee increase as of May 7, 2026, including expected fee levels, practical impact, and points that foreign residents and employers should check in advance. Final amounts and effective dates must still be confirmed through laws, Cabinet Orders, and official immigration announcements.
Current status: the bill has passed the House of Representatives, but the final fees are not yet fixed
A bill to revise Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, including a major increase in immigration procedure fee limits, passed the House of Representatives on April 28, 2026 and is moving to the House of Councillors for further deliberation.
The bill would raise the maximum fee for change of status and extension of period of stay procedures to 100,000 yen, and the maximum fee for permanent residence applications to 300,000 yen. However, these figures are fee caps. The actual amounts to be paid by applicants are expected to be set later by Cabinet Order, depending on factors such as the requested period of stay.
Current fees and reported expected amounts
Under the current fee schedule revised on April 1, 2025, the fee for change of status or extension of period of stay is 6,000 yen for counter applications and 5,500 yen for online applications. The current fee for permanent residence permission is 10,000 yen.
According to reports on the 2026 amendment bill, the expected fee levels may be around 10,000 yen for periods of three months or less, 30,000 yen for one year, 60,000 yen for three years, 70,000 yen for five years, and 200,000 yen for permanent residence.
| Procedure / Period | Current fee example | Reported expected amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change / Extension 3 months or less |
6,000 yen at counter 5,500 yen online |
Around 10,000 yen | Frequent short-term renewals may create repeated financial burden. |
| Change / Extension 1 year |
6,000 yen at counter 5,500 yen online |
Around 30,000 yen | Families applying together may face a much larger total cost. |
| Change / Extension 3 years |
6,000 yen at counter 5,500 yen online |
Around 60,000 yen | Employers should clarify whether the company or the employee will bear the cost. |
| Change / Extension 5 years |
6,000 yen at counter 5,500 yen online |
Around 70,000 yen | A five-year period may reduce renewal frequency, but the single fee may be high. |
| Permanent residence | 10,000 yen | Around 200,000 yen | Family applications for permanent residence may involve a very large total fee. |
Why the fee increase matters
This is not a minor increase of a few thousand yen. If the reported fee levels are adopted, the cost structure of immigration procedures in Japan will change significantly, especially for status extensions, change of status applications, and permanent residence applications.
1. Heavier burden on applicants
Students, dependents, persons with short-term periods of stay, and those with unstable income may be especially affected.
2. Higher employment costs
If the employer pays immigration-related costs, the fee increase may become part of the company’s foreign employment budget.
3. Greater impact on frequent renewals
Applicants who repeatedly receive one-year periods, families renewing together, and workers changing jobs may feel the impact more strongly.
How to understand this policy under the Takaichi administration
Under the Takaichi administration, Japan’s immigration policy is moving in two directions at the same time: accepting and managing foreign residents and workers, while strengthening border control, residence management, and cost-sharing principles.
The proposed immigration fee increase should therefore not be seen only as a price revision. It is part of a broader redesign of Japan’s immigration framework, alongside measures such as JESTA, integration of residence cards and My Number cards, and stricter management of foreign employment.
What foreign residents should check now
- Next renewal timing: Check your residence card expiry date and the earliest timing for filing your next application.
- Family application costs: If your spouse or children must renew at the same time, estimate the total cost for the entire family.
- Permanent residence timing: If you may qualify for permanent residence, consider reviewing your eligibility early.
- Online application availability: Under the current system, some online procedures have lower fees than counter applications.
- Risk of refusal: Higher fees make it even more important to avoid incomplete documents or weak explanations.
What employers and registered support organizations should check
Employers of foreign nationals should clarify whether immigration procedure fees are borne by the employee or the company. This is especially important for Specified Skilled Workers, engineers and specialists, intra-company transferees, and foreign employees with dependent family members.
- Review employment contracts, internal rules, and company policies regarding immigration procedure costs.
- List the renewal timing of all foreign employees.
- Consider whether company-paid fees are appropriate when a change of status is caused by company-side job changes or transfers.
- For registered support organizations, explain possible fee changes to supported workers early.
- Continue checking Cabinet Orders, Immigration Services Agency announcements, and operational notices.
Practical points for immigration case preparation
If government fees become significantly higher, applicants will naturally want to avoid failure. In practice, this means that application quality, document consistency, employer cooperation, tax and social insurance status, and explanation of special circumstances will become even more important.
This is particularly true for last-minute renewal consultations, applications after job changes, permanent residence applications, and family applications. Both the fee burden and the risk of refusal should be explained carefully.
Conclusion
Japan’s proposed immigration fee increase is not only an administrative fee issue. It affects personal financial planning for foreign residents, employment costs for companies, and explanation duties for support organizations and immigration professionals.
Although the final amounts and effective date are not yet fixed, the bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is moving forward. Foreign residents and employers should start checking renewal timing, permanent residence eligibility, company fee policies, and online application options as early as possible.
Prepare early for visa renewal, change of status, or permanent residence
Tommy’s Legal Service provides consultation on visa renewal, change of status, permanent residence, and foreign employment in Japan. During periods of legal and policy change, early review of your situation is especially important.
References
This article is based on publicly available information and news reports as of May 7, 2026. Final fee amounts, effective dates, reduction or exemption rules, and transitional measures must be confirmed through future laws, Cabinet Orders, and official announcements by the Immigration Services Agency. Individual case strategy depends on the applicant’s status of residence, timing, personal circumstances, and employer situation.
