Japan Immigration Fees 2026: JPY 200,000 PR Fee, Free Card Renewal and JESTA
Japanese version is available here:
JPY 200,000 PR Fee, Free Card Renewal and JESTA
Japan’s 2026 amendment created the legal framework for JESTA, and the residence-permission fees have now been finalized. The new residence fees apply to applications received from October 1. Treat JESTA’s future operational details separately from these confirmed residence fees.
Confirmed update — September 6, 2026:Permanent residence permission costs JPY 200,000 from October 1 receipts. Change and extension fees vary by period granted. September 30 or earlier receipts retain the old rates; later online receipts use the new payment system.
1. Three points to understand first
Separate statutory ceilings from payable fees.
The final PR permission fee is JPY 200,000. Receipt date, period granted and filing method determine the applicable charge.
JESTA mainly concerns short-term entry.
JESTA is different from extension, change of status, and permanent residence procedures for people already living in Japan.
Residents should not rush weak applications.
For renewal, change of status, or permanent residence, eligibility and document consistency are more important than filing quickly only because fees will rise.
2. Final fees and payment from October 1 receipts
The final fees below apply to applications received on or after October 1, 2026. Applications received by September 30 retain the old fees even if permission is granted later: change and extension JPY 6,000 at the counter or JPY 5,500 online; permanent residence JPY 10,000.
Change and extension fees depend on the period actually granted, not the requested period. Government fees are separate from our professional fees and are generally paid when permission is granted.
| Period granted | Counter (JPY) | Online government fee (JPY) | Processing (JPY) | Online total (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | 10,000 | 10,000 | 330 | 10,330 |
| More than 3 and up to 6 months | 18,000 | 15,000 | 330 | 15,330 |
| More than 6 months and less than 1 year | 25,000 | 21,000 | 330 | 21,330 |
| 1 year | 33,000 | 27,000 | 330 | 27,330 |
| More than 1 year and less than 3 years | 48,000 | 42,000 | 330 | 42,330 |
| 3 years or more and less than 5 years | 64,000 | 56,000 | 550 | 56,550 |
| 5 years or more | 75,000 | 65,000 | 550 | 65,550 |
Permanent residence permission costs JPY 200,000.Ordinary residence-card validity renewal for an existing permanent resident is a separate procedure and remains free.
Online Processing Fees and Payment — Checked September 6, 2026
The online amounts below show the government fee, the separate processing fee and the total. For online applications received from October 1, payment is by convenience store or bank payment. Revenue stamps, credit cards and QR code payments cannot be used. The official payment email comes from no-reply@service-dgft.com.
Online applications received by September 30 retain the old fees and revenue-stamp payment method even if permission is granted later. Counter applications continue to use revenue stamps. If you submit evidence for a fee reduction, apply at the counter: online filing does not support reductions.
Online government fees for re-entry permits and Certificates of Authorized Employment remain unchanged, but a JPY 220 processing fee applies to applications received from October 1. Totals are JPY 3,720 for single re-entry, JPY 6,720 for multiple re-entry and JPY 1,820 for an employment certificate.
These are separate from our professional fees and Stripe payment arrangements. Detailed payment operating instructions and supporting-document guidance for reductions remain subject to further official publication.
Official fee revision / Official online payment guidance / Fee reductions
Full explanation of final fees, transitional rules and reductions / Professional and government fee schedule
3. What is JESTA?
JESTA is an online pre-travel authorization system for certain short-term visitors who do not need a visa to enter Japan. The 2026 amendment creates its legal framework, while the start date, covered travelers, application method, and fee still require further official details.
The purpose is to allow pre-arrival screening, identify possible inadmissibility or overstay risks at an earlier stage, and make border control more efficient. For travelers, this may mean that online authorization will need to be obtained before boarding or before entry, depending on the final system design.
Important: JESTA mainly concerns visa-exempt short-term visitors, such as tourists, short-term business visitors, and family visitors. It is structurally different from extension of period of stay, change of status, or permanent residence procedures for people already living in Japan.
4. What foreign residents should keep in mind
If you are already living in Japan and planning an extension, change of status, or permanent residence application, do not make the decision based only on the confirmed fee increase. A weak or premature application may create more risk than benefit.
- Check your current status of residence, residence card expiry date, and next required procedure.
- Confirm whether your facts actually meet the requirements for renewal, change of status, or permanent residence.
- Review tax, pension, health insurance, dependents, traffic violations, job changes, and immigration notifications.
- If you are considering permanent residence, check both eligibility and timing carefully.
- Do not confuse media-based estimates with finalized government fees.
5. What employers should keep in mind
For companies employing foreign nationals, the confirmed immigration fee increase becomes part of the ongoing cost of foreign employment. This is especially relevant for employees who need periodic renewals or changes of status, such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, Intra-company Transferee, Highly Skilled Professional, Business Manager, and other work-related statuses.
- Decide whether government fees for renewals or changes of status will be borne by the employee or by the company.
- Manage residence card expiry dates and avoid last-minute procedures.
- Check whether job duties, transfers, work location, salary, and employment contract match the employee’s status of residence.
- Prepare an internal process for short-term business visitors if JESTA starts applying to visa-exempt travelers.
- Explain internally that the statutory ceiling and the actual payable fee are not the same thing.
6. Permanent residence applicants should be especially careful
The payable PR permission fee is JPY 200,000 for October 1 or later receipts; it is distinct from the JPY 300,000 statutory ceiling. Receipts by September 30 retain the JPY 10,000 fee even when approved later. Do not rush an unprepared application solely to avoid the increase.
Permanent residence screening involves residence history, income, tax, pension, health insurance, conduct, dependents, family relationships, immigration notifications, current period of stay, and document consistency. If the case is not ready, filing quickly may increase the risk of refusal.
Practical caution: The confirmed fee increase makes timing more important, but it does not lower the substantive screening requirements. For permanent residence, the applicant should first confirm whether the case is strong enough to file.
For people who already hold permanent resident status:
The JPY 200,000 fee concerns a new application for permanent residence permission. It does not apply when an existing permanent resident renews the validity period of a residence card. The Immigration Services Agency currently states that no fee is charged for the residence card validity renewal procedure.
Permanent resident status has no period-of-stay expiry, but the residence card itself has a validity period and must be renewed before it expires.
7. In practice, each case should be reviewed from six angles
Immigration matters should not be assessed based only on news headlines. The facts of each case must be reviewed carefully. At Tommy’s Legal Service, we usually check the following practical points.
Residence history, expiry date, family situation, tax, social insurance, and previous applications.
Company substance, employment contract, job duties, salary, and business stability.
Application forms, reason statements, certificates, translations, and consistency of supporting materials.
Legal reforms, operational changes, additional document requests, and refusal risks.
Government fees, professional fees, translation costs, certificate costs, and company policy.
Whether to file quickly, prepare more documents first, or wait for a better timing.
8. Prepare separately for residence procedures and short-term travel
The new residence fees, October 1 receipt-date boundary and transitional rules are confirmed. JESTA’s actual start date, covered travelers, application method and fee require further official details.
Residents and employers should review deadlines, eligibility, evidence and cost-sharing arrangements before deciding when to apply.
Consultation for renewal, change of status, and permanent residence
Tommy’s Legal Service supports applications for change of status, extension of period of stay, permanent residence, dependent status, work-related statuses, and employer-side immigration compliance. We help clients assess individual circumstances from a practical immigration-law perspective.
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan｜2026 amendment to the Immigration Control Act and related legislation
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan｜Final immigration permission fee revision
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan｜Application to renew the validity period of a residence card
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan｜Revision of immigration-related fees from April 1, 2025
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan｜News and updates
This article reflects official information checked on September 6, 2026. Check further official announcements for JESTA’s operational details, payment operating instructions and supporting documents for fee reductions before filing.
Japanese version is available here:
