Is the Cost of Getting a Japanese Visa High? A Comparison from a Foreign National’s Perspective

For foreign nationals applying for or renewing a status of residence in Japan, one important question is whether the cost of obtaining a Japanese visa or residence status is high or low compared with other countries.

In conclusion, if we look only at government fees, Japan’s visa and status of residence costs remain relatively low compared with many major countries. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa fee is approximately JPY 3,000 for a single-entry visa and approximately JPY 6,000 for a multiple-entry visa. According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the fee for Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay is JPY 6,000 when filed at the counter, or JPY 5,500 when filed online. The fee for Permanent Residence is JPY 10,000.

However, the actual burden felt by foreign nationals is not determined by government fees alone. Translation costs, certificate acquisition costs, transportation, professional fees, coordination with employers, and the risk of reapplication after denial can all increase the real cost. In this sense, Japan can be described as a country where official fees are low, but preparation is not necessarily easy.

1. Japan’s Government Fees Are Low Compared with Major Countries

In Japan, many status of residence procedures require payment of a government fee by revenue stamp at the time of approval. Typical examples are as follows.

Procedure	Approximate Japanese Fee	Key Point
Short-term or work-related visa	Approx. JPY 3,000 for single-entry, JPY 6,000 for multiple-entry	Low compared with many major countries
Change of Status of Residence	JPY 6,000 at counter / JPY 5,500 online	Paid upon approval
Extension of Period of Stay	JPY 6,000 at counter / JPY 5,500 online	Repeated one-year renewals create recurring costs
Permanent Residence	JPY 10,000	Low compared with permanent residence or settlement applications in many countries

Based only on government fees, Japan can be considered a relatively low-cost country for visa and residence status procedures.

2. Many Major Countries Require Higher Upfront Costs

In many major countries, applicants may need to pay substantial fees at the time of application.

Country / Region	Typical Costs	Practical Impact
United States	Nonimmigrant visa fees such as US$185 or US$205	In work-related cases, employer-side sponsorship fees and attorney fees may also be significant
United Kingdom	Skilled Worker visa fee plus Immigration Health Surcharge, usually £1,035 per year	The total initial cost can become very high, especially with family members
Canada	Application fees and biometric fees may apply to visitor, work, or study permits	Often higher than Japan, though usually not as extreme as the UK
Schengen Area	Adult short-stay visa fee of €90	Even short-term stay fees can exceed Japan’s single-entry visa fee
Australia	Visa application charges vary by visa type; sponsorship or nomination costs may also apply	Skills assessments, English tests, and medical examinations may increase the overall burden

In particular, the UK Skilled Worker route requires applicants to consider not only the visa application fee but also the Immigration Health Surcharge for the full period of stay. In the United States, work-related cases often involve not only the applicant’s visa fee but also employer sponsorship costs and attorney fees.

3. Japan’s Real Cost Is Not Always “Cheap”

Although Japan’s government fees are low, immigration screening often focuses on consistency of documents, residence history, actual employment, employer stability, tax compliance, and social insurance enrollment.

For this reason, foreign nationals may face the following costs and burdens.

• Costs to obtain birth certificates, marriage certificates, graduation certificates, employment certificates, and similar documents
• Japanese translation costs for foreign-language documents
• Costs to obtain tax certificates, residence certificates, and other public documents
• Time spent attending Immigration, responding to additional document requests, and coordinating with employers
• Professional fees for Gyoseishoshi administrative scriveners or other specialists
• Costs and risks related to reapplication, short-term departure, or maintaining legal stay after a denial

In other words, Japan’s government fees may be low, but this does not mean that the overall procedure is simple or cost-free.

4. Repeated One-Year Renewals Can Increase the Total Burden

One point that foreign nationals in Japan should be careful about is the repeated grant of a one-year period of stay.

The government fee for one extension application is not high. However, if a person receives one-year renewals repeatedly, they must prepare documents every year, obtain company documents, collect tax certificates, respond to Immigration, and sometimes pay professional fees each time.

From the applicant’s perspective, the psychological burden of annual renewal and repeated document preparation may be heavier than the government fee itself.

In practice, it is important to prepare the employment conditions, job duties, income, tax records, social insurance status, and job-change history so that the applicant may be considered for a longer period of stay, such as three or five years.

5. Japanese Immigration Fees May Increase in the Future

Japan revised several immigration-related fees from April 1, 2025, including fees for Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay. There have also been discussions about raising the statutory upper limits for immigration procedure fees in the future.

At this stage, specific future fee amounts are not yet fixed. However, due to the increase in foreign residents, stronger screening systems, and higher administrative costs, Japan’s immigration procedures may not remain as low-cost as they have historically been.

Foreign nationals, employers, and supporters should consider possible future changes when planning renewal timing, Permanent Residence applications, family accompaniment, and budgets including professional fees.

6. Practical Points for Foreign Nationals in Japan

To maintain a stable life in Japan, it is not enough to simply submit an application form. The following points should be checked early.

• Whether the current status of residence matches the actual activities
• Whether job changes, resignation, or leave history can be explained
• Whether income, tax, and social insurance records are in good order
• Whether the employer’s business activities and the applicant’s job duties are consistent
• Whether there are factors that can improve repeated one-year renewals
• Whether Permanent Residence requirements and necessary documents have been reviewed early

Conclusion

From a foreign national’s perspective, the official cost of obtaining or renewing a Japanese visa or status of residence is relatively low compared with the United States, the United Kingdom, the Schengen Area, Canada, Australia, and other major jurisdictions.

However, Japanese immigration screening looks at the applicant’s residence situation, employer, submitted documents, tax and social insurance records, and past application history. Therefore, the real cost should be considered together with document preparation, translation, professional fees, and the risk of reapplication after denial.

For stable long-term residence in Japan, it is important to think beyond immediate application costs and manage residence status with future renewals, period of stay, Permanent Residence, and family accompaniment in mind.

References

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Fees
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Fee Revision for Residence Procedures
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Change of Status of Residence
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Extension of Period of Stay
• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Permanent Residence
• U.S. Department of State: Fees for Visa Services
• GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa – How much it costs
• European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa