1. Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has started a public comment procedure on residence status application fees

The Immigration Services Agency has announced a public comment procedure regarding proposed amendments to cabinet orders and related rules for residence status application fees.

The main procedures affected by this proposal are change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence permission. These procedures are important not only for foreign residents themselves, but also for employers, family members, registered support organizations, schools, and other institutions involved in immigration matters.

2. Proposed government fees

Under the proposal, the government fee for change of status and extension of period of stay will depend on the period of stay to be granted. The proposal also sets lower fees for online applications in many categories in order to promote online filing and reduce congestion at immigration counters.

Note: The table above is based on the proposal published by the Immigration Services Agency. The final amounts and practical operation should be confirmed again after the final rules are officially published.

3. Key practical point: applications filed before October 1, 2026

One of the most important practical issues is the timing of filing. The Immigration Services Agency explains that the fee increase is planned to take effect on October 1, 2026.

For example, people considering permanent residence may want to know whether they can file before October 1, 2026. However, a permanent residence application requires careful review of tax, pension, health insurance, income, dependents, residence history, employment, family situation, and previous application records.

4. How the proposed fees are calculated

The Immigration Services Agency explains that the estimated actual examination cost for change of status and extension of period of stay is approximately JPY 10,000 per case. This includes personnel cost of about JPY 6,300 and system operation, development, administrative, and other related costs of about JPY 3,300.

For permanent residence, the estimated actual examination cost is stated to be approximately JPY 20,000 because the examination usually requires more time than ordinary renewal or change of status applications. The proposed amount also takes into account the cost of fair immigration and residence management, comparable fees in other countries, and the policy objective of promoting online applications.

The Agency also explains that longer periods of stay are treated with a lower annual burden compared with shorter periods, because longer periods are generally granted to foreign residents with stable and good residence situations.

5. Fee reduction and exemption are limited

The proposal also includes a framework for reducing or exempting the residence status application fee in certain cases. However, the scope is limited and should not be understood as a general reduction for all applicants with financial difficulty.

According to the Q&A, a person must satisfy both elements to potentially qualify for reduction: financial difficulty comparable to a person requiring public assistance, and a humanitarian need. Satisfying only one of these elements is not enough.

In other words, the fact that paying the fee is difficult does not automatically make an applicant eligible for fee reduction. Similarly, even where humanitarian circumstances exist, fee reduction may not be available unless the financial difficulty requirement is also satisfied.

6. Four points to check before rushing to apply

Because the proposed fee revision may affect cost planning, some applicants may consider filing earlier than originally planned. However, immigration applications in Japan must be reviewed from several practical angles.

Examination trend and risk should also be reviewed

Permanent residence, renewal after job change, change of status after divorce, or applications involving changes in the employer’s financial situation may require careful explanation. Even if the applicant wants to file before October 1, 2026, insufficient documents or an unclear explanation may increase risk.

• For permanent residence, check whether there are any delays or unpaid amounts in resident tax, pension, or health insurance.
• For renewal, check whether the job, employer, income, or job duties have changed since the previous application.
• For change of status, check whether the planned activity matches the new status of residence.
• Check whether any family relationship, dependent relationship, address, or employment contract change needs explanation.
• Even if filing before October 1, 2026 is attractive, confirm whether the necessary documents can realistically be prepared in time.

7. Practical comment from Tommy’s Legal Service

Under the proposal, the government fee for permanent residence permission would be JPY 200,000, and the fees for change of status and extension of period of stay would vary significantly depending on the period of stay to be granted.

The timing issue is particularly important because, according to the Agency’s explanation, applications filed before October 1, 2026 may still be treated under the current fee rules even if permission is granted on or after that date.

However, avoiding the higher fee should not be the only reason to file. For permanent residence, renewal, or change of status, it is necessary to check the applicant’s situation, employer or family circumstances, tax and social insurance records, and the consistency of the supporting documents before deciding whether the application is ready.