Residence Application Fees in Japan: Will 1-Year Permits Become ¥30,000 and 3-Year Permits ¥60,000? April 2026 Update
Japan Immigration Fee Reform / April 2026 Update
In April 2026, Japan’s proposed reform of residence application fees moved forward in the Diet. Reported benchmark figures include approximately ¥30,000 for a 1-year period, ¥60,000 for a 3-year period, ¥70,000 for a 5-year period, and ¥200,000 for permanent residence.
These figures are important, but they should not be misunderstood as fees already being applied today. The actual amounts will be determined later by Cabinet Order after the relevant legal framework is finalized. Applicants and employers should therefore prepare financially, while continuing to check the latest official information before filing.
1. What happened in April 2026?
Japan has been considering a major revision to the fees paid by foreign nationals when changing status of residence, extending a period of stay, or obtaining permanent residence. Reports in April 2026 indicated that the government presented new benchmark figures for future residence application fees.
Later in April 2026, the related bill moved forward in the Diet. The reform is designed to raise the statutory ceiling for immigration fees, while the actual fee amounts will be set later by Cabinet Order.
The reported figures are not automatically the fees being charged today. Until the new fee schedule is formally fixed and implemented, applicants should distinguish between the current official fees and the future proposed amounts.
2. Reported benchmark figures
The reported figures suggest a substantial increase compared with the current fee levels. At present, for example, the official fee for change of status or extension of period of stay is generally ¥6,000 for counter procedures and ¥5,500 for online procedures, while permanent residence permission is ¥10,000. The future figures reported in 2026 would be significantly higher.
| Procedure / period | Current practical reference | Reported future benchmark | Practical comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change of status / extension | Currently, generally ¥6,000 at the counter or ¥5,500 online | Amounts may vary by period of stay | The fee may become linked more closely to the length of the period granted. |
| Up to 3 months | Not currently set in this way for ordinary change / extension fees | Around ¥10,000 | Shorter periods may still become more expensive than the current level. |
| 1-year period | Currently not charged by period length in this manner | Around ¥30,000 | This may affect many renewals where a 1-year period is granted. |
| 3-year period | Currently not charged by period length in this manner | Around ¥60,000 | This would be a major cost increase for many workers, spouses, and employers. |
| 5-year period | Currently not charged by period length in this manner | Around ¥70,000 | A longer period may still be financially preferable when compared with repeated renewals. |
| Permanent residence | Currently ¥10,000 | Around ¥200,000 | This would significantly increase the cost of permanent residence applications. |
3. The legal structure: statutory ceiling and Cabinet Order
The key legal point is that the bill raises the maximum statutory amount that can be charged. Reports indicate that the ceiling may be raised to ¥100,000 for change of status and extension of period of stay, and to ¥300,000 for permanent residence.
However, the actual amount that applicants will pay is expected to be set by Cabinet Order. This means that the final fee schedule may be different from the benchmark figures currently being reported. For this reason, businesses and applicants should avoid treating the reported amounts as final until the official fee schedule is published.
The important distinction is between the legal ceiling and the actual fee. A legal ceiling of ¥100,000 or ¥300,000 does not necessarily mean that every application will be charged at that maximum level.
4. Why is Japan considering higher immigration fees?
The policy background appears to include the idea that persons who benefit from residence procedures should bear a greater share of the administrative cost. Immigration administration has become more complex, and the number of foreign residents in Japan has continued to increase.
The fee reform should also be understood together with broader immigration policy changes. Japan is preparing new pre-entry procedures such as JESTA, strengthening residence management, and expanding digital procedures. In this environment, application fees are no longer just a small administrative stamp cost. They are becoming part of a broader immigration management framework.
The fee increase is not only a fiscal matter. It reflects a shift toward a system where residence management, screening, digital infrastructure, and administrative costs are more directly connected to the fees paid by applicants.
5. Practical impact on foreign residents
If the reported levels are implemented, the financial burden on foreign residents will increase significantly. This will be especially important for families, workers with repeated short-term renewals, students changing status after graduation, and persons considering permanent residence.
For applicants who have repeatedly received only 1-year periods of stay, the burden may become particularly heavy. A 1-year renewal at around ¥30,000 would be five times the current counter fee for ordinary change or extension procedures.
- Applicants should budget for higher immigration fees before renewal season.
- Families with multiple foreign national members should calculate the combined cost.
- Permanent residence applicants should prepare more carefully before filing, because the cost may become much higher.
- Applicants should avoid filing weak or premature applications simply to beat a possible fee increase.
6. Practical impact on employers
Employers that hire foreign nationals should also pay attention to this development. Although immigration application fees are often paid by the foreign national, in practice some companies cover or reimburse such costs as part of their employment or relocation support.
If a company employs many foreign workers, especially under Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, Intra-company Transferee, Skilled Labor, or similar statuses, future renewal costs may become a material HR budget item.
| Employer issue | Practical risk | Recommended preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple renewals in the same year | Total fee burden may increase sharply. | Prepare an annual immigration cost budget. |
| Short periods of stay | Repeated 1-year renewals may become more expensive. | Improve document quality and employment consistency to support longer periods where possible. |
| Company-paid application costs | Internal rules may be unclear. | Clarify whether the company or employee bears the fee. |
| Permanent residence support | Employees may hesitate to apply due to cost. | Review eligibility carefully before filing and avoid premature applications. |
7. Should applicants rush to file before the increase?
Some applicants may think they should file as soon as possible before the fee increase. In some cases, timing may matter. However, filing too early or filing without adequate preparation can create a greater risk than the fee itself.
For renewals, applicants must file within the legally permitted period before expiration. For permanent residence, filing before the case is ready may lead to refusal, and a refusal history can make future strategy more complicated. Therefore, applicants should not sacrifice application quality merely to avoid a possible future fee increase.
The fee is important, but the quality and timing of the application are more important. Especially for permanent residence, tax, pension, health insurance, income stability, family situation, and residence history should be checked carefully before filing.
8. Checklist before filing in 2026
Before filing a residence application in 2026, foreign residents and employers should check the following points.
- Confirm the current official fee at the time of filing or approval.
- Check whether the new fee schedule has already been implemented.
- Confirm whether the procedure is change of status, extension, permanent residence, or another application type.
- For renewals, check the permitted filing window and avoid filing outside the proper timing.
- For permanent residence, confirm eligibility carefully before filing.
- For employer-supported applications, clarify who will bear the application fee.
- Prepare supporting documents early, especially tax, pension, health insurance, income, and employment documents.
- Do not rely only on news reports; check the official Immigration Services Agency information before final filing.
9. Our view
The proposed fee increase marks a significant shift in Japan’s immigration practice. For many years, immigration application fees in Japan have been relatively low compared with the practical importance of the procedures. If the reported figures are implemented, applicants and employers will need to treat immigration costs as a more serious financial and compliance matter.
At the same time, higher fees may make preparation quality even more important. Applicants will have a stronger reason to avoid incomplete filings, weak permanent residence applications, or applications that are not properly supported by documents.
The fee increase is not yet fully finalized, but foreign residents and employers should start preparing now. The best response is not panic filing, but early review, accurate document preparation, and careful timing.
Need help with a residence application in Japan?
Tommy’s Legal Service supports applications for change of status, extension of period of stay, permanent residence, work visas, family visas, and employer-side immigration procedures. If you are concerned about the possible fee increase or unsure about the timing of your application, please contact us before filing.
Public reports regarding Japan’s 2026 immigration fee reform bill
Immigration Services Agency of Japan: official fee information and application procedures
Tommy’s Legal Service immigration fee information page
This article is based on publicly available information as of April 2026. The reported future fees are not yet the final official fee schedule. The actual amounts and effective date should be confirmed through official government announcements before filing.
