Tokyo: Japan has increased residency fees for foreign nationals, with the cost of applying for permanent residency rising 20-fold to ¥200,000 ($1,270; £955) from October 1.
The fee hike comes alongside stricter requirements for foreigners seeking long-term residence in Japan, including conditions related to income, pension eligibility and, from next year, Japanese-language proficiency.
Long queues were reported outside immigration offices, as applicants attempted to submit applications before the new fees took effect. Tokyo’s main immigration bureau recorded waiting times of more than seven hours amid the rush.
Under the revised fee structure, non-permanent residents now pay between $63 (¥10,000) for applications involving stays of three months or less and $474 (¥75,000) for stays of five years or more, compared with the previous standard fee of $37 (¥6,000) for changes or extensions of residence status. Discounts will be available for people facing financial hardship and those recognised as refugees.
Applicants for permanent residency must also demonstrate a stable income at or above the Japanese average. The latest government data, released in July, puts average household income at $36,355 (¥5.75 million) based on 2024 figures.
From April 2027, permanent residency applicants will face an additional Japanese-language requirement, including basic proficiency. Local media have reported increased enrolments at Japanese-language schools and growing interest in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test following the announcement.
Applicants will also need to meet pension-related conditions. Their expected pension benefits must be equivalent to those of a person enrolled in the employee pension system for 30 years. Financial assets may be taken into account when expected pension benefits fall below the required level.
The changes form part of wider adjustments to Japan’s immigration policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as the country seeks to manage a rapidly growing foreign population while addressing persistent labor shortages linked to its ageing population.
Japan’s foreign resident population exceeded 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a record 9.5 percent increase from the previous year. The rise has also fuelled public debate over immigration and social change. Takaichi has identified immigration management as a key government priority. In a post on X ahead of the latest residency fee changes, she said the government recognised that some members of the public may have concerns about the growing foreign population and pledged to ensure immigration policies remain orderly while supporting safe and secure communities for both Japanese citizens and foreign residents.
The latest measures follow a five-fold increase in visa fees introduced by Japan in July, marking the country’s first visa fee increase in 50 years. Authorities said that increase was intended to reflect inflation and fluctuations in exchange rates.
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