Japan Immigration Fees May Rise in 2026: Residence Renewal, Change of Status, and Permanent Residence Fees Explained
Japan is moving toward a major increase in immigration-related government fees. According to media reports dated June 24, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has presented a proposal to raise the actual fees for several residence procedures, including change of status, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence permission.
The most significant reported change is the proposed increase of the fee for permanent residence permission from the current 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. Fees for change of status and extension of period of stay may also increase from the current flat rate of 6,000 yen to amounts ranging from 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen, depending on the period of stay.
However, it is important to distinguish between what has already been enacted by law, what has been proposed by the Immigration Services Agency, and what still needs to be formally confirmed by Cabinet Order and official announcements.
Important: The reported amounts are still proposals, not the final official fee schedule
The 2026 amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act raises the statutory upper limits for certain immigration fees. However, the exact actual fees must be determined separately by Cabinet Order.
As of June 25, 2026, applicants should treat the reported amounts, such as 200,000 yen for permanent residence permission, as a serious proposal, but they should still confirm the final amounts through official government announcements before applying.
This article is for you if:
- You are planning to apply for permanent residence in Japan
- You need to renew your period of stay soon
- You are considering changing your status of residence
- You are a company owner or HR manager supporting foreign employees
- You want to understand the difference between the current fee, proposed fee, and statutory upper limit
- You are wondering whether you should apply before the new fee system begins
目次
- 1 1. What is changing?
- 2 2. What did the June 24, 2026 report say?
- 3 3. Is the permanent residence fee already 200,000 yen?
- 4 4. When may the new fees start?
- 5 5. Is this a residence card fee?
- 6 6. How will online applications be treated?
- 7 7. Who will be most affected?
- 8 8. Should you apply before the fee increase?
- 9 9. Permanent residence applications require careful preparation
- 10 10. What applicants should do now
- 11 11. Conclusion
- 12 Need help with a permanent residence or visa application in Japan?
1. What is changing?
The Japanese government has already amended the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to raise the statutory upper limits for certain immigration-related fees.
Under the amended law, the statutory upper limits are expected to change as follows.
| Procedure | Previous statutory upper limit | New statutory upper limit |
|---|---|---|
| Change of status of residence | 10,000 yen | 100,000 yen |
| Extension of period of stay | 10,000 yen | 100,000 yen |
| Permission for permanent residence | 10,000 yen | 300,000 yen |
These figures are legal ceilings. They do not automatically mean that every applicant will pay the maximum amount. The actual amount must be set by Cabinet Order.
2. What did the June 24, 2026 report say?
On June 24, 2026, Japanese media reported that the Immigration Services Agency had presented a concrete fee proposal to a joint meeting including the Liberal Democratic Party’s justice-related division.
According to the report, the proposed actual fees are as follows.
| Procedure / period | Current fee | Reported proposed fee |
|---|---|---|
| Change of status / extension: 3 months or less | 6,000 yen | 10,000 yen |
| Change of status / extension: 1 year | 6,000 yen | 33,000 yen |
| Change of status / extension: 3 years to less than 5 years | 6,000 yen | 64,000 yen |
| Change of status / extension: 5 years or more | 6,000 yen | 75,000 yen |
| Permanent residence permission | 10,000 yen | 200,000 yen |
Key point
The reported proposal is not simply a flat increase. For change of status and extension of period of stay, the proposed fee appears to depend on the length of the period of stay requested or granted.
3. Is the permanent residence fee already 200,000 yen?
No. As of the official information available at the time of writing, the current fee for permission for permanent residence is still 10,000 yen, payable by revenue stamp when permission is granted.
The reported 200,000 yen figure is a proposed amount under consideration. It is lower than the new statutory upper limit of 300,000 yen, but much higher than the current 10,000 yen fee.
Applicants should not assume that 200,000 yen is already legally effective. The final amount and effective date must be confirmed through Cabinet Order, public comment procedures, and official announcements.
Practical warning
Do not apply for permanent residence only because the fee may increase. Permanent residence applications are carefully examined. If the applicant does not meet the requirements, applying too early may create unnecessary risk.
4. When may the new fees start?
The June 24, 2026 report stated that the Immigration Services Agency aims to apply the new fees as early as October 2026.
However, the exact start date has not yet been finally confirmed in the official fee schedule. The Immigration Services Agency is expected to conduct a public comment process before finalizing the detailed amounts.
For applicants, the important point is timing. If you already meet the requirements and your documents are ready, it may be worth checking whether you can apply before the new fee system begins. However, if your documents or eligibility are weak, rushing the application only because of the fee increase may not be advisable.
5. Is this a residence card fee?
Strictly speaking, the reported fee increase concerns immigration procedures such as change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permission for permanent residence. It should not be confused with a simple “residence card fee.”
The residence card itself may be issued when a change of status, extension of period of stay, acquisition of status, or permanent residence application is approved. In many ordinary cases, the main fee is connected to the immigration permission procedure, not the physical card itself.
The Immigration Services Agency’s official FAQ also explains that, in cases such as residence card issuance following extension of period of stay or change of status, no separate fee is required merely for issuing the residence card. However, if a mid- to long-term resident requests an exchange of the residence card for reasons other than those ordinary procedures, a fee may be required.
6. How will online applications be treated?
According to the June 24, 2026 report, online applications may receive a discount of up to 10,000 yen, except for certain short-period applications.
The Immigration Services Agency has already introduced different fee amounts for online procedures in the current fee system from April 1, 2025. This shows that the government is encouraging digital procedures and may continue to use fee differences between online and counter applications.
However, permanent residence applications are still generally handled through counter-based procedures. Therefore, applicants should check the latest official information before assuming that an online discount will apply to permanent residence.
7. Who will be most affected?
The proposed fee increase may affect many foreign residents and companies in Japan.
Permanent residence applicants
Applicants close to meeting the PR requirements may need to consider timing more carefully.
Families applying together
If several family members apply, the total government fee burden may become much higher.
Foreign workers
People renewing work visas may face higher costs, especially if they receive longer periods of stay.
Foreign entrepreneurs
Business owners may need to include immigration fees in their long-term cost planning.
Employers
Companies supporting foreign employees may need to review internal rules on who pays government fees.
Highly skilled professionals
Those aiming for early permanent residence should review eligibility and timing carefully.
8. Should you apply before the fee increase?
The answer depends on whether you are actually ready.
If you already meet the requirements for permanent residence, change of status, or extension of period of stay, and your documents are complete, it may be reasonable to review the application timing before the new fees are introduced.
However, you should not apply only because you want to avoid a higher fee. Immigration applications are examined based on legal requirements, supporting documents, consistency, and the applicant’s residence history.
For permanent residence in particular, a rushed application with weak tax, pension, health insurance, income, or residence history records may be refused. A lower government fee does not make a weak application stronger.
9. Permanent residence applications require careful preparation
Permanent residence is not approved simply because a person has lived in Japan for a long time.
According to the Immigration Services Agency’s official information, the basic screening points for permanent residence include:
- Good conduct
- Sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living
- Recognition that granting permanent residence is in the interests of Japan
In practice, applicants should carefully review:
- Residence history in Japan
- Income stability
- Tax payment records
- Pension payment records
- Public health insurance payment records
- Family situation
- Compliance with immigration-related notification obligations
- Current period of stay
- Documents required for the applicant’s specific status of residence
Administrative scrivener’s practical point
Before applying for permanent residence, applicants should not only check the residence period requirement. They should also review tax, pension, health insurance, income, family, residence status, and document consistency.
10. What applicants should do now
- Check whether you already meet the requirements for the procedure you want to file
- Confirm your current period of stay and expiration date
- Review your tax, pension, and health insurance payment records
- Prepare documents early if you are close to applying for permanent residence
- Do not rely only on media headlines; check official announcements
- Consider whether online application may reduce the fee for eligible procedures
- If you are an employer, decide whether the company or employee will pay the government fee
- If applying as a family, calculate the possible total cost
- Wait for the Cabinet Order and final official fee schedule before making a final decision
11. Conclusion
Japan is preparing for a major increase in immigration-related fees. The law has already raised the statutory upper limits for change of status, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence permission.
According to the June 24, 2026 report, the Immigration Services Agency’s proposal would raise change and renewal fees to between 10,000 yen and 75,000 yen depending on the period of stay, and raise the permanent residence permission fee to 200,000 yen.
However, these reported amounts still need to be finalized through the official process. Applicants should confirm the final Cabinet Order and official fee schedule before applying.
The practical message is clear: if you are considering permanent residence, change of status, or renewal, review your eligibility and documents early. A higher fee system will make careful preparation even more important.
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Need help with a permanent residence or visa application in Japan?
Trust Administrative Scrivener Office supports foreign residents with permanent residence applications, change of status, extension of period of stay, Business Manager Visa, Highly Skilled Professional Visa, and related immigration procedures in Japan.
We do not provide individual case judgments by free email, LINE, or contact form messages.
If you need advice for your specific immigration situation, please book a paid consultation.
Trust Administrative Scrivener Office
Based in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, we support foreign residents and entrepreneurs with visa, residence status, permanent residence, company setup planning, and official procedures in Japan.
Official sources and reference materials
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Raising the statutory upper limits for immigration-related fees
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Current residence procedure fee information
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Application for Permanent Residence
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence
- Yomiuri Shimbun report dated June 24, 2026 on the proposed actual fee amounts
This article is based on information available as of June 25, 2026. The reported proposed fees are not the final official fee schedule. Please confirm the latest Cabinet Order and official announcements before applying.
