Japan raises permanent residency fees twenty-fold and tightens income rules

Fee increases take effect across Japan

On 1 October 2026, a Japanese cabinet order took effect that sharply raised administrative fees for foreign residency procedures. The cost of obtaining permanent residency rose twenty-fold, increasing from the previous flat rate to 200,000 yen ($1,270). Standard extensions of stay and status changes, which previously cost 6,000 yen for non-permanent residents, moved to a tiered scale based on the duration sought. Under this schedule, fees range from 10,000 yen for periods of three months or less to 75,000 yen for permits of five years or more. Earlier in the week, long lines formed outside immigration offices as applicants sought to avoid the higher fees, with Tokyo's regional immigration bureau reporting wait times exceeding seven hours. Reduced rates and discounts remain available for foreign nationals facing financial hardship and those designated as refugees.

Stricter income and pension benchmarks

Alongside the fee increases, the Immigration Services Agency issued revised guidelines that tighten screening standards for permanent residency. Applicants must now demonstrate stable annual earnings that equal or exceed the national average for Japanese households, which stood at 5.75 million yen in 2024. This income requirement applies to all unprocessed permanent residency applications filed on or after 1 April 2026. The agency will also review projected retirement benefits, requiring applicants to match the pension level expected after 30 years in the kosei nenkin employee program or maintain sufficient financial assets to offset any shortfall. During a public consultation period conducted across August and September, respondents requested clear thresholds, prompting the agency to confirm it will benchmark earnings against the Family Income and Expenditure Survey and the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions.

Revocation guidelines and future language testing

The revised framework introduces additional integration criteria and formal enforcement mechanisms that take effect in April 2027. Future applicants for permanent residence must demonstrate Japanese-language proficiency and show an active understanding of Japan's social and legal systems. The Immigration Services Agency also finalized rules that allow authorities to revoke permanent resident status beginning in April 2027. Under these provisions, the government can rescind residency status if an individual deliberately fails to pay public taxes or social insurance premiums. Statutory criteria under immigration law continue to mandate good conduct, sufficient independent assets or skills, and alignment with Japan's national interest.

Demographic shifts and policy priorities

The administrative adjustments follow steady growth in Japan's foreign population as the country relies on overseas workers to address domestic labor shortages. The foreign resident population surpassed 4.12 million at the end of 2025, representing a 9.5% increase from the prior year. Foreign participation in specialized labor initiatives also expanded, with 444,256 foreign nationals residing under the Specified Skilled Worker program as of June 2026. In July 2026, Japan implemented a five-fold increase in general visa fees to reflect inflation and currency fluctuations, marking the first visa fee adjustment in 50 years. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office in October 2025, identified immigration management as a core government priority in a message published before the new fees took effect.

To address these concerns, [the government] is working to ensure that its policies toward foreign nationals are orderly, and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely.