Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From 1 October 2026

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Japan residence permit fees rose sharply on 1 October 2026. Foreign nationals now pay between ¥10,000 and ¥75,000 to extend or change their status, depending on how long the permission lasts, and ¥200,000 for permanent residence, up from a flat ¥10,000. According to Metropolis Japan, the Cabinet approved the ordinance on 25 August 2026, and fees depend on the date an application is received. Applications accepted on or before 30 September pay the old rates.

At a glance

• The new fee table
• Permanent residence
• Entry visa fees
• Who pays more
• How to plan renewals
• Japan fee questions

The new fee table

Until 30 September, an extension or change of status cost ¥6,000 in person or ¥5,500 online, whatever the length of permission. The fee now rises with the length of stay, according to the table published by Erickson Immigration Group, which links to Ministry of Justice materials:

• Up to 3 months: ¥10,000 in person and online.
• 3 to 6 months: ¥18,000 in person, ¥15,000 online.
• 6 to 12 months: ¥25,000 in person, ¥21,000 online.
• 1 year: ¥33,000 in person, ¥27,000 online.
• 1 to 3 years: ¥48,000 in person, ¥42,000 online.
• 3 to 5 years: ¥64,000 in person, ¥56,000 online.
• 5 years or more: ¥75,000 in person, ¥65,000 online.

The online discount applies to every band above three months. Metropolis Japan adds that a Certificate of Eligibility remains free.

Permanent residence

The largest change is permanent residence. The fee is ¥200,000 and, according to both sources, the online option does not apply, so applications are made in person. Metropolis Japan reports that the Immigration Services Agency framed the revision as recovering processing costs, and that Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi described its aim as an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals. Reduced fees are available to some applicants in financial difficulty, including people recognised as refugees, but the sources give no amounts or criteria.

Entry visa fees

This is the second increase this year. The Nation reported on 23 June that the Cabinet had approved a fivefold rise in consular visa fees from 1 July 2026, the first revision since 1978. Single-entry visas went from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 and multiple-entry visas from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. The article names no primary government document, so check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Japanese embassy for the current schedule.

Who pays more

Everyone who renews, changes status or applies for permanent residence in Japan. Metropolis Japan lists extensions, changes of status such as to Business Manager, and permanent residence among the affected procedures. Consider a hypothetical case. Wei is a Chinese researcher with a two-year permission who renews in person next spring. Under the new table that falls in the one-to-three-year band, so he would pay ¥48,000 in person or ¥42,000 online, against ¥6,000 or ¥5,500 before. For a family renewing together, the cost multiplies by each person.

How to plan renewals

Check how long your current permission lasts and which band your renewal is likely to fall into. Use the online route where it is available, since it is cheaper in every band above three months. Note the received date, not the date you prepare the paperwork. Employers sponsoring staff should budget for the longer-permission bands. For other regional fee changes, see our reports on Singapore’s ONE Pass and New Zealand’s visa fees, and use our visa eligibility checker if you are comparing destinations. The Immigration Services Agency’s official site is where fee tables are published.

Japan fee questions

When did Japan’s residence fees rise?

On 1 October 2026. Fees depend on the date an application is received, so those accepted by 30 September pay the old rates.

How much is permanent residence now?

¥200,000, up from ¥10,000, according to Metropolis Japan and Erickson Immigration Group. Applications are made in person.

What does a one-year extension cost?

¥33,000 in person or ¥27,000 online, according to the published table.

Are online applications cheaper?

Yes, for every band above three months. For stays of up to three months the fee is ¥10,000 either way.

Did Japan also raise visa fees?

The Nation reports a fivefold rise in consular visa fees from 1 July 2026, with single-entry at ¥15,000 and multiple-entry at ¥30,000.

Is there any reduction?

Metropolis Japan says reduced fees apply to some applicants in financial difficulty, including refugees. Amounts are not given.

Sources

• Metropolis Japan — Japan residence permit fees rise from October 1, 2026. https://metropolisjapan.com/japan-residence-permit-fees-rise-from-october/
• Erickson Immigration Group — Japan approves higher residence fees from October 2026. https://eiglaw.com/japan-approves-higher-residence-fees-from-october-2026/
• The Nation — Japan visa fees to rise fivefold from July. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/world/40067763