News Japan tightens permanent residency rules

[thomas]

The Japanese government planned to raise the fees charged to foreign nationals for residence-related procedures, aiming to bring them closer to the levels seen in Europe and the United States from the next fiscal year. It was preparing legislation to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law for submission to the regular Diet session, with the additional revenue expected to support policies for the growing foreign resident community, as well as measures to remove people staying in the country without permission. Officials were also considering adding a line to the upcoming economic package stating that visa- and residence-related fees would be reviewed and increased in fiscal 2026, with reference to practices in significant countries.

Residence permit fees were raised by ¥2,000 in April this year, setting them at ¥6,000 for changing residence status and renewing stays and ¥10,000 for those applying for permanent residence. This reflects rising prices and labor costs. The government is considering a plan that would raise fees for changing residence status and renewing stays of one year or longer to somewhere between ¥30,000 and ¥40,000, and that would increase the cost for a permanent residency permit to ¥100,000 or more. As the law currently sets a maximum fee of ¥10,000, an amendment will be required. This would be the first legal revision to increase the fees since 1981. Fees in Western countries are higher than in Japan. In the United States, changing or renewing one's work permit costs $420 to $470 (about ¥65,000 to ¥73,000), and in Britain it costs £827 (about ¥169,000). In Germany, changing or renewing one's residence permit costs €93 to €98 (about ¥16,000 to ¥17,000).

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A single-entry visa currently costs ¥3,000, and a multiple-entry visa costs ¥6,000. For comparison, short-stay visas cost $185 (about ¥28,000) in the United States and £127 (about ¥25,000) in Britain. The ministry will use these figures to determine how much to raise the fees.

Japan to Charge Foreigners More for Residence Permits, Looking to Align with Western Countries

<p>The government is set to raise fees for residence procedures for foreign nationals to levels comparable to those in Europe and the United States in the next fiscal year, according to government and ruling party sources.</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

 

[Lothor]

These changes will be noted by current and would-be emigrants to Japan, the largest proportion of which are from other Asian countries, are of working age, and mainly choose between Japan, other countries in the region, and Gulf countries. These days, such people have a good knowledge of their options, and making Japan a less desirable destination will have a negative effect on migration. Is that what Japan really wants? I suspect it is.

 

[thomas]

International travellers to Japan could soon face significantly higher entry costs, bringing Japan closer to the rates charged by other major global destinations. Currently, a single-entry visa costs about 3,000 yen, but that could soon jump to 15,000 yen—a fivefold increase. Multiple-entry visas might cost up to 30,000 yen. The government aims to align its pricing with Western standards; for context, a U.S. visa costs around 28,000 yen, while the European Union charges roughly 16,000 yen. Officials expect to generate approximately 120 billion yen in revenue.

Moreover, Japan's visa processing fee has remained unchanged since 1978. The government is also implementing other measures to deal with overtourism, including raising the airport departure tax from the next fiscal year. But since Japanese nationals will also have to pay that tax when traveling abroad, the government plans to reduce by 7,000 yen the fee for issuing a passport valid for 10 years to about 9,000 yen.

Government seeking fivefold hike in visa fees for foreigners | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[thomas]

According to Asahi, the government plans to include significant fee increases for residency screening in the immigration law revision bill. Fees related to permanent residency permits are expected to rise sharply, from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000, depending on the length and status of residence.

外国人の入国事前審査、対象拡大へ　永住許可の手数料1万→20万円：朝日新聞

外国人の入国の可否を事前審査する「電子渡航認証制度（JESTA）」をめぐり、出入国在留管理庁は、日本で飛行機を乗り継ぐ客の一部や、旅客船の客についても、審査対象に加える。高市政権が推進する「不法滞在…

www.asahi.com

On top of Japan's Immigration Services Agency plans to broaden the scope of its planned Electronic Travel Authorisation system (JESTA), which screens foreign nationals before arrival, to include some airline transit passengers and cruise ship travellers. The move forms part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's "zero illegal overstayers" policy, aimed at closing what officials describe as loopholes that allow individuals subject to landing denial to enter the country.

Machine-translated from the article above:

JESTA will apply to travellers from countries and regions whose citizens are currently exempt from short-term visas for tourism and similar visits — now numbering 74. The system is scheduled to begin operation during fiscal 2028. Similar schemes are already in place in the United States, Britain and Australia, while Europe plans to introduce one by 2026. Initially, immigration authorities said applicant information would be checked in advance against records such as criminal histories or past deportations that constitute grounds for denial of entry under immigration law. Those denied authorisation would be prevented from boarding flights to Japan. Following further review, officials decided to include some transit passengers passing through Japan to prevent attempts to enter the country under the guise of transit travel. Target countries will be specified by ministerial ordinance. In addition to nations requiring visas for short stays, authorities are considering including visa-exempt countries with relatively high numbers of rejected entrants, such as Thailand and Turkey. To avoid undermining Japan's competitiveness as an international aviation hub, the government is also studying ways to limit who is subject to screening. One proposal would exempt travellers bound for countries such as the United States that already operate similar pre-screening systems, depending on travel routes. Authorities also plan to extend screening to passengers arriving on designated cruise ships who are normally allowed temporary shore access under simplified procedures, to prevent maritime routes from becoming an entry loophole. Obtaining JESTA authorisation will require a fee. Airlines and shipping operators will be obligated to report passenger information, such as names, and will be required to deny boarding to travellers who fail authorisation. Japan recorded a record 39.18 million new arrivals in 2025. About 98% were short-term visitors, and roughly 80% came from visa-exempt countries.

RetireJapan asked:

Is Japan becoming a hostile environment?

Visa fees are going up, rules are changing

retirejapan.substack.com

 

[Lothor]

This feels like an act of spite rather a rational policy.

 

[thomas]

Today, the government approved a bill to significantly raise immigration fees, effectively increasing the cost to renew or change residence status by more than 10 times and the fee for permanent residency by 20 times. Under the proposal, fees for visa status changes would jump from 6,000 yen ($38) to as much as 70,000 yen. The cost of applying for permanent residence would rise from 10,000 yen to around 200,000 yen. The legislation also establishes the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA), set to launch in 2028.

The new fees might be implemented as early as April 2026 and no later than March 2027.

Immigration fees in Japan to rise sharply, 10-20 times costlier | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[johnnyG]

It's been a few days (or longer) but I think that I heard that for PR, the increased fee would be paid/payable (dependent) upon PR approval. So it is not a cost to apply for PR--which I think will remain free. The rationale being so that immigrations can't just keep turning down people and keeping the money (effectively farming the applicant group for fees).

Then today, tho what I was hearing got interrupted (so very unsure about this), I heard that there was going to be some kind of pre-approval or screening of PR applicants. (guessing, but perhaps comparable to an immigration scrivener's help in prepping the documentation?)

Glad I got mine back in 2002.

 

[thomas]

Still no news as to when this will take place.

Japan plans to hike fees for visa renewals, an official from the Immigration Services Agency told the lower house of parliament. The agency plans to raise the charge to renew visas for five-year stays to around 70,000 yen ($440), and to around 10,000 yen for three months or less, according to its deputy commissioner, Soichiro Naito. The fee for a permanent residency permit will be increased to about 200,000 yen from 10,000 yen. For in-person visa renewal, regardless of the length of stay, the fee is now 6,000 yen. The cabinet has submitted a proposed amendment to the Immigration Control Act that would raise the upper limits for such charges. The changes would set the maximum at 300,000 yen for permanent residency permits and 100,000 yen for other visa types. The actual fees will be set within those limits by government directives. Applicants facing economic hardship may be eligible for fee reductions or exemptions.

Paywall alert:

Japan to hike visa renewal fees to $440 for 5-year stay

Permanent residency permit charge to be raised to just over $1,200

asia.nikkei.com

 

[thomas]

The government says the increased revenue will be spent on measures to respond to the growing number of foreign residents, in line with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's call for tougher policies on foreign nationals.

Respond to the growing number of foreign residents? How?

Japan to likely pass bill raising immigration fees

If the bill also clears the House of Councilors, the new immigration fees would be implemented within this fiscal year, which ends next March.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[mdchachi]

Respond to the growing number of foreign residents? How?

Hopefully by hiring staff to deal with the added paperwork, shorten wait times, etc.

 

[thomas]

Today, Japan enacted a bill raising visa-related fees for foreign nationals, with some charges set to increase by up to 30 times their current level. The bill had already cleared the Lower House in April and was approved in the Upper House by a majority vote. Support came from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party, also known as Nippon Ishin no Kai, as well as the opposition Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People.


Until now, the legal upper limit for fees related to residency status changes or extensions of stay had been set at ¥10,000 ($63). The same ceiling also applies to permanent residency applications. Under the revised law, those maximum limits will rise sharply to ¥100,000 and ¥300,000, respectively.

Actual fees will later be determined through Cabinet orders within the new legal caps. The government has proposed increasing fees for residency status changes and extensions from the current ¥5,500–¥6,000 range to ¥10,000-¥70,000. Fees for permanent residency applications would jump from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. The new fee structure will be introduced before 31 March 2027.

Japan enacts bill to drastically raise visa-related fees

Under the bill, the statutory upper limit for fees to change residency statuses or extend a period of stay will go from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[thomas]

The Takaichi administration is set to raise the hurdles for permanent residency. It's hard to believe they're serious about these ridiculous stipulations.


The government plans to tighten the requirements for permanent residency, with applicants expected to earn more than the average Japanese household and meet a minimum threshold for projected pension benefits (equivalent to enrollment in an employees' pension program for 30 years). The move comes as PM Takaichi's government presses ahead with tougher measures aimed at illegal activities and other issues involving foreign nationals. The revised guidelines for permanent residency permits will take effect on 1 October. In principle, they will apply to applications submitted from next April.

Under the current guidelines, the three main requirements for obtaining permanent residency are "good conduct," the possession of assets or skills sufficient to maintain an independent livelihood and a determination that the person's permanent residency is in the "best interests" of Japan. Applicants must, in principle, have resided in Japan for at least 10 years. As of the end of last year, about 947,000 people held permanent residency status, with many from China and the Philippines.

Under the new rules, applicants will need an annual income above the average Japanese household income and projected pension benefits equal to 30 years of contributions to the employees' pension system at that income level. Those who fall short of the pension requirement can make up the difference with savings or other assets.

The government will also consider an applicant's Japanese language ability and understanding of Japanese laws and social rules when deciding whether permanent residency is in Japan's "best interests". At present, spouses of Japanese citizens or permanent residents can apply after three years of marriage and one year of residence in Japan. The new rules would raise those requirements to five years of marriage and three years of residence.

Japan gov't to impose tougher requirements for permanent residency - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The government plans to raise the bar for granting permanent residency to foreigners by requiring incomes higher than the average for

mainichi.jp

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[Lothor]

These new rules are going to prevent a lot of Asians from neighbouring countries doing essential but low-paid jobs from settling. These countries also have relatively similar cultures to Japan, making the integration of such people relatively 'painless'. I've edited some academic papers on immigration to Japan, and the prospect of a pathway to settlement if things go well is a real attraction. If the option is effectively taken away, the value of the yen continues to decrease (making immigration less attractive), and Japanese people continue not to have children, where are the workers going to come from? I can only see this policy harming Japan, and I felt full of dismay when I heard about it.