Japan Raises Permanent Residency Fees 20X: What Changed and How to Plan Around It
Quick answer: On October 1, 2026, Japan’s permanent-residency application fee jumped from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 (about $1,280), and visa renewals and status changes moved from a flat ¥6,000 to a tiered schedule of ¥10,000–¥75,000 depending on the period of stay granted. The filing date — not the approval date — decides which fee you pay. If you were planning to apply for permanent residency or renew a long-stay visa, the cost just changed by an order of magnitude.
If you are weighing a long-term move or a long stay in Japan and you want the full picture on residence options, our digital nomad visa guide for 2026 is the right place to start. This page covers the fee changes specifically: what went up, who is affected, and what to do about it.
What exactly changed on October 1, 2026
Japan revised its immigration procedure fees for applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026. Three things moved:
- Permanent residency (PR) applications: the fee went from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 — a twentyfold increase, roughly $1,250–$1,280 at announcement rates. The amended law sets a statutory upper limit of ¥300,000, so ¥200,000 is what the government currently charges for ordinary PR applications, and PR still must be filed in person — there is no online route.
- Visa renewals and changes of status: no longer a flat fee. The cost now depends on the period of stay the government actually grants (not the period you requested): ¥10,000 for three months or less, up to ¥75,000 for five years or more at the counter, with slightly lower online rates plus a small processing fee.
- No change for short tourist stays: entry procedures and short-stay visits were not part of this revision, so ordinary travel to Japan is unaffected.
The filing-date rule matters more than anything else here: applications accepted by September 30, 2026 are still charged the old fees (¥10,000 PR / ¥6,000 renewal at the counter), even if permission is granted later. The Immigration Services Agency confirmed this explicitly in its October 1 notice — the date the application was accepted pins your fee, not the date of decision.
Why the fee went up and what the government said
The revision follows changes to Japan’s immigration control law. The government approved a bill raising the statutory fee ceiling to ¥300,000 for PR and ¥100,000 for renewals/status changes; the Immigration Services Agency published the final implementing fee schedule on August 28, 2026, with the orders taking effect October 1.
Officially, the rationale is recovering the real cost of processing residence procedures. The change also triggered what NHK and Kyodo documented as a last-minute rush in the week before October 1: long lines at immigration offices and heavy traffic that slowed the government’s online application system.
One honest note: the fee change is separate from Japan’s requirements for permanent residency. You still need the same years of continuous residence, tax history, and paperwork — only the price tag changed. If you were close to eligible, the revision changed your bill, not your eligibility.
Who is affected (and who is not)
Most affected:
- Foreign nationals planning to apply for permanent residency after October 1, 2026 — your application just became ¥190,000 more expensive.
- Long-stay residents renewing visas or changing status — a five-year grant now costs ¥75,000 at the counter, 12.5 times the old flat ¥6,000.
- Anyone who assumed the old flat rates would stay. The new schedule is tiered by the period granted, so the outcome of your review — not your request — sets the price.
Not affected:
- Tourists on short-stay visits — entry procedures did not change. Your Japan trip budget is untouched by this revision.
- People whose applications were accepted before October 1 — the old fee applies even if approval comes later.
- Anyone comparing Japan only as a travel destination. Our Japan solo travel guide reflects the same trip costs as before.
Indirectly affected — digital nomads: Japan’s digital-nomad visa program keeps its own rules and fees; this revision targeted PR applications plus renewals and status changes. But if you are using the nomad visa to test long-term life in Japan, the higher renewal costs are now part of the “what if I stay” math — see the digital nomad visa country list to compare Japan’s program against the alternatives before you commit.
What should you do about it?
1. Do not rush a half-ready application — the old fee window is closed. The ¥10,000 pricing ended on September 30, 2026, and the ¥200,000 fee for new permanent-residency applications is now the going rate. That removes the “file before the deadline” scramble, which is a silver lining: an application filed in a panic, with incomplete documents, is an expensive way to learn your paperwork was wrong. Take the time to get it right on the first filing.
2. Understand what drives your renewal fee. The new renewal/status-change price depends on the period of stay granted, not the period you request. The fee is also paid when permission is granted, not at filing, so you will not know the exact amount until the review finishes. Budget against the band you actually expect, and factor in that longer grants cost more up front but fewer renewals over time.
3. Budget for PR as a real line item. At ¥200,000 plus in-person filing, the PR application is now a meaningful expense in any moving budget. If you are in the “maybe one day” stage, decide now whether this is a sooner decision (old math) or a later decision (new math) — the gap only widens.
4. Check whether a reduced fee applies. The Immigration Services Agency retains a ¥10,000 reduced fee for applicants whose living conditions are judged as hard as a person requiring public assistance. That reduction is only available at the counter, not online. If it might apply to you, file in person and discuss it at your appointment.
The new fee schedule (verified)
For a change of status or extension of period of stay, applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026, are charged by the period of stay granted:
| Period of stay granted | Counter (in person) | Online (base fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 | ¥15,000 |
| More than 6 months, less than 1 year | ¥25,000 | ¥21,000 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 |
| More than 1 year, less than 3 years | ¥48,000 | ¥42,000 |
| 3 years or more, less than 5 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 |
Permanent residence: ¥200,000 (in person only; no online route). Re-entry permits stayed at ¥4,000 single / ¥7,000 multiple (plus a ~¥220 online processing fee). Before October 1, renewals and status changes were a flat ¥6,000 at the counter and ¥5,500 online.
Sources: NHK World (Aug 25, 2026), Kyodo News (Oct 1, 2026), BBC News (Sep 30, 2026), Jiji Press (Aug 25, 2026), Ministry of Justice / Immigration Services Agency notice (Oct 1, 2026). USD conversions are approximate at announcement rates; pay in yen, so your actual cost follows the exchange rate on payment day.
the ¥300,000 figure you will see quoted for PR is the statutory upper limit set by the amended law — the fee actually charged for ordinary PR applications today is ¥200,000. Do not budget against the ceiling unless your case is unusual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Japan permanent residency fee really ¥200,000 now?
Yes, for applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026. The fee was ¥10,000 before the revision. The amended law sets a statutory cap of ¥300,000, but the published schedule charges ¥200,000 for standard PR applications, paid when permission is granted.
Does the old fee still apply if my application is already in?
If your application was accepted by September 30, 2026, you pay the pre-revision fee (¥10,000 for PR, ¥6,000 for renewals/status changes) even if approval arrives after October 1. The Immigration Services Agency confirmed this transitional rule — it is the acceptance date that counts.
Did Japan also change visa renewal fees?
Yes. Renewals and status changes moved from a flat ¥6,000 to a tiered schedule of ¥10,000–¥75,000 based on the period of stay granted and whether you apply in person or online. A five-year grant now costs ¥75,000 at the counter.
Does the fee change affect tourists or short stays?
No. Short-stay tourism and entry procedures were not part of this fee revision. Your Japan sightseeing budget is unaffected.
Can I apply for permanent residency online?
No. The permanent-residency procedure must be completed in person at an immigration office. The government’s online system covers renewals, status changes, and re-entry permits, and it was heavily loaded in the last week of September 2026.
Is the digital nomad visa affected by these fee changes?
Not directly — the nomad visa program has its own rules and fees, and this revision targeted PR applications plus renewals and status changes. But if you use the nomad visa to test living in Japan long-term, include the higher renewal costs in your “do I stay?” calculation.
More Practical Guides
- → Digital nomad visa guide 2026 — compare Japan’s long-stay options against 65+ other countries
- → Japan solo travel guide — trip budgets, train passes, and itineraries that this fee change does not touch
- → eSIM guide: avoid roaming fees — stay connected during a long stay without a local contract
- → Browse all guides
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