Japan May Raise Permanent Residency Application Fees to Up to ¥300,000

Why Timing May Become More Important Than Ever

Last updated: March 8, 2026

A proposed change to immigration application fees

The Japanese government has approved a bill to amend the Immigration Control Act that would significantly increase the maximum fees for residence-related applications.

Under the proposal, the current legal cap of ¥10,000 for immigration application fees would be raised substantially.

• Status change / extension of stay: up to ¥100,000
• Permanent Residency application: up to ¥300,000

The actual fees would be determined later through government regulations depending on policy needs and economic conditions.

Why this policy change is being discussed

Japan's foreign resident population has continued to increase, reaching approximately 4.13 million people as of the end of last year.

As immigration procedures grow in volume and complexity, the government has indicated that administrative systems may need to be strengthened to handle these changes.

The proposed fee increase appears to be part of that broader policy adjustment.

What this may mean for Permanent Residency applicants

If Permanent Residency application fees were to increase significantly in the future, applicants may face higher financial risks when submitting an application.

In immigration practice, Permanent Residency decisions are discretionary and are often based on a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s situation.

Submitting an application at the wrong timing could therefore become more costly than before.

Timing has always mattered in immigration decisions

Even under the current system, immigration decisions rarely depend on eligibility alone.

Factors such as employment stability, income consistency, tax compliance, and overall life circumstances often influence how an application is evaluated.

When these elements appear stable and well-documented, applications tend to be easier to understand during review.

Looking ahead

At this stage, the proposed legislation still needs to be submitted to the National Diet and the final fee structure will depend on future government regulations.

However, the discussion highlights an important point for long-term residents considering Permanent Residency:

The timing of an application can matter just as much as meeting the formal requirements.