Japan has increased the application fee for permanent residency twentyfold to ¥200,000, about $1,270, as the government introduces broader immigration changes affecting the country’s rapidly growing foreign population.
The new fee took effect on October 1 alongside additional financial requirements for permanent residency applicants. Applicants must demonstrate a stable income around or above Japan’s average household earnings, while pension contributions and financial assets will also form part of the assessment.
The looming increase prompted long queues at immigration offices as foreign residents attempted to submit applications before the new charges took effect. Tokyo’s main immigration bureau reportedly recorded waiting times exceeding seven hours as applicants rushed to meet the deadline.
Other residence-related fees have also increased. Foreign residents who previously paid ¥6,000 when applying to extend or change their residence status will now face charges ranging from ¥10,000 for stays of three months or less to ¥75,000 for periods of five years or more.
The changes form part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s effort to tighten management of immigration as Japan becomes increasingly dependent on foreign workers. The country’s foreign resident population exceeded 4.12 million at the end of 2025, representing a record 9.5 percent increase from the previous year.
Japan faces an increasingly difficult demographic balance. An ageing population and persistent labour shortages have increased demand for foreign workers, while the growth in immigration has also generated political debate about integration, public services and the conditions foreigners must meet to remain permanently.
Further requirements are expected from April 2027, when permanent residency applicants will need to demonstrate basic Japanese-language proficiency. Pension requirements are also being strengthened, although applicants whose expected pension benefits fall below the required level may be able to have other financial assets considered.
The October measures follow a fivefold increase in Japanese visa fees introduced in July, the first broad increase in those charges in roughly 50 years. The government said those earlier increases reflected inflation and exchange-rate movements.
