Japan's visa fee hike: what changes in October 2026

On 1 October 2026, new fees for residence procedures in Japan come into effect. It’s the first revision in 48 years, since 1978, and the increases are significant, arriving on the heels of the Business Manager Visa reform that already tightened one specific category. If you have a visa renewal coming up or are thinking about applying for permanent residency, it’s worth knowing what to expect.

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What exactly changes

Until now, the fee to renew a period of stay or change residence status was ¥6,000 (the rate introduced in April 2025). From October, the system becomes tiered based on the period of stay granted:

• 3 months: approximately ¥10,000
• 1 year: ¥30,000
• 3 years: ¥60,000
• 5 years: ¥70,000

So anyone renewing for a longer period will pay significantly more. The most dramatic change is for permanent residency: the fee goes from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. A twenty-fold increase.

The legal framework sets a maximum ceiling of ¥100,000 for changes and renewals, and ¥300,000 for permanent residence, which leaves room for further increases above the current rates if the government decides so by cabinet order.

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Permanent residency and the new JESTA screening

The permanent residency application doesn’t just get more expensive: it also introduces a new evaluation system called JESTA (Japan Evaluation System for Talented Aliens, though the official acronym may vary). This adds an additional layer of scrutiny to the process, with criteria to be published separately by the Ministry of Justice.

The combination of a ¥200,000 fee and a more demanding process changes the calculation for many residents who were considering applying for permanent residency. Until now the fee was almost symbolic; from October, it becomes a real financial decision.

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The official rationale

The government argues that fees hadn’t been revised in nearly five decades while administrative costs grew: more applications, more management, more infrastructure. It states that approximately 60% of the increased revenue will go toward support programmes for foreign residents: Japanese language classes, integration services, administrative guidance.

Whether that materialises remains to be seen. What is certain is that the number of foreign residents in Japan has grown steadily in recent years and the immigration administration has felt the pressure.

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Are there exemptions?

Yes. The regulations provide for discounts or exemptions for asylum seekers, recognised refugees, and people in documented low-income situations. The exact details for each case are handled by the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁).

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What to do if you have a renewal coming up

If your visa expires after 1 October 2026 and you can bring the renewal forward to before that date, the old fee still applies. It’s worth checking your dates.

If you’re close to meeting the requirements for permanent residency (typically 10 years of continuous residence, or 5 years under certain statuses such as spouse of a Japanese national or highly skilled worker), it may make sense to apply before October and pay ¥10,000 instead of ¥200,000. Ten years is also the threshold that determines whether you keep your pension rights instead of taking the lump-sum withdrawal, so the two decisions are worth reviewing together.

For work visa renewals and other long-term statuses, the decision depends on whether you prefer to renew now at a shorter period under current fees, or wait and pay more for a longer period.

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Broader context

This fee increase comes alongside other measures that have tightened conditions for foreign residents in recent years: stricter naturalisation criteria, greater enforcement of visa compliance obligations, and more thorough review of residence status in certain categories.

It’s not an isolated move. It’s part of an immigration policy that wants to better manage inflows while covering growing administrative costs, alongside new language requirements such as the JLPT N3 minimum now attached to certain visa categories. The practical result for anyone who has been living in Japan for years without thinking much about these procedures is that the calendar now matters more.

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FAQ

When exactly do the new fees take effect? 1 October 2026. Applications submitted before that date are processed at the fees in effect at the time of submission.

Does it affect all residence statuses? It affects period of stay renewals and status changes. Statuses that already have special rules (such as special permanent resident, 特別永住者) may have different conditions.

Where do you process a renewal? At the nearest Immigration Services Agency office (入管), or by post in some cases. In the Tokyo area the main office is in Shinagawa. Yokohama has its own office.

Can I apply for PR with these new fees if I meet the requirements in 2027? Yes, but you’ll pay ¥200,000. There’s no indication that fees will go back down.

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Information based on the Japanese government announcement and the 2026 Immigration Control Act reform. Verify exact details on the official Immigration Services Agency website before processing any application.