Japan raises residency fee for foreign nationals by twenty-fold
The hikes are part of immigration policy changes introduced to manage Japan's growing foreign population.
Japan raises residency fee for foreign nationals by twenty-fold
The hikes are part of immigration policy changes introduced to manage Japan's growing foreign population
Japan has increased the fees charged to foreigners seeking to live in the country, with the price of permanent residency rising 20 times to 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955).
People applying for permanent residency must now also satisfy new requirements on income, pension contributions and Japanese-language ability.
Earlier this week, long queues formed outside immigration offices as applicants tried to get in before the fee increases took effect, with Tokyo's main immigration bureau saying wait times exceeded seven hours.
The higher fees are part of a wider set of immigration policy changes under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, aimed at managing Japan's rapidly expanding foreign population.
In July, Japan introduced a five-fold rise in visa fees for all foreigners, its first visa fee increase in 50 years. Officials said the move was intended to "reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations".
Although immigration remains politically sensitive and tightly controlled in Japan, the country's ageing society is increasingly depending on foreign workers to fill labour shortages.
Japan's foreign resident population climbed above 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a record 9.5% increase from the previous year. That has also fuelled rising concerns about immigration and social change.
Takaichi has made immigration management one of her main priorities since taking office in October last year.
In an X post published days before the residency permit hikes took effect, Takaichi said her government understands that "some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness" as Japan's foreign resident population grows.
"To address these concerns, [the government] is working to ensure that its policies toward foreign nationals are orderly, and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely," she wrote.
Before the increases, non-permanent residents in Japan paid 6,000 yen each time they applied to change their residency status or extend their stay.
From 1 October, the fee depends on the length of stay requested, ranging from 10,000 yen for three months or less to 75,000 yen for five years or more.
Applicants facing financial hardship, or those recognised as refugees, will receive discounts.
Those seeking permanent residency must now also have a stable income at or above the Japanese average. The latest data released in July puts average household income at 5.75 million yen as of 2024.
From April next year, permanent residency applicants will face even stricter requirements, including basic Japanese-language proficiency. Local media reported that this has triggered a surge in enrolments at Japanese language schools and in people signing up for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Applicants' expected pension benefits must also match those of someone who has been enrolled in the employee pension system for 30 years, though the value of a person's financial assets may be taken into account if their expected pension benefits are lower.