Japan increases permanent residency application fees to 200,000 yen

Japan has raised its fees for residency applications, with the changes taking effect on 1 October 2026. The biggest change is the permanent residency fee, which has jumped from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen, a 20-fold increase. Fees for extending a visa or changing residency status have also risen, from a flat 6,000 yen to between 10,000 and 75,000 yen. People who apply online for extensions will pay slightly less. Permanent residency applications must be made in person. Japan's previous fee of 10,000 yen was very low compared to other countries, where similar fees can cost over 1,000 US dollars. Applicants facing financial hardship can apply for a reduced fee of 20,000 yen for permanent residency.