Japan Slashes Permanent Residency Fees, Yields Lines at Immigration Offices

Thu Oct 01 2026 19:14:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Tokyo's immigration office swamped as Japan raises fees for permanent residency 20‑fold to 200,000 yen, adding income, pension and language hurdles.

In a sweeping shift to tighten immigration control, Japan has tripled the cost of applying for permanent residency from 6,000 to 200,000 yen, prompting queues that spanned seven hours outside Tehran's main intake centre. New eligibility rules now demand applicants earn at least the national average income, meet pension‑equivalence criteria and possess basic Japanese proficiency. The fee hike is part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s wider reforms, following a five‑fold visa‑fee rise to curb a record 9.5% rise in foreign residents, who now number over four million amid Japan’s labour‑shortage crisis.

Japan has raised the fee for foreign residents applying for permanent status by 20 times, setting it at 200,000 yen (about $1,270).

Applicants must also satisfy new income, pension and Japanese‑language requisites, adding layers to an already complex process.

During the first week of the change, immigration offices in Tokyo reported wait times exceeding seven hours, as applicants rushed to pay the new fee before it came into force.

The increases run in tandem with broader policy shifts under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has made controlling the rapidly growing foreign population a legislative priority under her tenure.

In July, Japan enacted the first five‑fold visa fee hike in 50 years, a move said to be aimed at adjusting for inflation and currency fluctuations.

Japan’s ageing demographic has amplified demand for foreign workers to offset labour shortages, yet cultural anxieties have surged as foreign resident numbers hit a record 4.12 million – a 9.5% jump from the previous year.

"Some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness," Takaichi said on X, explaining the government’s attempt to keep policies orderly.

Before the new rates, non‑permanent residents paid 6,000 yen for each status change or extension. From 1 October, fees will range from 10,000 yen for stays up to three months to 75,000 yen for five‑year contracts.

Persons from financially struggling categories or refugees can receive discounts.

A list of requirements for permanent residency now includes having an equivalent pension contribution for 30 years, with asset value considered if expected benefits fall short.

In the wake of the fee increase, enrolments in Japanese‑language schools and the Japanese‑Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) have spiked as prospective applicants prepare to meet the new language standard.