Japan hikes visa renewal and permanent residency fees from October 1

Japan will increase fees for visa renewals, changes to residence status and permanent residency applications from Thursday, October 1, as the government revises its immigration rules amid a rise in the foreign population.

The new charges, introduced by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, will vary according to the length of residence granted. Longer residence periods will attract higher fees.

The maximum fee for visa renewals and changes to residence status will rise to 75,000 yen from the current 6,000 yen. The upper limit for permanent residency applications will increase to 200,000 yen from 10,000 yen.

The revised visa renewal fees are:

- Up to three months: 10,000 yen

- Three to six months: 18,000 yen

- Six months to one year: 25,000 yen

- One year: 33,000 yen

- One to three years: 48,000 yen

- Three to five years: 64,000 yen

- Five years or more: 75,000 yen

The changes follow revisions to Japan’s Immigration Control Act passed in May.

The latest legislation also provides for a Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, which the government plans to introduce in fiscal 2028.

The system will cover citizens of 74 countries and regions whose nationals can currently enter Japan without a visa for short stays. Travellers will have to submit details such as their name, purpose of visit and destination online several days before departure.

Authorities will check the information against criminal records and other databases. Travellers suspected of planning to overstay illegally could be denied boarding on aircraft or ships, Japan Today reported.

Foreign worker numbers rise

The number of foreign nationals working in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker programme reached a record 444,256 in June, Bloomberg reported, citing government data.

The figure rose 13.8% from December. However, the pace of growth slowed from 16.1% and 18.2% recorded during the corresponding periods of the previous two years.

Japan launched the programme in 2019 to address labour shortages in sectors such as construction and agriculture. Workers from Vietnam accounted for the largest share, followed by those from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and China.

Japan’s foreign resident population also reached a record of about 4.13 million at the end of 2025. The figure included permanent residents, students and workers employed under shorter-term programmes.