Japan plans major increase in residency renewal fees for foreigners; will tourist visas get costly too?
Japan is set to significantly hike residency renewal fees to around 30,000 yen from 2026, a five-fold increase. This move aims to cover escalating administrative costs driven by a surge in foreign residents and rising operational expenses. The gov...
By ET Online |
Agencies
Japan will raise the fee for renewing residency status to the 30,000-yen range from fiscal 2026, a five- to six-fold increase from the current 6,000 yen, according to a report by Nikkei. The government aims to use the additional revenue to meet rising administrative costs linked to a surge in applications from foreign residents.
The proposal includes adding fee variations based on the length of the renewal period. This would mark the second increase in two years after fees were revised in April for the first time in more than four decades, when the renewal charge rose from 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen and the permanent residency application fee increased from 8,000 yen to 10,000 yen.
Officials told Nikkei that the higher rates are intended to better align Japan’s fees with those in North America and Europe, address rising personnel and system expenses, and respond to growth in the foreign population. Japan had 3.95 million foreign residents at the end of June, with annual growth of roughly 10% since 2022, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
Rising operational costs
Immigration authorities note that expenses have increased due to hiring staff to review applications and upgrading systems to manage residency data. Costs tied to combating illegal immigration and digitizing oversight processes are also contributing factors. Annual revenue from residency fees, now around 7 billion yen, is projected to rise by several tens of billions if the new rates begin in 2026.
Scrutiny has intensified over cases of illegal residency and rule violations. Officials say the revised structure is meant to ensure that foreign nationals contribute more to the administrative burden. “It’s important to show that foreigners are being asked to cover their own costs,” a senior Ministry of Justice official told Nikkei
The government is also considering raising visa application fees for inbound visitors, including tourists and short-term travelers. The potential hike would account for higher visa-processing costs and inflation, and may help curb overtourism.
The proposal includes adding fee variations based on the length of the renewal period. This would mark the second increase in two years after fees were revised in April for the first time in more than four decades, when the renewal charge rose from 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen and the permanent residency application fee increased from 8,000 yen to 10,000 yen.
Officials told Nikkei that the higher rates are intended to better align Japan’s fees with those in North America and Europe, address rising personnel and system expenses, and respond to growth in the foreign population. Japan had 3.95 million foreign residents at the end of June, with annual growth of roughly 10% since 2022, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
Rising operational costs
Immigration authorities note that expenses have increased due to hiring staff to review applications and upgrading systems to manage residency data. Costs tied to combating illegal immigration and digitizing oversight processes are also contributing factors. Annual revenue from residency fees, now around 7 billion yen, is projected to rise by several tens of billions if the new rates begin in 2026.
Scrutiny has intensified over cases of illegal residency and rule violations. Officials say the revised structure is meant to ensure that foreign nationals contribute more to the administrative burden. “It’s important to show that foreigners are being asked to cover their own costs,” a senior Ministry of Justice official told Nikkei
The government is also considering raising visa application fees for inbound visitors, including tourists and short-term travelers. The potential hike would account for higher visa-processing costs and inflation, and may help curb overtourism.
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