Japan to raise residence permit fees from October 1

Japan will sharply increase fees for residence permits and permanent residency applications from October 1 as the government tightens immigration measures amid a record rise in the number of foreign residents, according to a Bloomberg report.

Residence permit, permanent residency fees to increase

Under the revised fee structure, charges for changing or renewing residence status will range from 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen, depending on the length of stay. At present, applicants pay a flat fee of 6,000 yen.

The biggest increase will apply to permanent residency applications. The fee will rise 20-fold from the current level to 200,000 yen, according to Japan's Immigration Services Agency.

Foreign resident population hits record high

The fee hike comes as Japan records a growing foreign population. The country had a record 4.1 million foreign residents in 2025, up 9.5% from a year earlier, Bloomberg reported.

The government's fiscal 2026 budget also reflects the increased focus on immigration management. It has allocated 48.9 billion yen for managing foreign nationals, about 39% higher than the initial allocation in the previous fiscal year.

The higher charges follow an earlier increase in visa fees for tourists and other short-term visitors. The cost of a single-entry visa rose to around 15,000 yen in July from 3,000 yen previously.

Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said costs associated with managing the entry, exit and residence of foreign nationals are expected to increase further. Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, he said the revised fees take into account the actual costs of processing applications and hosting foreign residents, according to Bloomberg.

(With Bloomberg inputs)