Japan’s immigration fees stopped being a rounding error on October 1, 2026. Renewing or changing a residence status used to cost ¥6,000 at the counter (¥5,500 online); the new schedule starts at ¥10,000 and climbs to ¥75,000 for the longest stays, while a permanent residency application now costs ¥200,000, up from ¥10,000. The Immigration Services Agency says the change is meant to help cover administrative costs from a sharp rise in foreign residents. If your status is up for renewal, here is what to expect.
📋 Quick Navigation: What changed · The new fee schedule · Online discount · Permanent residency · Hardship reduction · FAQ
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Two things changed at once. First, the flat fee for extending your period of stay or changing your status of residence was replaced by a tiered fee based on how long a stay you are granted. Second, the permanent residence fee jumped twentyfold. Fees are set by the date your application is received, not the date it is decided: applications received by September 30, 2026 are charged the old fee even if approval comes later. That window has now closed, so anything you file today pays the new amount.
The May 2026 law that authorized the increase set statutory ceilings of ¥100,000 for extensions and status changes and ¥300,000 for permanent residence, so the current amounts sit below the legal maximum. We covered the bill itself in our Japan Immigration Fees 2026 Bill Passed guide; this post is about the numbers now in force.
The new fee schedule (counter filing)
| Granted period of stay | Old fee | New fee at counter |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥6,000 | ¥10,000 |
| 1 year | ¥6,000 | ¥33,000 |
| 3 years to under 5 years | ¥6,000 | ¥64,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥6,000 | ¥75,000 |
| Permanent residence | ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 |
Important: the schedule has more tiers than the four shown here (for example 3 to 6 months and 6 months to 1 year), and published summaries do not all draw the in-between boundaries in the same place. The rows above are the figures that match across the sources we checked. Before you budget, confirm your exact tier against the Immigration Services Agency’s official fee table or ask your local immigration office.
A quick example of the impact: a family of four each renewing a one-year status now pays ¥132,000 at the counter, against ¥24,000 under the old ¥6,000 flat fee.
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Filing through the Immigration Services Agency’s online system is cheaper: for stays longer than three months the discount is up to ¥10,000 compared with filing at the counter. Applications for stays of three months or less get no online discount. Online payment is by bank transfer or convenience store payment, and extra transaction fees may apply on top. Permanent residence applications are counter-only, so there is no online discount there.
Permanent residency: ¥200,000 per application
The permanent residence fee is now ¥200,000, paid per application. The fee change arrived together with tougher screening, which we break down in a separate guide. If you are weighing a PR application, read our Japan PR Language Requirement 2026 guide before you spend ¥200,000 on an application that is not ready.
Hardship reduction and what stays free
Designated refugees and applicants who meet financial hardship criteria can pay a reduced fee of ¥10,000 for extensions and status changes, or ¥20,000 for permanent residence. You will need to document the hardship, so ask the immigration office what proof they accept before you file. According to Metropolis Japan’s summary, Certificate of Eligibility applications remain free of charge.
Japan residence permit fees 2026 FAQ
When did Japan’s new residence permit fees start? October 1, 2026.
How much does permanent residency cost now? The permanent residence application fee is ¥200,000, up from ¥10,000.
What if I applied before October 1? Applications received by September 30, 2026 are charged the old fee, even if permission is granted after October 1.
Is filing online cheaper? Yes. For stays longer than three months the online discount is up to ¥10,000, but permanent residence applications must be filed at the counter.
Is there a reduced fee for people in financial hardship? Yes. Designated refugees and applicants who meet financial hardship criteria pay ¥10,000 for extensions and status changes or ¥20,000 for permanent residence.
Do the new fees apply to tourists? No. They apply to extension of stay, change of status and permanent residence procedures filed in Japan, not to short-term visitors entering visa-free.
Quick reference
- Effective date: October 1, 2026 (by application received date)
- Old fee: ¥6,000 counter / ¥5,500 online; PR ¥10,000
- New range: ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 by granted stay; PR ¥200,000
- Online discount: up to ¥10,000 (not for 3-month stays or PR)
- Hardship fee: ¥10,000 / PR ¥20,000
- Related: Japan Visa Fees 2026 confirmed numbers | Specified Residence Card guide | Moving to Japan — TIFE Community Hub
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