Japan’s rules for foreigners are no longer changing once a year; they are changing every quarter. Between April 2026 and 2028, visa fees, the departure tax, residence permit fees, permanent residency screening, tax-free shopping, hotel taxes and pre-travel authorization all shift on different dates. This calendar puts them in one place, separates what is already in force from what is scheduled or only reported, and links to our detailed guide for each. Bookmark it, because several of these dates are close.
📋 Quick Navigation: Already in force · November 2026 · 2027 · 2028 · What to do now · FAQ
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TIFE members compare notes on every one of these changes. Come to an event and get the real-world version from people living it.
See TIFE Events →Already in force
| Date | Change | Who it hits |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 | Visa fees: ¥15,000 single entry, ¥30,000 multiple entry for nationalities that need a visa | Visa-required visitors (visa-exempt travelers are unaffected for stays under 90 days) |
| July 1, 2026 | Departure tax raised to ¥3,000 per person, built into ticket prices | Everyone leaving Japan by air or sea, residents included |
| October 1, 2026 | Residence permit fees rise to ¥10,000–¥75,000; permanent residency fee ¥200,000 | Residents renewing, changing status or applying for PR |
| October 1, 2026 | Tougher PR screening: above-average income, 30-year pension equivalence, casual Japanese | PR applicants |
| October 1, 2026 | Tokyo minimum wage ¥1,280 an hour (was ¥1,226) | Everyone paid hourly in Tokyo |
Detailed guides: Japan Visa Fees 2026, Japan Tourist Tax 2026 (departure tax), residence permit fees from October 1, the PR overhaul and the Tokyo minimum wage rise.
November 2026: tax-free shopping becomes refund-based
From November 1, 2026, tourist tax-free shopping is scheduled to change from buying without tax at the counter to paying the full price in the shop and claiming the refund when you leave Japan. If you shop heavily on trips, this changes how much cash you front. Our Japan Tax-Free Shopping November 2026 guide explains the mechanics. We also have the Japan Rail Pass price increase guide for visitors planning rail travel in the same window.
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Become a TIFE Member →2027: Tokyo hotel tax and insurance screening
- April 2027 (planned, approval pending): Tokyo replaces its flat ¥100–¥200 accommodation tax with 3% of room rates above ¥13,000 a night and extends it to Airbnb-style rentals. Details in our Tokyo lodging tax guide.
- June 2027 (reported plan): a November 2025 report said the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry and the Immigration Services Agency will require foreign residents to have paid public health insurance and pension contributions to renew or change their status. Foreign residents paid only 49.7% of owed pension amounts in the fiscal year to March 2025, and about 63% of foreign residents pay health insurance premiums versus 93% of all enrollees, which is the government’s stated reason. This is a plan, not yet a rule, so watch for the final announcement.
2028: JESTA pre-travel authorization
Japan’s electronic travel authorization system, JESTA, was authorized by law and is planned to start in fiscal 2028 (April 2028 onward). Fee estimates of roughly ¥2,000–¥3,000 circulate in travel media but should be treated as estimates until officially set. Our JESTA Japan 2026 guide covers what we know.
What to do now
- Residents: check the expiry date on your residence card and budget the new fee for your stay length. Make sure pension and health insurance payments are current, because payment history is moving into status screening.
- PR hopefuls: pull your pension record and income documents before filing a ¥200,000 application.
- Visitors: check your nationality’s visa requirement, budget the ¥3,000 departure tax (already in your ticket price) and plan for the November tax-free change.
- Everyone: read the official notice, not just social media summaries. Several of these rules were reported with conflicting details.
Japan rule changes for foreigners FAQ
What changed for foreigners in Japan on October 1, 2026? Residence permit fees rose to between ¥10,000 and ¥75,000, the permanent residency fee became ¥200,000 with tougher screening, and Tokyo’s minimum wage rose to ¥1,280 an hour.
When does Japan’s new tax-free refund system start? November 1, 2026, when tourists pay full price in the shop and claim the refund when leaving Japan.
When does Tokyo’s new hotel tax start? It is planned for April 2027 at 3% of room rates above ¥13,000 a night, pending final approval.
Will unpaid insurance affect my visa renewal? A November 2025 report said payment of public health insurance and pension contributions will be required for status renewals from June 2027. It is a reported plan, so check for the final rule.
When does JESTA start? JESTA is planned to start in fiscal 2028, from April 2028.
Is the departure tax already in effect? Yes. Japan’s departure tax rose to ¥3,000 per person on July 1, 2026 and is built into ticket prices.
Quick reference
- In force: visa fees (April 2026), departure tax (July 2026), residence fees, PR screening and Tokyo minimum wage (October 2026)
- Scheduled: tax-free refund system (November 1, 2026)
- Planned: Tokyo lodging tax (April 2027), insurance screening (June 2027), JESTA (fiscal 2028)
- Related: Japan Immigration Fees 2026 Bill Passed | First 30 Days in Tokyo Checklist | Moving to Japan — TIFE Community Hub
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