The short version
Draft On July 3, 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) published a draft ordinance (政令案) with the exact new amounts and opened a public-comment period. The government aims to apply them to applications filed on or after October 1, 2026. The figures below are the government's proposal — they are not final until the ordinance is enacted.
- Change of status & extension of stay: flat ¥6,000 today → ¥10,000 to ¥75,000, depending on how long a stay you're granted.
- Permanent residence: ¥10,000 → ¥200,000.
- Filing online shaves up to ¥10,000 off most renewals/changes (not permanent residence).
- The deadline that matters: file on or before September 30, 2026 and you keep today's fee — even if your approval comes later.
- The forms and documents don't change. This is a price change, not a new procedure.
The new fee table (draft)
Fees for a change of status of residence and an extension of period of stay are now tied to the length of stay you're granted. The longer the residence period, the higher the fee.
| Period of stay granted | Now (in person) | New — in person | New — online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months or under | ¥6,000 | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 (no online discount) |
| 1 year | ¥6,000 | ¥33,000 | ¥23,000 |
| 3 years (3 to under 5) | ¥6,000 | ¥64,000 | ¥54,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥6,000 | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 |
Online filing (available for stays longer than 3 months) is discounted by roughly ¥3,000–¥10,000. Today's fee is a flat ¥6,000 in person / ¥5,500 online regardless of the period granted.
| Application | Now | New (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence (永住許可) | ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 (in person only — no online discount) |
| Re-entry permit (再入国許可) | ¥3,000 single / ¥6,000 multiple | Not in this proposal No change announced |
Who is affected, and when
This is the first meaningful increase to these fees in decades, and it lands on almost everyone with a residence status in Japan at some point.
- Workers on 1-, 3-, or 5-year status renewing after October 1: your renewal cost jumps from ¥6,000 to ¥33,000–¥75,000. The longer the status you're granted, the more you pay.
- Anyone changing status (e.g. student → work, work → spouse, or switching visa categories): same new fee schedule.
- Permanent-residence applicants: the single biggest jump — ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. If you were already close to filing, the timing decision is significant.
- Families: the fee is per application, so a household renewing several statuses feels it multiplied.
The trigger is the date you file, not the date you're approved or when your card is issued.
Should you renew or apply before the increase?
The rule that decides everything: applications accepted on or before September 30, 2026 keep today's fee. Even if approval and card issuance happen after October 1, the submission date locks in your price.
- Permanent residence: if your application is genuinely ready, filing before October 1 saves ¥190,000. That is the clearest early-filing case. But PR is judged on your record, not on rushing — don't file a weak application just to beat the fee.
- A renewal due soon (say, within a few months of October): you generally can't file a renewal until you're inside the window your current status allows (typically about 3 months before expiry). If that window opens before September 30, filing early can save you ¥27,000–¥69,000.
- A renewal not due for a long time: you usually can't file far in advance, so there's little you can do — budget for the new fee at your next renewal.
- Choosing your period of stay: under the new schedule, a longer status costs more up front but fewer renewals over time. A 5-year status (¥75,000) once beats five 1-year renewals (¥165,000) if you qualify for the longer period.
You cannot file a renewal arbitrarily early — the immigration office only accepts renewals within a set window before your current period expires. Check your own expiry date and the accepted filing window before assuming you can beat the deadline.
What is NOT changing
- The documents you submit. The required application forms and supporting documents for each status are unchanged by this proposal. It is a fee change, not a procedural overhaul.
- Eligibility and criteria. Who qualifies for each status is set by other rules, not by this fee ordinance.
- Re-entry permit fees are not part of this proposal.
Get the final numbers when they're confirmed
These amounts are still a draft under public comment. Leave your email and we'll send one short update when the ordinance is finalized — the confirmed fees, the exact effective date, and any change to how you pay.
Email me the updatePlaceholder mailto — a proper signup form will replace this. We'll only email about this fee change.
Primary sources
Confirmed facts are drawn from the Immigration Services Agency and government reporting; draft figures are flagged above.
- Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) — Revision of fees for residence procedures: moj.go.jp/isa/01_00518.html
- Jiji Press — 在留手数料 最大7万5千円に引き上げ・永住20万円（政府改定案・10月施行方針）: jiji.com
- The Japan Times — "Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October" (2026-07-03): japantimes.co.jp
- Fragomen — "Japan: New Residence Permit Fee Structure from October 1, 2026": fragomen.com
- Erickson Immigration Group — "Japan to Increase Residence Permit Fees from October 2026": eiglaw.com
- GaijinPot — "Japan Visa Fees Are Rising in 2026": blog.gaijinpot.com