Japan has sharply increased the cost of applying for permanent residency, with foreigners now required to pay 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955), up from the previous 10,000 yen.
The new fee is part of a broader overhaul of Japan’s immigration rules as the country grapples with a growing foreign population and an ageing workforce that increasingly depends on overseas workers to fill labour shortages.
The changes have also introduced additional requirements for people seeking permanent residency, including conditions relating to income, pension contributions and Japanese-language ability.
The steep fee increase prompted a rush at immigration offices earlier this week, as applicants tried to submit their applications before the new charges took effect. Tokyo’s main immigration bureau reportedly recorded waiting times of more than seven hours.
The latest measures were introduced under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has made immigration management one of her government’s priorities since taking office in October last year.
In July, Japan also increased visa fees for all foreign nationals by five times, marking the country’s first such increase in 50 years. Authorities said the adjustment was intended to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations”.
Despite Japan’s traditionally restrictive approach to immigration, the country has increasingly relied on foreign workers because of its ageing population and labour shortages.
The number of foreign residents in Japan exceeded 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a record 9.5 per cent increase from the previous year. The rise has, however, been accompanied by concerns about immigration and its impact on Japanese society.
Days before the latest residency fee increase, Takaichi acknowledged that the growing foreign population could generate concerns among some members of the public.
In a post on X, she wrote that her government recognises that “some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness” as Japan’s foreign resident population grows.
“To address these concerns, [the government] is working to ensure that its policies toward foreign nationals are orderly, and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely,” she wrote.
Before the latest changes, non-permanent residents paid 6,000 yen whenever they applied to change their residency status or extend their stay.
From October 1, the cost varies according to the period being requested, ranging from 10,000 yen for stays of three months or less to 75,000 yen for periods of five years or more.
People experiencing financial hardship and those recognised as refugees will be eligible for fee reductions.
Applicants for permanent residency must also demonstrate a stable income at or above Japan’s average. Government data released in July put the average household income at 5.75 million yen in 2024.
For some foreign residents, the changes have raised concerns about the additional financial and administrative burden.
Micaiah Stevens, who has lived and worked in Tokyo for a decade, was unable to gather all the documents needed to submit his permanent residency application before the new fee came into effect.
The 37-year-old still intends to apply but questioned the rationale behind the new measures.
“My immediate reaction was that foreigners were being treated a bit too conveniently. We’re being asked to make more than the average Japanese person, pay a significantly higher fee, just to be able to work in Japan and provide taxes,” he tells the BBC.
“There’s already a significant language and cultural barrier that prevents some talent from coming over. This just doesn’t strike me as a plan that was thought out to the long term.”
The requirements are expected to become stricter from April next year, when applicants for permanent residency will also need to demonstrate basic proficiency in Japanese.
The planned language requirement has reportedly contributed to increased enrolment at Japanese language schools, while more people have also registered to sit the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Pension eligibility will also form part of the assessment. Applicants are expected to have projected pension benefits equivalent to those of someone enrolled in Japan’s employee pension system for 30 years.
However, applicants whose expected pension benefits fall below that level may have their financial assets taken into consideration.
