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Japan will substantially increase government fees for several residence procedures from October 1, 2026.
The changes affect applications for:
- Extension of Period of Stay
- Change of Status of Residence
- Permanent Residence
The increase is particularly significant for Permanent Residence. The current fee of ¥10,000 will rise to ¥200,000.
For extensions and changes of status, the new fee will depend on the period of stay granted by Immigration. A person granted a longer period will pay a higher fee.
These are government fees paid to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. They are separate from any professional fee charged by a lawyer or administrative scrivener.
Which Applications Will Be Subject to the New Fees?
The important date is the date on which Immigration accepts the application.
The new fees apply to applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026.
If Immigration accepts your application by September 30, 2026, the current fee will generally apply, even if the decision is issued after October 1.
This distinction is important because government fees are normally paid when permission is granted, but the applicable fee is determined by when the application was accepted.
In simple terms:
Application accepted by September 30, 2026: Current fee
Application accepted on or after October 1, 2026: New fee
This does not mean that everyone should rush to submit an application in September. An incomplete or poorly prepared application may create a much more serious problem than the higher fee.
New Fees for Extensions and Changes of Status
Until September 30, 2026, the government fee is generally ¥6,000 for an application made at an Immigration office and ¥5,500 for an online application.
From October 1, the fee will depend on the period of stay that Immigration grants.
| Period of stay granted | Application at Immigration office | Online application |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 | ¥15,000 |
| More than 6 months, less than 1 year | ¥25,000 | ¥21,000 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 |
| More than 1 year, less than 3 years | ¥48,000 | ¥42,000 |
| 3 years or more, less than 5 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 |
A separate payment processing charge will apply to online applications. The total online payment will therefore be slightly higher than the amounts shown above.
The Fee Depends on the Period Immigration Grants
The new system creates an important point that applicants need to understand.
The fee is based on the period of stay actually granted by Immigration, not simply the period requested on the application form.
For example, if you apply for a five-year extension but Immigration grants only one year, the applicable in-person fee will be ¥33,000 rather than ¥75,000.
If Immigration grants three years, the fee will be ¥64,000 at an Immigration office or ¥56,000 for an online application, before any online payment processing charge.
Applicants will therefore not always know the final amount when they submit the application.
The length of the period granted remains an Immigration decision. Paying a higher fee does not allow an applicant to purchase a longer period of stay.
Permanent Residence Will Cost ¥200,000
The largest increase concerns Permanent Residence.
Until September 30, 2026, the government fee for Permanent Residence is ¥10,000. For applications accepted on or after October 1, the fee will be:
Permanent Residence: ¥200,000 per person
Permanent Residence applications cannot currently be submitted through the online residence application system. The same ¥200,000 fee therefore applies through the regular application process.
For families, the cost can become substantial because each person applies for Permanent Residence individually.
For example:
- One applicant: ¥200,000
- Married couple: ¥400,000
- Family of four: ¥800,000
These amounts are the government fees alone. They do not include document expenses, translations or professional fees.
Should I Apply Before October 1?
If you are already eligible and your application is properly prepared, filing by September 30 may result in a significantly lower government fee.
This may be particularly important for someone preparing a Permanent Residence application.
However, the fee increase should not be the only consideration.
Permanent Residence applications require careful review of matters such as residence history, tax payments, pension and health insurance payments, income, family circumstances and compliance with immigration requirements. Filing before these issues have been checked could lead to a refusal.
The same applies to an extension or change of status. Submitting an incomplete application simply to meet the September 30 deadline may not be in your best interests.
It is also necessary to remember that being eligible to apply does not mean that approval is guaranteed.
The better question is not only:
Can I submit the application before October 1?
It is:
Am I eligible, and is the application ready to be submitted?
What About Applications Already Pending?
If Immigration accepted your application by September 30, the current fee should apply even if your application remains under examination on October 1.
You do not need to receive the decision before the new system begins.
Keep the application receipt or online submission record showing when the application was accepted. This may be particularly important when an application is submitted close to the deadline.
If you submit online late on September 30, do not assume that beginning the online process is necessarily the same as Immigration accepting a completed application. It is safer not to leave a time-sensitive application until the final hours.
Does the Increase Apply to a Certificate of Eligibility?
The fee changes discussed in this article concern permission for an extension of period of stay, change of status and Permanent Residence.
An application for a Certificate of Eligibility is a different procedure. No government application fee is normally charged for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility.
Likewise, the government fee discussed here should not be confused with a visa issuance fee paid at a Japanese embassy or consulate outside Japan. Visa issuance and residence procedures are separate processes.
Online Applications Will Usually Cost Less
Under the new schedule, an online application will generally cost less than an application handled at an Immigration office, except for a period of three months or less.
For example, a five-year extension will cost ¥75,000 through an Immigration office, compared with ¥65,000 online, plus the applicable payment processing charge.
However, not everyone can use the online system directly, and Permanent Residence remains outside the online residence application system.
Cost is also not the only consideration when choosing how to file. The correct documents and the quality of the application remain more important than the method of submission.
Who Pays the Fee for an Employee’s Work Visa?
Where a foreign employee applies for an extension or change of status, there is often a practical question about whether the employee or the employer should pay the government fee.
Immigration rules determine the amount payable, but the allocation of the cost between an employer and employee may depend on the company’s policy, employment arrangements and the circumstances of the application.
With the new fees, employers that sponsor or support many foreign employees may need to review their internal policies and budgets. A three-year or five-year extension will no longer involve only a small administrative charge.
Employees should confirm in advance whether their employer will cover the government fee, professional fee or both.
Plan Ahead
The October 2026 increase represents a major change in the cost of maintaining or changing a status of residence in Japan.
If your period of stay will expire soon, or if you are considering Permanent Residence, check:
- when you will become eligible to apply;
- whether your documents are complete;
- whether there are any tax, pension or immigration compliance issues;
- whether Immigration is likely to accept the application before September 30; and
- who will be responsible for the government fee.
The possibility of saving money may justify reviewing your situation now. It does not justify submitting an application before it is ready.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for an extension, change of status or Permanent Residence, it is better to identify the issues before filing.
Global Visa Japan provides immigration consultations and application support for foreign residents and employers in Japan.
Official Sources
Immigration Services Agency of Japan:
Revision of Fees for Residence Procedures Effective October 1, 2026
Immigration Services Agency of Japan:
Fees and Payment Methods for Online Applications
The information in this article is current as of September 12, 2026.