Japan hikes permanent residency application fee to ¥200,000

Japan's Ministry of Justice announced a 20‑fold increase in the fee for permanent‑residency applications, raising it from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. The same amendment to the Immigration Control Act also revises renewal fees for residence permits: ¥10,000 for periods of three months or less, ¥33,000 for one‑year extensions, and ¥75,000 for extensions of five years or more. Online applications receive a discount of up to ¥10,000. Revenue from the higher fees will be earmarked for Japanese‑language education programmes for foreign residents. The Ministry aims to put the new fee structure into effect on 1 October, following the law change enacted in May 2026.