Japan has hiked the fee for applicants seeking permanent residency to 200,000 yen—a 20‑fold increase from the previous 10,000 yen—and enforced stricter income, pension and Japanese‑language requirements.
The new fee, announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s immigration office, comes as the country’s foreign resident population topped 4.12 million at the end of last year, up 9.5 % from 2024.
Long lines—some reaching seven hours—saw thousands of people line up at the Tokyo immigration bureau to pay the steep fee before the deadline of 1 October.
In addition to the fee rise, permanent‑resident applicants must now earn a stable income at or above the Japanese average (5.75 million yen as of 2024), hold a pension entitlement equivalent to 30 years of employer contributions, and demonstrate basic Japanese language proficiency that will be mandatory from April 2027.
The changes follow a July 2026 five‑fold increase in visa fees for all foreigners, the first such hike in 50 years. The government says the adjustments reflect inflation, exchange‑rate fluctuations and the need to manage the rapidly growing overseas community.
"Some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness" as the foreign resident number rises, Takaichi wrote on X in a pre‑hike post. "We are working to ensure that our policies toward foreign nationals are orderly and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely," she added.
While the move is designed to tighten immigration control, critics worry it could deter skilled workers and strain Japan’s labour market, which increasingly relies on foreign talent to offset an ageing workforce.
Defining today's new immigration framework marks a decisive turn for Japan, as it seeks to balance financial stability with workforce needs while maintaining social cohesion.
