How Japan’s Residence Procedure Fees May Change｜Permanent Residence Upper Limit Raised to ¥300,000 in 2026 Cabinet Decision

1. Timeline of the Fee Review: 2025 Revision, January 2026 Policy, and March 2026 Cabinet Decision

To understand the current situation correctly, it is important to separate what has already been implemented from what is still under legislative and policy review.

Fee Revision Effective April 1, 2025

• Permission to change status of residence: ¥4,000 → ¥6,000
• Extension of period of stay: ¥4,000 → ¥6,000
• Permanent residence application: ¥8,000 → ¥10,000

These revised fees have already taken effect for applications accepted on or after April 1, 2025.

January 2026 Government Policy

In January 2026, the Japanese government published a new policy package on the acceptance of foreign nationals and the realization of an orderly, harmonious coexistence society. That package included a policy to review and raise residence-related permission fees during fiscal 2026.

The policy package also discussed broader measures such as tighter residence management, improvements to administrative systems, and the future introduction of JESTA. In other words, the fee review is part of a wider redesign of Japan’s immigration and foreign resident policy framework.

March 10, 2026 Cabinet Decision

On March 10, 2026, the government approved a bill to amend the Immigration Control Act. According to the reported outline, the bill would raise the statutory upper limit to ¥100,000 for change of status and extension of period of stay, and to ¥300,000 for permanent residence applications.

What matters most here is that the cabinet decision concerns the legal upper limits, not the final operational fee that applicants must pay immediately. The actual amounts are expected to be specified later by Cabinet Order, taking into account future policy design and implementation.

• Current actual fees: ¥6,000 for change/renewal, ¥10,000 for permanent residence
• Upper limits in the March 2026 bill: ¥100,000 for change/renewal, ¥300,000 for permanent residence
• What to watch next: Diet deliberations, enactment, effective date, and the amounts to be set by Cabinet Order

For this reason, it is better not to say “the fee is now ¥300,000.” The more accurate approach is to say that the legal framework is moving toward allowing substantially higher fees in the future, and both employers and foreign residents should start preparing accordingly.

*This page separates current fees already in force from future upper-limit changes that are still subject to legislation and further government rule-making.

2. Impact on Employers

(1) Cost Increases and HR Budget Planning

For employers hiring foreign nationals, even the possibility of higher future immigration fees has practical implications. Companies that cover renewal or change fees for employees may face a noticeable increase in annual HR-related costs once the new framework is implemented.

Even before the final amounts are announced, companies should already review the basics:

• Do you have a complete list of foreign employees and their residence expiry dates?
• Do you know how many renewal or change applications are expected each year?
• Do you have a clear internal rule on who pays for renewal, change, or permanent residence support?

If the answer is no, this is the right time to start. Residence procedures should be treated not merely as administrative paperwork, but as part of HR operations, budgeting, and risk management.

(2) Why Securing a 5-Year Period of Stay Matters More Than Ever

If future fees become significantly higher, the most effective way to reduce the long-term burden is simple: reduce the number of renewal cycles. That means increasing the chances of obtaining a 5-year period of stay wherever possible.

In practice, company category matters. Employers that fall into a more favorable immigration category are generally more likely to obtain longer periods of stay for eligible foreign employees.

• Category 1 and 2 employers tend to have stronger documentation profiles and are often better positioned for longer periods of stay.
• Category 3 and 4 employers may face more scrutiny depending on size, stability, and compliance.

Some SMEs can strengthen their overall profile through labor and HR certifications such as Eruboshi, Kurumin, or Youth Yell. These certifications may also support broader hiring and retention goals, not only immigration strategy.

(3) Why Foreign Professionals Will Pay More Attention to Immigration Support

The more expensive immigration procedures become, the less room there is for error. Skilled foreign professionals are therefore likely to place greater value on employers that offer reliable immigration support.

• Will the company bear all or part of the renewal or change fees?
• Does HR have a clear and timely internal process?
• Does the company work with immigration professionals for difficult cases?

These points increasingly affect not only compliance, but also retention, employer branding, and recruitment competitiveness.

3. Impact on Foreign Residents and Their Families

(1) Financial Burden and Long-Term Life Planning

If future fees are set at a much higher level, the burden will not fall only on companies. It may also affect foreign residents and their families directly, especially where multiple family members need extensions of stay over time.

Permanent residence is particularly important here. The current application fee is ¥10,000, but the March 2026 bill would raise the statutory upper limit to ¥300,000. That makes timing and preparation for a permanent residence application even more important for people who may soon become eligible.

For households with dependents, any increase in renewal-related costs could become a meaningful part of annual or multi-year financial planning. This is one reason why “just submit it and see what happens” is becoming a riskier approach.

(2) Growing Importance of Proper Residence Management

As the cost of a failed or delayed application grows, proper residence management becomes more important than ever. Foreign residents and their families should pay particular attention to the following:

• Timely payment of pension, health insurance, and taxes
• Proper notifications after a job change, move, marriage, or divorce
• Maintaining activities consistent with the current status of residence
• Preparing for renewal well before the current period of stay expires

The future direction of the system suggests that careful preparation and compliance will matter even more. The cost of re-application, correction, or denial may become too high to ignore.

4. The Policy Background Behind the Fee Review

The fee review should not be viewed in isolation. The January 2026 government package makes clear that Japan is considering a wider strengthening of immigration and foreign resident policy.

• Stronger and more sophisticated residence management
• Digitalization and administrative modernization
• Future introduction of JESTA for certain short-term visitors
• Broader efforts related to coexistence policy and compliance

In that sense, the review of residence-related fees is part of a broader institutional shift. It reflects a policy trend toward tighter administration, stronger screening, and more structured management of foreign resident systems.

5. Practical Measures to Take Now

Because the direction of change is now much clearer, both employers and foreign residents should begin preparing now rather than waiting for the final fee schedule.

(1) Key Action Points for Employers

• Create a residence management list
  Make sure you know each foreign employee’s status, expiry date, and expected renewal timing.
• Review fee responsibility rules
  Clarify whether the company pays for renewal, change, or permanent residence support, and in what situations.
• Improve your chances of longer periods of stay
  Review compliance, labor management, and documentation quality in order to support more stable immigration outcomes.
• Work with immigration professionals when necessary
  During periods of legal and policy change, professional review is especially valuable for difficult or high-risk cases.

(2) Key Action Points for Foreign Residents

• Check your tax and social insurance records
  This is especially important for renewals and permanent residence applications.
• Do not overlook reporting obligations
  Address changes such as relocation, employer change, marriage, or divorce properly and on time.
• Make sure your work matches your status
  Activities outside the permitted scope may create serious immigration problems.
• Consider permanent residence timing early
  If you may soon qualify, it is wise to assess your readiness before the fee framework changes further.

6.Q&A on Changes to Residence Status Application Fees

No. The March 2026 cabinet decision concerns a bill to raise the statutory upper limit for the permanent residence application fee to ¥300,000 and for change/renewal procedures to ¥100,000. The actual fee amounts are expected to be set later by Cabinet Order after the legislative process.

For applications accepted on or after April 1, 2025, the standard counter fee is ¥6,000 for permission to change status of residence and for extension of period of stay, and ¥10,000 for a permanent residence application.

Employers should list residence expiration dates for foreign employees, review internal rules on who pays renewal or change fees, consider ways to increase the chances of longer periods of stay such as 5 years, and strengthen cooperation with immigration professionals.

Foreign residents should review tax, pension, and health insurance payment records, make required notifications on time, ensure their activities match their current residence status, and prepare early for renewals or permanent residence applications.

7. Summary: How to Prepare for Future Changes

Japan already revised key immigration procedure fees on April 1, 2025. Then, in January 2026, the government announced a broader policy to review residence-related fees during fiscal 2026. Finally, on March 10, 2026, the cabinet approved a bill that would raise the statutory upper limits to ¥100,000 for change/renewal procedures and ¥300,000 for permanent residence applications.

The important point is that the final future fee amounts are not yet fixed. However, the policy direction is now clear enough that waiting passively may not be the best approach.

For employers, this is the time to treat immigration procedures as part of HR planning, compliance, and retention strategy. For foreign residents, this is the time to organize your compliance records and prepare early for renewals or permanent residence applications.

Sources & References

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan — information on fee revision effective April 1, 2025
• Government of Japan — Comprehensive Measures for the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and the Realization of an Orderly Society of Harmonious Coexistence (January 23, 2026)
• March 10, 2026 media report on the cabinet decision regarding the bill to raise statutory upper limits for immigration procedure fees

*This page was prepared by ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer’s Office based on publicly available government materials and media reports.
*The final fee amounts and implementation schedule may change depending on the legislative process and future Cabinet Orders. Please check the latest official information before filing.

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