Visas to Japan to Cost Up to 10 Times More Under New Government Plan

Japan's looming visa fee surge is sending ripples through its foreign resident community. On November 21, the government announced it would raise the application and renewal fees for residence visas and status changes. In some cases, the increases will be five to ninefold, and nearly tenfold for long-term or permanent residency applications.

What's Changing and When

Under the existing framework as of April 1, 2025, the renewal or change-of-status fee was raised only modestly, from ¥4,000 JPY (about $25 USD) to ¥6,000 (about $39). The permanent residency fee also inched up, moving from ¥8,000 (roughly $51) to ¥10,000 (about $64).

But according to government projections, by fiscal year 2027, the renewal fee may rise dramatically, reaching ¥30,000 to ¥40,000 — roughly $195 to $260. A permanent residency application could exceed ¥100,000, or about $640.

Officials argue that previous fee levels were "relatively low" compared to Western countries and that Japan aims to bring its structure closer to international norms.

Impact for Residents and Families

For many foreign residents, this will hit their wallets hard. Consider a family with a principal visa holder, a spouse, and two children. If the renewal fee rises to ¥40,000 per person, the total bill could reach ¥160,000 ($1,030) in a single go, a significant amount in household budgeting, especially for middle-income earners.

The cost becomes more than a bureaucratic annoyance. It can influence whether someone decides to stay long-term, apply for permanent residency. Some may even forego renewal, risking status issues.

Another dimension is that employers may absorb the cost (which raises HR budgeting questions) or ask employees to bear it. The size of the increase makes the decision far from trivial.

Meanwhile, for the migrant population with shorter-term permits or frequent renewals, the incentive to aim for a longer-term or five-year residence period becomes stronger, as fewer renewals mean fewer fee events.

The Wider Policy and Social Angle

From a policy perspective, the fee rise is part of Japan's broader recalibration of its immigration and foreign-resident system. The government says the additional revenue will help reinforce multicultural support services, improve everyday life support for foreign residents, and strengthen enforcement of overstays or status violations.

*The building housing Japan's Immigration Services Agency. April 25, 2024. (©Kyodo)*

However, the timing and scale raise questions. At a time when Japan is facing labor shortages and is encouraging greater foreign talent, a steep fee increase risks dampening attractiveness for mid- to long-term residents.

Reactions From Long-Term Residents

Russian YouTuber Ashiya, who has lived in Japan for 15 years, voiced many of the concerns now circulating among foreign residents. In a video posted on November 23, she described the announcement in stark terms: "I've lived in Japan for 15 years, and I've never seen anything like this. When I saw the news, I was honestly shocked."

Ashiya also raised deeper concerns about the social atmosphere surrounding foreign residents. "It feels like pressure on foreigners," she said. "Lately, all foreigners get lumped together — tourists, workers, students, even overstayers. This fee hike adds to that atmosphere."

She questioned the logic of aligning visa fees with Western countries while wage levels remain far lower. "Japan wants to match Western fees, but salaries here aren't at Western levels. That's why so many foreign residents feel this is unfair," she said. The combination of sudden cost increases and stagnant incomes, she warned, may make Japan less attractive to the global talent pool it says it wants to draw.

What It Means If You Live in Japan

According to guidance compiled by immigration procedure specialists at ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, several practical steps may help residents prepare for the higher fees:

Budget planning: If you or your dependents are on a visa renewal schedule in the next few years, treat the fee increase (¥30,000-¥40,000) as a near-certain expense — and allocate accordingly.
Minimize renewals: Aim early for the five-year residence period or permanent-residency application, so you reduce the number of renewals and thus the number of fee events.
Ensure compliance: With higher fees, any misstep (late tax payments, unpaid pension, incorrect status work) becomes costlier.
Employer discussion: If your employer handles immigration, it's worth discussing whether the increased cost will affect salary, contract terms, or whether they'll cover the fee.
Long-term perspective: If you're committed to staying, consider whether applying for permanent residency sooner may make sense — the one-time cost may look more palatable compared to repeated renewals under a much higher fee regime.