Living in the land of the rising sun or achieving permanent residency is about to become a costly process. To the surprise of foreigners and workers in the Asian country, Japan’s Cabinet approved on August 25 a series of massive increases in the fees required to renew visas, change residency status, and apply for permanent residency.

Starting October 1, 2026, the traditional flat fee of 6,000 yen for visa renewal or status change will be completely replaced. Instead, the government will implement a fee scale based on the duration of the granted stay. Those applying for in-person procedures for periods of three months or less must pay 10,000 yen, while stays of one to three years will cost 48,000 yen. The fee rises to 75,000 yen for five-year or longer permits, representing an increase over 1,150% compared to the previous fee, though online procedures will cost slightly less.

The harshest blow will be for permanent residency applicants. This process, previously requiring a 10,000 yen fee, will now cost a staggering 200,000 yen, marking an overwhelming 1,900% increase. According to Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi, these additional revenues will cover rising immigration management and control costs, arguing that foreign residents must bear a fair share of these expenses.

This measure is part of reforms to the Immigration Control Law passed earlier this year, directly affecting thousands of professionals, students, and Japanese companies who typically cover these costs for employees in key sectors like elder care. While authorities mentioned reductions for those facing financial hardship, details on requirements remain unclear. Anyone submitting their application before October 1 will retain the old costs.

With legal settlement costs in Japan set to skyrocket from October, do you think this increase will discourage thousands of foreign professionals and students dreaming of life in the Land of the Rising Sun?