Japan's Immigration Services Agency has announced a major overhaul of its residence-related fees, replacing the flat-rate system with a tiered structure. The new system, which takes effect on October 1, 2026, will see fees charged based on the period of stay granted, not the period requested. This change will impact Kenyans and other foreign nationals renewing or changing their status of residence in Japan. The current flat rate of ¥6,000 for in-person submissions and ¥5,500 for online submissions will be replaced by fees ranging from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 or more.
Under the revised system, the fee for permanent residence will increase twentyfold from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. The new fee structure is based on the period of stay actually granted, not the period requested by the applicant. For example, if an applicant requests a five-year period but is granted a one-year period, the applicable fee will be the one-year fee. Online applications will generally attract lower fees than in-person submissions for periods exceeding three months.
The revised fee schedule was embedded in the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which Japan enacted in May 2026. The government adopted the implementing ordinance on August 25, 2026. Officials have stated that the higher revenue will support immigration administration, expand services for the country's growing foreign resident population, and bring Japanese fees closer to international benchmarks.
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations has criticised the increases as "radical," cautioning that the financial burden grows heavier the longer a foreign resident stays. The association warned that families with multiple members renewing simultaneously could face combined additional costs of ¥100,000 or more, potentially pushing some legitimate residents to allow their status to lapse and become overstayers.
The revised system includes provisions for fee reductions or exemptions where applicants can demonstrate financial hardship equivalent to public assistance welfare levels and a need for humanitarian consideration. The scope was later broadened to cover foreign nationals who are the sole carers of biological children of Japanese nationals or special permanent foreign residents. All reduction requests must be filed in person.
For Kenyan residents and employers with applications already planned, the critical deadline is September 30, 2026. Any application received by that date will be processed under the old flat-rate structure, even if approval is issued after the new fees take effect. From October 1, online payments will shift from revenue stamps to convenience store payments or bank transfers, with a separate transaction fee applying.
The new fee structure is as follows: for in-person applications, ¥10,000 for up to 3 months, ¥18,000 for over 3 months to 6 months, ¥25,000 for over 6 months to under 1 year, ¥33,000 for 1 year, ¥48,000 for over 1 year to under 3 years, ¥64,000 for 3 years to under 5 years, and ¥75,000 for 5 years or more. The fee for permanent residence is ¥200,000.
Key points
- The new tiered fee structure will see fees charged based on the period of stay granted, not the period requested.
- The fee for permanent residence will increase twentyfold from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
- The critical deadline for applications is September 30, 2026, to be processed under the old flat-rate structure.
