Japan has increased the cost of applying for permanent residency by 20 times, setting the new fee at 200,000 yen, approximately KSh167,000 or USD 1,270. This change is part of a broader overhaul of the country's immigration policy. The new rules, effective from October 1, also introduce new eligibility criteria, including a stable income at or above the Japanese national average, qualifying pension contributions, and a basic Japanese-language proficiency test.
The latest government data shows that the average household income in Japan is 5.75 million yen as of 2024. To qualify for permanent residency, applicants must demonstrate a stable income at or above this average. Additionally, they must maintain qualifying pension contributions. From April next year, applicants will also be required to pass a basic Japanese-language proficiency test.
The imminent fee hike triggered a rush at immigration offices across Japan, with long queues forming outside immigration offices. Tokyo's main immigration bureau recorded wait times exceeding seven hours as applicants scrambled to submit their paperwork before the October 1 deadline. Many applicants, including Micaiah Stevens, a 37-year-old who has lived and worked in Tokyo for a decade, were caught off guard by the fee increase.
Stevens, who was unable to gather his documents in time to apply under the old fee structure, intends to proceed with his application. He expressed concerns that the new policy may deter talent from coming to Japan, citing the significant language and cultural barriers that already exist. Stevens questioned the long-term thinking behind the policy shift, suggesting that it may not be well thought out.
Japan's Immigration Policy Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has placed immigration management at the centre of her domestic agenda. The permanent residency fee increase follows a separate five-fold rise in standard visa fees introduced in July, which the government attributed to inflation and shifting exchange rates. Fees for changing residency status or extending a period of stay have also been restructured.
The cost of changing residency status or extending a period of stay now ranges from 10,000 yen for stays of three months or less to 75,000 yen for five years or more. Applicants experiencing financial hardship or holding refugee status will be eligible for discounts. Takaichi has acknowledged that some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness as the foreign population grows.
Japan's foreign resident population reached a record 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a 9.5% rise year on year. The April 2026 language requirement has already prompted a surge in enrolments at Japanese-language schools and increased sign-ups for the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. The policy changes aim to ensure that policies towards foreign nationals remain orderly, allowing both Japanese citizens and foreign residents to live safely and securely.
Key points
- Japan increases permanent residency application fee to KSh167,000 and introduces new eligibility criteria for foreigners.
- The new rules require applicants to demonstrate a stable income, maintain qualifying pension contributions, and pass a basic Japanese-language proficiency test.
- Japan's foreign resident population reached a record 4.12 million at the end of 2025, a 9.5% rise year on year.
