Japan raises permanent‑resident fee 20‑fold, tightening entry rules

Thu Oct 01 2026 19:55:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Japan has upped permanent‑resident fees 20 times to 200k yen, adding strict income and language tests, prompting long queues and foreign‑worker concern.

Japanese immigration authorities unveiled a 20X hike to the permanent‑resident fee, now 200,000 yen, alongside tougher income, pension and language conditions. The move is part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s strategy to manage Japan’s rapidly growing foreign population, which crossed 4.12 million last year. Thousands queued at Tokyo’s immigration office to avoid the steep cost, and the policy has stirred debate over fairness and the country’s growing reliance on foreign workers amid an ageing workforce. Future applicants will also need to demonstrate basic Japanese proficiency and pension eligibility, fueling a surge in language courses across the nation.

Japan has increased the fee for foreigners applying for permanent residency 20 times, setting it at 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955).

Applicants must now also satisfy new income, pension, and Japanese‑language thresholds.

The hike has triggered long lines outside immigration offices; Tokyo’s main bureau reported wait times exceeding seven hours in the week following the announcement.

These changes form part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s broader immigration overhaul, aimed at controlling the country’s fast‑growing foreign population, which reached a record 4.12 million at the end of 2025.

Earlier in July, Japan raised all visa fees five‑fold – its first hike in 50 years – to reflect inflation and currency swings.

The nation’s ageing demographic has increased dependence on foreign workers to fill labour shortages, yet the new rules have raised concerns among migrants and industry.

Foreign residents must now earn at least the national average household income of 5.75 million yen, and refugees or those in financial hardship may receive discounts.

From October, the fee will vary with the length of stay requested, ranging from 10,000 yen for stays of three months or less to 75,000 yen for five years or longer.

In response, enrollment in Japanese‑language courses and the Japanese‑Language Proficiency Test has surged as applicants prepare for the upcoming basic language requirement effective next April.

Applicants’ expected pension benefits must also match those of a thirty‑year employee‑pension enrollee, though financial assets may be considered if the benefit falls short.