2026 Immigration Act Amendment Enacted — JESTA Created, Fee Ceilings for Residence Procedures Raised

Japan's foreign resident population has climbed to a record 4.12 million — 4,125,395 as at the end of 2025 (Reiwa 7), up 9.5% year-on-year, with Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) holders alone up 105,830 to reach 390,296. Against that backdrop, the legal framework behind Japan's acceptance of foreign nationals has just taken a major step forward: 「令和８年５月２９日、第２２１回特別国会において『出入国管理及び難民認定法…の一部を改正する法律』が成立し、同年６月５日に公布されました（令和８年法律第３２号）。」 ("On 29 May 2026 (Reiwa 8), the 221st special session of the Diet passed the Act to Partially Amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc., which was promulgated on 5 June 2026 as Act No. 32 of Reiwa 8.")

• The amendment rests on two pillars: ① creation of JESTA (電子渡航認証制度, Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and ② raising the statutory ceiling on fees for residence-status changes, renewals and related procedures.
• Implementation timing: the fee-related provisions take effect on a date set by cabinet order (no later than 31 March 2027); JESTA takes effect no later than 31 March 2029.
• Important: the actual fee amounts are not yet fixed. The implementing cabinet order is currently out for public comment (consultation open until 2 August 2026, targeting an October 2026 start). At this stage, only the law setting the ceiling has been passed — any specific figures reported in the media should be treated as content of the draft cabinet order, not confirmed fees.

The amendment affects every foreign resident and every accepting organisation in Japan. Watch for the forthcoming cabinet order that will fix the actual fee amounts.

Source: Immigration Services Agency / (related) Public comment on fee-related provisions