On 3 July 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) published a draft cabinet order setting out proposed fee amounts for residence procedures and opened a public comment period. The figures follow the amended Immigration Act (previously reported), which raised the statutory fee ceiling; the actual amounts will only be finalised once the public comment period closes and the cabinet order is promulgated.
- Fee for status of residence (change of status) and extension of period of stay: proposed to rise from the current flat rate of ¥6,000 to between ¥10,000 and ¥75,000, depending on the length of stay.
- Fee for permanent residence permission: proposed to rise from the current ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
- Draft guidelines on reduction/exemption criteria also published: the ISA has set out a proposal for reducing or waiving fees for "persons prescribed by cabinet order as persons for whom it is appropriate to reduce or exempt fees owing to financial hardship or other special reasons".
- Public comment period: 3 July – 2 August 2026.
- Proposed effective date: planned to apply to applications received on or after 1 October 2026.
All of the above remain at the draft cabinet order stage; the final amounts and effective date will only be formally settled after the public comment period closes and the cabinet order is promulgated.
As this revision has implications for forecasting hiring costs, please see our recruitment support services for advice on hiring foreign nationals and residence procedures.
Source: Immigration Services Agency, "Public Comment on the Draft Guidelines Relating to the Draft Cabinet Order" / Immigration Services Agency, "Revision of Fees Relating to Residence Procedures" / Jiji Press