Japan increases fees for foreigners wanting to obtain Permanent Residency 20-fold
In July, Japan increased visa fees for all foreigners five-fold — for the first time in 50 years.
Japan has increased fees for foreigners who wish to live in the country: the cost of processing a permanent residency permit has risen 20-fold — to 200,000 yen (1,270 dollars, or 3,800 Belarusian rubles), writes the BBC.
Now, those applying for permanent residency must also meet new requirements regarding income, pension contributions, and knowledge of the Japanese language.
Earlier this week, long queues formed outside immigration offices as applicants rushed to submit their documents before the fee increase. Tokyo's main immigration bureau reported waiting times of over seven hours.
The fee increase is part of a series of changes to Japan's immigration policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. These changes are aimed at managing the rapidly growing number of foreigners in the country.
In July, Japan increased visa fees for all foreigners five-fold — for the first time in 50 years. Authorities stated that this was necessary to "account for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations."
Although immigration remains a politically sensitive issue and Japanese immigration policy is quite restrictive, the country's aging population is forcing it to increasingly rely on foreign workers to address labor shortages.
The number of foreign residents in Japan exceeded 4.12 million by the end of 2025, marking a record high and a 9.5% increase compared to the previous year. However, this has also led to growing public anxiety regarding immigration and social changes.
Takaichi made immigration management one of her key priorities after taking office last October.
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