Quick answer: Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) published a draft cabinet order on July 3, 2026 that would sharply raise the fees for residence status change/renewal applications and permanent residency (PR) applications. Today’s flat fees are 6,000 yen for status change/renewal and 10,000 yen for PR. From October 1, 2026, renewal fees would range up to 75,000 yen depending on the length of status granted, and the PR fee would jump to 200,000 yen — a 20-fold increase. The rule that matters most: fees are set by your application filing date, not your approval date, so anyone whose residence card expires later this year should check their timeline now.
What happened
On July 3, 2026, Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) published a proposed cabinet order revising the fees for residence procedures and opened a public comment period running from July 3 to August 2, 2026. If finalized as proposed, the new fees would apply to applications received on or after October 1, 2026.
As of this writing, the order has not been formally promulgated — the agency still needs to finalize the rule after reviewing public comments. Immigration specialists generally expect the headline numbers (effective date and fee tiers) to hold, but nothing is final until the official notice is published.
How much fees are rising
| Application type | Current fee | Proposed fee (from Oct 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Status change/renewal — period granted ≤ 3 months | 6,000 yen | 10,000 yen |
| Status change/renewal — period granted 1 year | 6,000 yen | 30,000 yen |
| Status change/renewal — period granted 3 years | 6,000 yen | 60,000 yen |
| Status change/renewal — period granted 5 years or more | 6,000 yen | 75,000 yen |
| Permanent residency (PR) | 10,000 yen | 200,000 yen |
Figures above are for in-person/window applications, based on the ISA’s published draft order and wire reports (Jiji Press, Tokyo Shimbun). Whether a discount applies to online applications has not been confirmed — check the ISA’s official announcement once the order is formally promulgated.
The rule that matters most: filing date, not approval date
The single most important detail is that the fee you pay depends on when you file, not when your application is approved. If you submit your application by September 30, 2026, you pay the current fee (6,000 yen / 10,000 yen) even if the actual approval comes through after October 1. Applications filed on or after October 1, 2026 pay the new, higher fee.
Renewal applications can generally be filed starting three months before your current status expires. If your residence card expiry date falls in October, November, or December 2026, it’s worth checking whether you can file in September instead.
💡 Run your own numbers — try the Japan Visa Renewal Fee Calculator (2026 Rates).
A language-access controversy around the public comment process
Japanese media outlets, including Tokyo Shimbun, reported that the ISA’s public comment portal for this fee hike (open until August 2) only accepted submissions written in Japanese — meaning many of the foreign residents most directly affected by the fee increase faced a real barrier to weighing in. The comment period has now closed, but it’s a reminder to keep checking the ISA’s official site directly for further announcements, since the process may not be translated by default.
Checklist: what to do now
- Check your residence card’s expiry date — printed on the front or back. Pay close attention if it falls between October and December 2026.
- Reconsider your PR application timing — if you already meet the eligibility requirements (residence period, income, tax and social insurance payment history, etc.), the gap between 10,000 yen and 200,000 yen is large enough to justify filing sooner rather than later.
- Start gathering documents early — tax certificates (課税証明書), withholding tax statements (源泉徴収票), and employment certificates can take time to obtain; start in early September if you plan to file before the deadline.
- Recheck the official announcement before filing — this is still a draft order, not a finalized law. Confirm the final details on the ISA’s official website immediately before submitting your application.
💡 Tip: Want to see exactly how much more you’d pay depending on your visa length and filing date? Try our Japan Visa Renewal Fee Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I’ve already filed my application, will the new fee apply to me?
No. The fee is determined by your filing date, not your approval date. Applications filed on or before September 30, 2026 pay the current fee even if approval is delayed past October 1.
Q. Is the fee the same for online applications?
The figures above are for in-person/window applications. Whether online applications receive a discount hasn’t been confirmed publicly yet — check the ISA’s official announcement once the cabinet order is formally promulgated.
Q. When should I start preparing a PR application?
If you already meet or expect to soon meet PR eligibility (generally 10+ years of residence plus a clean recent record of income, tax, and social insurance payments), it’s worth considering filing before the fee jumps from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen at the start of October.
Q. Is this fee increase final?
As of August 4, 2026, the public comment period (which ran through August 2) has closed, but the order has not been formally promulgated yet. The effective date (October 1, 2026) and fee tiers are unlikely to change significantly, but you should always verify the final, official details before filing.
Key takeaways
- Status change/renewal fee: 6,000 yen → up to 75,000 yen (tiered by length of status)
- PR application fee: 10,000 yen → 200,000 yen (20x increase)
- What counts is your filing date, not your approval date — file by September 30 to keep the current fee
- Proposed effective date: October 1, 2026 (not yet formally finalized — confirm before filing)
This content is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional immigration advice. It is based on a draft cabinet order that has not been formally promulgated. Always confirm the final, official details with the Immigration Services Agency or a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) before filing.