Japan to Raise Residence Permit Fees, Permanent Residency Application to Reach Rp22 Million

The Japanese government is set to increase the costs of processing residence permits for foreign nationals starting from October 2026. This increase applies to everything from the extension or change of residence status to applications for permanent residency.

The increase is substantial. The application fee for permanent residency status will surge from the previous 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen, which is approximately Rp22.2 million.

According to The Japan Times, the Japanese government adopted regulations on Tuesday that raise fees for foreign nationals renewing or changing their residence status in Japan. The fee, which is currently set at a uniform 6,000 yen, will change to a maximum of 75,000 yen starting in October.

For applications processed directly at administrative offices, the fee for extending a residence permit for up to three months will be set at 10,000 yen, or approximately Rp1.1 million. Meanwhile, a one-year extension will incur a fee of 33,000 yen, or about Rp3.66 million.

For extensions of residence permits lasting between three and five years, the cost will reach 64,000 yen, or approximately Rp7.1 million. For permits of five years or more, a fee of 75,000 yen, or about Rp8.32 million, will be charged.

The sharpest increase occurs in the application for permanent residency status. The cost will jump twentyfold, from the previous 10,000 yen (approximately Rp1.1 million) to 200,000 yen (approximately Rp22.2 million).

This fee hike is part of the revision to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act passed last May. Amidst these rising tariffs, the Japanese government has also expanded the group of foreign nationals eligible for fee reductions after considering public feedback.

Guidelines from the Japan Immigration Services Agency previously stipulated that fees could be reduced to 10,000 yen for temporary residence and 20,000 yen (approximately Rp2.22 million) for permanent residency for those meeting two specific requirements: experiencing financial hardship equivalent to public assistance recipients and requiring humanitarian consideration.

Following public input, the scope of individuals who can obtain fee reductions for humanitarian reasons has been expanded. These concessions include foreign nationals who are solely responsible for raising biological children of Japanese nationals or foreign nationals with special permanent resident status.

Relief may also be granted to foreign nationals who would face inhumane conditions if their residence permit were denied. Special permanent resident status refers to individuals who have lived in Japan since before World War II and lost Japanese citizenship after the war, as well as their descendants.

Under the revised law, the Japanese government has set a maximum fee limit of 100,000 yen (approximately Rp11.1 million) for temporary residence and 300,000 yen (approximately Rp33.3 million) for permanent residence. The specific amounts to be paid will be determined through related regulations.