Japan to Raise Foreign Residency Fees by 1,150% in 2026

Japan's government has adopted an ordinance to increase fees for foreign nationals renewing or changing their residency status by 1,150%, effective October 2026. The fees will rise from a uniform ¥6,000 ($37) to as much as ¥75,000 ($470.29), depending on the length of the new residency status.

Specifically, extensions for up to three months will cost ¥10,000 ($62.71), one-year extensions will be ¥33,000 ($206.95), and three to less than five years will cost ¥64,000 ($401). For residency periods of five years or longer, the fee will be ¥75,000.

Reduced fees may apply for applicants facing financial hardship. This fee increase follows Japan's earlier decision to raise visa charges for foreign visitors for the first time in nearly fifty years and comes as the country recorded a foreign population of 4.13 million at the end of 2025.

The revenue from these increased fees is intended to support immigration management systems and related programs.