For applications received through the Online Residence Application System (RAS) on or after October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the way fees are paid changes. Instead of the previous revenue stamps, fees will be paid by convenience store payment or bank payment.
At the same time, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan is warning that scam emails posing as immigration may circulate, taking advantage of this change. This is content we strongly encourage those who use online applications, and those who coordinate applications for foreign employees at their companies, to check.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Fee Amounts and Fee Payment Methods for Online Applications (applicable only to applications made on or after October 1, 2026)”; the same Agency, “Scams Impersonating the Immigration Services Agency”; the same Agency, “Revision of the Amount of Residence Permission Fees, etc. as of October 1, Reiwa 8”
What is changing
Through an amendment to the Enforcement Regulation of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, fees for permissions or issuances in response to applications received online are now to be paid by a method entrusted to a provider designated by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency.
| Applications received by September 30 | Applications received on or after October 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Online application | Revenue stamps | Convenience store payment or bank payment |
| Counter application | Revenue stamps | Revenue stamps (no change) |
Point: Counter applications will continue to use revenue stamps on and after October 1. Only online applications are going cashless.
The fee amounts themselves have also been revised. For the amounts, please see Residence Procedure Fees Revised from October 1, Reiwa 8.
The payment flow
- An examination completion email arrives from the Online Residence Application System
- Later, an email with a payment link stating the fee amount arrives from “@service-dgft.com”
- At the link, choose a payment method (convenience store payment or bank payment). At this point an email arrives from “@veritrans.jp”
- Pay
- When payment is completed, a payment completion email arrives from “@veritrans.jp”
The email with the payment link is sent only to the email address used for user registration with the Online Residence Application System. You need to set up your email in advance so that you can receive messages from each of these domains.
Points to note about payment methods
- What you can use is convenience store payment and bank payment. Bank payment means paying at an ATM using a Pay-easy payment number, or paying via internet banking.
- You cannot pay at a bank counter.
- Credit card payment and QR code payment cannot be used.
- Some convenience stores do not support this payment.
- A payment processing fee is charged (330 yen where the period granted is less than 3 years, 550 yen where it is 3 years or more, and 220 yen for a re-entry permit or Certificate of Authorized Employment). The amount is the same for convenience store payment and bank payment.
- No paper payment slip will be sent by post.
Payment deadline and keeping records
The Immigration Services Agency asks applicants to pay by the day before they receive their Residence Card, etc. As a rule you do not need to present proof of payment, but you may be asked to confirm it, so do not delete the payment completion email; keep it until you have received your Residence Card, etc.
If you have filed multiple applications as an intermediary
Because an email with a payment link is sent for each application, you cannot pay for them all at once. Nor can you change the payment amount. If your company is coordinating multiple applications, including those for family members, it is reassuring to keep track of which email corresponds to which application.
How to spot scam emails posing as immigration
The Immigration Services Agency is asking people to check the following points.
1. The sender’s domain
| Domain | Purpose |
|---|---|
| @service-dgft.com | Email with a payment link |
| @veritrans.jp | Emails when selecting a payment method and when payment is completed |
Any email from another address asking you to pay the fee is a scam. Do not open the link or carry out any payment procedure.
2. The addressee and the order ID
A genuine email always states, as the addressee, the authentication ID + the RAS user’s name, and also an order ID composed of the Residence Card number or passport number, the application receipt number, and so on.
3. Payments immigration does not ask for
Requests such as the following do not come from immigration.
- Payment of the fee by credit card or QR code payment
- Payment by paper payment slip
- Money other than the permission fees set by the Immigration Control Act (e.g., “necessary to stay in Japan,” “companies that employ foreign nationals must pay a management fee”)
For companies: The tactic “companies that employ foreign nationals must pay a management fee” is also given as an example. We recommend sharing this with the staff in charge of human resources and accounting as well.
Where to make payment-related inquiries
According to the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance, those who have requested receipt by post should contact the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Online Examination Division 2, Odaiba Branch Office (03-3599-1068), and those who have requested receipt at the counter should contact the regional immigration services office that received the application. Do not call telephone numbers given in suspicious emails.
Summary
- For online applications received on or after October 1, Reiwa 8, fees are paid by convenience store payment or bank payment. Counter applications continue to use revenue stamps.
- Genuine emails come only from @service-dgft.com and @veritrans.jp.
- Immigration will never ask for credit card or QR code payment, a paper payment slip, or money other than the fees.
- Pay by the day before you receive your Residence Card, etc., and keep the payment completion email.
For how to get started with online applications, see Online Application for Engineer Visa; for the other system changes of 2026, see 2026 Summary of Immigration System Changes.
Our Support
Our office also handles procedures by online application. If you are anxious about the change in how fees are paid, or are unsure whether an email you received is genuine, please feel free to consult us.
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