On October 1, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the fees for permission for change of status of residence, permission for extension of period of stay, and permission for permanent residence (residence permission fees) were revised.
In our June article “2026 Reform: Higher Immigration Fees | What the ¥100,000 and ¥300,000 Caps Mean,” we explained that what the amended Immigration Control Act raised was the ceiling amount, and that the actual amounts would be set by cabinet order. That cabinet order has now been issued, and the amounts you will actually pay have been fixed.
The biggest change is that the fee for a change or extension now varies with the length of the period of stay granted.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Revision of the Amount of Residence Permission Fees, etc. as of October 1, Reiwa 8”; the same Agency’s leaflet “Fees for Foreign Nationals’ Residence Procedures Will Be Revised from October 1, 2026”; the same Agency, “Fee Amounts and Fee Payment Methods for Online Applications”; the same Agency, “Measures for Reduction of or Exemption from Residence Permission Fees on or after October 1, Reiwa 8”; the same Agency, “Application for Re-entry Permit”
From which applications do the new amounts apply?
The reference point is “the date the application was received.” The revised amounts apply to applications received on or after October 1, Reiwa 8. For applications received by September 30, you pay the pre-revision amount even if permission is granted on or after October 1.
For online applications, the date of receipt can be confirmed in the notification email for the “provisional application receipt number” or the “application receipt number.”
Revised fees (permission for change of status of residence / permission for extension of period of stay)
The legal basis is Article 25, paragraph 1 of the amended Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
| Period of stay granted | Counter application | Online application |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | 10,000 yen | 10,000 yen |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | 18,000 yen | 15,000 yen |
| More than 6 months, less than 1 year | 25,000 yen | 21,000 yen |
| 1 year | 33,000 yen | 27,000 yen |
| More than 1 year, less than 3 years | 48,000 yen | 42,000 yen |
| 3 years or more, less than 5 years | 64,000 yen | 56,000 yen |
| 5 years or more | 75,000 yen | 65,000 yen |
Before the revision, the fee was 6,000 yen for a counter application and 5,500 yen for an online application.
Note: For online applications, a payment processing fee is charged in addition to the fee above. The payment processing fee is 330 yen where the period granted is less than 3 years and 550 yen where it is 3 years or more (both including tax). For example, the total payment for an extension with a period of stay of “1 year” is 27,330 yen, and for “5 years” it is 65,550 yen.
Fee for permission for permanent residence
| Permission | Before revision | After revision |
|---|---|---|
| Permission for permanent residence (counter) | 10,000 yen | 200,000 yen |
The ceiling set by the amended Immigration Control Act was 300,000 yen, but the actual amount has been set at 200,000 yen.
Fees that have not changed
The fees for a re-entry permit (counter applications: 4,000 yen for single use, 7,000 yen for multiple use; online applications: 3,500 yen for single use, 6,500 yen for multiple use) and for issuance of a Certificate of Authorized Employment (1,600 yen) have not changed. However, for online applications, a separate payment processing fee (220 yen) is charged.
Three things to keep in mind in practice
1. The amount is not known at the time of application
Because the amount for a change or extension is determined by the period of stay granted, it is not fixed at the time of application. For counter applications, the amount to be paid is stated on the postcard that arrives after the examination is completed; for online applications, it is stated in the email with a payment link that arrives after the examination is completed.
If permission is granted with the period of stay you hoped for (for example, 5 years), the amount will be higher; if a shorter period of stay is granted, it will be lower. Where a company bears the fee, it is safest to budget on the assumption of the highest amount (75,000 yen for a counter application).
2. A difference of up to 10,000 yen between counter and online
For a period of stay of “5 years,” the counter fee is 75,000 yen, while online it is 65,550 yen (including the payment processing fee), a difference of 9,450 yen. The difference grows when, for example, the whole family renews at the same time. Note, however, that revenue stamps cannot be used for online applications; payment is by convenience store payment or bank payment. For details, please see Online Application Fees Now Paid by Convenience Store or Bank.
3. For counter applications, prepare revenue stamps in advance
Applications received at the counter are paid with revenue stamps as before. The Immigration Services Agency advises that, because stocks of revenue stamps at the shops in each office and at convenience stores are limited, applicants should buy revenue stamps for the amount stated on the postcard in advance at a large post office or similar before visiting. Revenue stamps can be bought with cash only, and applicants are asked to cooperate by buying a combination with as few stamps as possible.
Fee reductions and exemptions
Under Article 67, paragraph 3 of the amended Immigration Control Act and Article 25, paragraph 2 of the Order for Enforcement of that Act, a system for reduction of and exemption from fees has been established.
Persons who may be eligible for reduction
You may be eligible for reduction if both of the following apply.
- Persons found to be in financial hardship to a degree equivalent to persons requiring public assistance as provided for in the Public Assistance Act (persons receiving protection equivalent to public assistance, persons receiving support benefits for Japanese left behind in China, etc., persons found to be in hardship to the same degree, etc.)
- Persons requiring humanitarian consideration (persons recognized as refugees, etc., persons admitted to child welfare facilities, etc., patients with designated intractable diseases and persons with special disabilities and their guardians, persons solely caring for and raising a biological child of a Japanese national or special permanent resident, etc.)
Amounts after reduction
| Permission | Fee after reduction |
|---|---|
| Permission for change of status of residence | 10,000 yen |
| Permission for extension of period of stay | 10,000 yen |
| Permission for permanent residence | 20,000 yen |
Note: Reduction for permission for permanent residence is limited to spouses or children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, or special permanent residents, etc. In addition, a request for reduction is limited to counter applications and is not supported in the Online Residence Application System. Supporting materials such as a certificate of receipt of public assistance must be submitted together with the application documents.
Exemption is limited to very few cases, such as a change to the Diplomat or Official status of residence.
Summary
- Residence permission fees have been revised for applications received on or after October 1, Reiwa 8.
- For changes and extensions, the amount is determined by the period of stay granted: 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen at the counter, and 10,000 yen to 65,000 yen online (plus a separate payment processing fee).
- Permission for permanent residence is now 200,000 yen.
- Applications received by September 30 are charged the pre-revision amount, even if permission is granted in October or later.
- There is a reduction system for persons in financial hardship who require humanitarian consideration, and requests can only be made with counter applications.
We explain the other system changes of 2026 in 2026 Summary of Immigration System Changes, and the approach to examination for permission for permanent residence in How the Permanent Residence Guidelines Changed on October 1, Reiwa 8.
Our Support
Now that fees have risen, a denial or permission with a short period of stay is a heavier burden than ever. We help you put your application in order and aim for permission with the period of stay you want. We also accept consultations from companies that want to forecast the renewal costs for their foreign employees.
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