Japan Will Increase the Cost of Residency Permits PR applications will cost JPY 200,000 starting on October 1.
Starting on October 1, 2026, Japan will increase the cost of applying for a permanent residence permit. Here are some things Indian residents, employees, and students should know.
Thousands of Indians who live, work, and study in Japan are among the foreign nationals who will soon have to pay much increased immigration fees. A revised residence permit cost structure has been confirmed by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) and is anticipated to go into effect on October 1, 2026.
The elimination of the current flat-fee structure is the most significant change. Rather, applicants will pay according to the length of time they are granted permission to remain, and applications for permanent residence will see an extremely high increase.
The cost of a residence permit will vary depending on the length of stay.
After October 1, anyone wishing to modify their residency status or prolong their stay will be charged in accordance with the authorized duration of stay. For in-person applications:
JPY 10,000 for a maximum of three months
Up to JPY 75,000 for five years or longer
Regardless of the authorized time, applicants have up until now paid a fixed JPY 6,000.
For permits longer than three months, online applications will still be less expensive than paper ones, but they will also become more costly.
The range of online costs is JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000.
The current online cost is JPY 5,500.
The sharpest increase is seen in the permanent residence fee.
Permanent residency applicants are affected by the most costly change.
Applying for permanent residence in person will cost JPY 200,000 instead of the present JPY 10,000. That is undoubtedly the biggest change in the new schedule and a twenty-fold increase.
This is consistent with a global trend among immigration authorities, whereby governments are progressively placing the burden of administrative expenses on long-term migrants.
Earlier Applications Are Still Subject to Current Fees
One crucial deadline exists. Anyone who applies for:
Modification of Residency Status
Extension of Stay Period
Long Term Residency
will continue to pay the present charge until October 1, 2026, even if immigration rules on the application after the new fees take effect.
What This Signifies for Japanese Indians
For Indian IT experts, engineers, researchers, students, and skilled laborers, Japan continues to be a preferred destination. The Indian community is still expanding thanks to direct flights to Japan from places like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai.
If you currently reside in Japan and intend to apply for permanent residency, change your residence status, or renew your visa, submitting before October 1, 2026, could save you a significant amount of money.
Travunited Take
We think it's important to make plans for this deadline. If you can apply before October 1st, you may be able to avoid Japan's significantly increased immigration fees and save a significant amount of money.
