Japan Immigration News

Japan visa fee cap to surge more than tenfold under new immigration bill

Release Date: 2026-03-10
Media: Japan Times
Summary: Japan plans to significantly raise the legal caps on immigration-related residence fees through a bill approved by the Cabinet. The proposal would increase the maximum fee for changing status of residence or extending a stay from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000, and raise the ceiling for permanent residence applications from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000. This is the first revision to the statutory fee ceiling since 1982, although fees within the cap have been raised several times in recent years.

Officials say the change is necessary because the growing foreign resident population — which reached a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025 — has increased the costs of immigration administration. The government intends to consider not only administrative processing expenses but also broader costs such as digitalization, My Number-linked data systems, and support services for foreign residents. Fee reductions or exemptions may be provided for people in serious hardship, including trafficking victims.

The government aims to introduce the new fee framework by March 31, 2027. Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said the reform is intended to ensure foreign nationals bear an appropriate share of the costs associated with immigration and residence management.

The bill also proposes introducing Japan’s electronic travel authorization system, JESTA, by March 31, 2029. Visa-exempt travelers and some cruise or transit passengers would need to obtain advance approval before traveling to Japan. The system is designed to prevent problematic entrants from arriving and to reduce congestion at airports. Airlines and ship operators would be required to submit passenger information in advance and deny boarding to travelers who are not authorized to enter. Walk-through immigration gates are also planned to streamline entry procedures for approved travelers.
Tags: Residence Application

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