Overview
- The Diet is debating a draft amendment made public May 21–22 that would raise statutory fee caps from about ¥10,000 to ¥100,000 for visa changes and renewals and to ¥300,000 for permanent-residence applications.
- If the law passes, the actual amounts paid by applicants would be set later by cabinet order and reporting shows those practical fees could be roughly ¥10,000–¥70,000 for renewals and about ¥200,000 for permanent residency.
- Long-term residents and households with multiple dependents say the hikes would create large, recurring costs and push some families to scramble for money to cover routine renewals.
- Refugee claimants are likely to be hit hardest because they commonly receive short permits, often cannot work for months after applying, and appear unlikely to get systematic fee reductions or waivers.
- Civil-society groups and protesters have criticized the plan as harsh, warning it will raise barriers to permanent residency, increase reliance on fee aid from NGOs, and could drive some people into irregular status.