Overview
- The Immigration Services Agency published a draft ordinance on Friday that replaces the flat ¥6,000 fee with a sliding scale of ¥10,000–¥75,000 for status changes and renewals tied to permitted residency length.
- The fee for permanent residency would increase from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 and those applications will be accepted only at in-person counters.
- Online filings would get discounts of ¥3,000–¥10,000 versus counter requests to encourage digital submissions.
- The draft limits full exemptions to diplomats and allows fee reductions only for people who meet both poverty-equivalent criteria and humanitarian grounds, prompting refugee and support groups to warn short-term residents and asylum seekers who renew often will bear heavier costs.
- Officials say the change, enabled by a May law amendment, could raise about ¥69–92 billion a year to fund stricter enforcement including removal operations and new language and rules education programs and the draft will accept public comments before an intended October 1, 2026 implementation.