In brief
Japan’s government has increased the fee for foreigners seeking permanent residency twenty times, setting it at 200,000 yen. New criteria now include a stable income at or above the national average, a Japanese‑language test, and pension equivalence. The move follows a July five‑fold visa‑fee lift and responds to a record 9.5% rise in Japan’s foreign residents, now exceeding 4.1 million. The policy has sparked long queues at immigration offices and heightened enrolments in Japanese language courses. From April next year, even tighter standards are slated to take effect.
Japan has raised the cost for foreigners applying for permanent residency by twenty‑fold, setting the fee at 200,000 yen (about US$1,270).
The new rule also introduces strict eligibility conditions: applicants must earn at least Japan’s average household income of about 5.75 million yen, pass a basic Japanese language test, and meet pension‑benefit criteria equivalent to thirty years of contributions to the national pension system.
The changes are part of a broader immigration overhaul ordered by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Earlier this year, Japan implemented its first visa‑fee hike in fifty years, raising all visa charges five‑fold to keep pace with inflation and foreign exchange fluctuations. The policy moves come as Japan’s foreign‑resident population surpassed 4.12 million in 2025, a 9.5 % jump from the previous year, heightening concerns about social integration.
Queuing at immigration offices, especially in Tokyo’s main bureau, stretched beyond seven hours as applicants rushed to secure their new, higher fee. Micaiah Stevens, a long‑time Tokyo resident, said the additional cost felt “too convenient,” questioning whether the requirements were truly aimed at long‑term integration. Simultaneously, enrollments in Japanese language courses and J‑Test preparation have spiked in response to the imminent stricter thresholds set for April next year.
The government stressed that the measures aim to make immigration “orderly,” ensuring that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can “live safely and securely.” Yet the swift fee hikes, coupled with new conditions, raise questions about the balance between economic needs and equitable access for foreign workers and migrants.
