08/05/2026
🇯🇵 Big changes ahead for foreign residents in Japan.
Japan's Lower House has passed a bill set to dramatically raise immigration fees, the first major overhaul in over 40 years. The fee for permanent residence is expected to jump to ¥200,000, while a 5-year visa renewal could cost ¥70,000. The legal cap for permanent residency applications was raised from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.
The bill also introduces JESTA, an online pre-screening system for short-term visitors, aimed at easing airport congestion and preventing illegal stays, with rollout planned for 2028.
About 60% of the added revenue is earmarked for services benefiting foreign residents, including Japanese-language education. But critics warn the steep hikes could burden lower-income migrant workers and worsen labor shortages in sectors like healthcare and hospitality.
If you're living in or moving to Japan, this one affects you. 👀