Japan Slams Shut Door on Foreign Residents with Massive Visa Fee Hikes

The Japanese government has approved significant increases in fees for foreign nationals renewing or extending their residency visas, including those seeking permanent residency. Starting October 1, the new pricing structure will see fees jump by as much as 967 percent for some applications.

The current flat rate of 6,000 yen (US$38) for renewals and status changes will be replaced with a tiered system based on visa duration. The new rates are: 10,000 yen (67 percent increase) for 3 months or less, 18,000 yen (200 percent increase) for 3-6 months, 25,000 yen (317 percent increase) for 6 months-1 year, and 33,000 yen (450 percent increase) for exactly 1 year.

The fee for permanent residency will jump from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen, a 1,900 percent increase. This is part of a broader trend of increased fees for foreign residents in Japan, including higher visa fees and a tripling of the departure tax.