Japan has introduced major changes to its Japan permanent residency rules, including a sharp increase in application fees and new requirements related to income, pensions and Japanese-language skills.
The permanent residency application fee has increased 20-fold to 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955) under the new immigration measures.
Foreign nationals applying for permanent residency must now demonstrate a stable income at or above Japan’s average household income. The latest government data, released in July, put average household income at 5.75 million yen in 2024.
Applicants will also face stricter pension requirements. Their expected pension benefits must be equivalent to those of a person enrolled in Japan’s employee pension system for 30 years. However, financial assets may be considered if expected pension benefits fall below the required level.
Japan permanent residency language requirement
Further changes to Japan permanent residency applications will take effect from April next year.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate basic Japanese-language proficiency, according to reports. The upcoming requirement has already contributed to increased enrolments at Japanese-language schools and greater interest in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Japan increases immigration fees
The permanent residency fee increase is part of wider changes to Japan’s immigration system.
Japan also increased visa fees for foreign nationals in July, marking the country’s first visa fee increase in 50 years. Authorities said the move was intended to reflect inflation and fluctuations in exchange rates.
From October 1, fees for changing or extending residency status will also depend on the length of stay requested. The charges range from 10,000 yen for stays of three months or less to 75,000 yen for five years or longer.
Discounts will be available for people facing financial hardship and those recognised as refugees.
Long queues at immigration offices
The fee changes prompted long queues at immigration offices as foreign residents attempted to submit applications before the higher charges came into effect.
Tokyo’s main immigration bureau reportedly recorded waiting times of more than seven hours earlier this week.
Japan’s foreign resident population reached a record 4.12 million at the end of 2025, increasing by 9.5% from the previous year.
The changes come as Japan continues to rely on foreign workers to help address labour shortages caused partly by its ageing population, while immigration remains a politically sensitive issue.
The government says the measures are intended to ensure that policies concerning foreign nationals are managed in an orderly way as the foreign resident population continues to grow.
