Japan raises permanent residency fee twentyfold

Japan has raised the fee for foreigners seeking permanent residency in the country twentyfold, to $1,270. Those seeking permanent residency must now also meet new requirements on income, pension and Japanese-language ability.

Long queues formed outside immigration offices earlier this week as applicants sought to avoid the fee increase, with the main immigration office in Tokyo reporting waiting times of more than seven hours.

The fee increases are part of a series of changes to Japan’s immigration policy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, aimed at managing the country’s rapidly growing foreign population.

In July, Japan implemented a fivefold increase in visa fees for all foreigners — the first visa fee increase in 50 years. The authorities said it was intended “to reflect inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations”.

Although immigration remains politically sensitive and restrictive in Japan, the country’s ageing population is relying ever more on foreign workers to fill labour shortages.

Japan’s foreign resident population passed 4.12 million at the end of 2025, marking a record increase of 9.5% from the previous year. However, this has led to growing anxiety about immigration and social change.

Takaichi has made immigration management one of her top priorities since taking office in October last year.