Japan Plans Major Increase in Visa Fees for Foreign Residents

Japan is planning a major increase in the cost of visas for people living in the country. Right now, renewing or changing a visa is fairly cheap, but under the new plan, the price will become much higher. Permanent residency will also cost much more. What might change • Visa renewal fees could become five to nine times higher • Permanent residency could cost around ten times more • Changes may apply to almost all foreign residents • The final plan is expected within the next one to two years Why Japan is doing this • Current visa fees are very low compared with other countries • Japan wants to cover administrative costs • The government says it needs more funding to manage foreign resident services How this affects your pocket 1. Higher yearly or bi-yearly costs If you renew your visa every 1 or 3 years, the renewal cost will no longer be small. You will need to budget several times more money each renewal. 2. Families will feel it more A family of three or four will have to pay the higher fee for each person. Total costs may reach over ¥100,000 depending on the visa type. 3. Permanent residency becomes expensive People planning to apply for PR will need to save a much larger amount. This may affect students, freelancers, or low-income workers more strongly. 4. New job seekers and workers may face extra burden Foreign workers coming to Japan may hesitate because of the higher entry costs. 5. Companies may pass costs to employees Some employers previously helped pay visa fees. With higher fees, they may ask employees to cover more of the cost. 6. Long-term planning becomes more important Foreign residents will need to plan their finances and visa timing more carefully.