Japan has increased the fee for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency 20 times, setting it at 200,000 ¥ (about $1,270) and adding new income, pension and Japanese‑language requirements.
To qualify, applicants must now earn at or above the Japanese average household income of 5.75 million ¥ and prove the equivalent of 30 years of employee pension contributions, or show comparable financial assets.
Long queues widened outside immigration offices earlier this week, with Tokyo’s main bureau reporting wait times over seven hours as applicants raced to beat the hike.
The fee adjustment follows a five‑fold increase in visa fees for all foreigners implemented last July – Japan’s first visa fee rise in 50 years. Officials claim the change reflects inflation and currency fluctuations.
Japan’s ageing population has turned increasingly to foreign workers to fill labor shortages, yet the soaring costs and stricter criteria have sparked debate over fairness and the future of the nation’s diverse workforce.
Tokyo‑based expatriate Micaiah Stevens said the higher fee and new requirements represent “a treatment that feels too convenient” for foreigners, adding that the additional burden may deter talent from staying in Japan.
From April next year, permanent‑residency applicants will face even tighter language tests, prompting a surge in enrollments at Japanese language schools and registration for the Japanese‑Language Proficiency Test.
Officials emphasize that the changes aim to ensure orderly immigration and secure living conditions for both Japanese citizens and foreign residents, acknowledging public concerns over rapid demographic change.
