Japan is poised to significantly raise the cost of legally residing in the country, according to recent proposals by the Immigration Services Agency. The changes, which have been communicated to the nation's parliament, include substantial increases for both visa renewals and, most notably, for permanent residency applications.
Steep Increases for Permanent Residency and Visa Renewals
The most dramatic proposed change targets permanent residency (PR). The fee for permanent residency is expected to surge from its current 10,000 yen to approximately 200,000 yen (around Rs 1.17 lakh), representing a 20-fold increase. This move signals a significant shift in Japan's immigration fee structure.
Deputy Commissioner of Japan, Soichiro Naito, informed the lower house that fees for five-year visa renewals are projected to rise to around 70,000 yen (approximately $440 or Rs 41,000). For shorter stays of three months or less, the renewal fee is expected to be around 10,000 yen (approximately Rs 6,000). Currently, all in-person visa renewals cost a flat 6,000 yen (approximately Rs 3,500), regardless of the duration of stay.
Legislative Amendments and Potential Ceilings
A proposed amendment to the Immigration Control Act has been submitted by the cabinet to raise the maximum chargeable amounts. Under this proposal, the ceiling for permanent residency permits could be set at 300,000 yen, while other visa types might see a maximum of 100,000 yen. Actual fees would be determined by government directives within these new limits.
Despite the overall tightening, the proposal does include provisions for applicants facing economic hardship, who may be eligible for reductions or exemptions. The specifics of these relief measures are yet to be detailed. This fee hike comes even as Japan continues to seek foreign workers to address its ongoing labor shortages, highlighting a complex approach to immigration policy.