Immigration News - Employment Visas, Global Mobility, Immigration Fees, Permanent Residency, Japan Japan | Visa issuance fees to rise in fiscal year 2026 Share this article LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) December 1, 2025 The Japanese government announced it will substantially raise visa issuance fees for foreign residents by 500%-900% in fiscal year 2026. Key Points: The fee hike is a response to the rise in foreign residents in the country, hitting a record high of nearly four million people in June 2025. The cost of changing visa status or reissuing a visa is expected to rise from ¥6,000 (about US$38) to ¥40,000 (about US$257), and the cost of a permanent residency visa will likely rise from ¥10,000 (about US$64) to ¥100,000 (about US$643). The government is expected to submit a bill in next year’s ordinary parliamentary session to revise the immigration control law, which sets a ¥10,000 cap on immigration fees. Targeted implementation for the fee increases is sometime in FY2026 (April 2026-March 2027). This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.