“Visa renewal is going to cost hundreds of thousands of yen.” That claim spread on social media in spring 2026. Since then the law has changed, and from October 1, 2026, visa fees in Japan have actually moved to new amounts.
In short, visa renewal and change of status fees now range from ¥10,000 to ¥75,000, depending on the period of stay you are granted. One year costs ¥33,000, and 5 years or more costs ¥75,000 (when you apply at the counter). Permanent residence (PR) costs ¥200,000. Before, these were ¥6,000 or ¥10,000, so this is a big increase.
Based on official information from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA), this article covers:
- The new fees for visa renewal, change of status, and permanent residence
- Online application fees and the payment fee
- What happens if you applied by September 30
- When fees are reduced or not charged (permanent residents renew their Residence Card for free)
- When and how to pay
- Rough totals when a family renews together
- How the law changed
Disclaimer: This article is based on official information as of October 2026. It is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice for your specific case. Before applying, check the latest amounts on the ISA website.
1. Fees from October 2026: The Quick List
Here are the fees for the three most common procedures.
| Procedure | Previous fee (counter) | From October 1, 2026 (counter) |
|---|---|---|
| Extension of period of stay (visa renewal) | ¥6,000 | ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 (depends on the period granted) |
| Change of status of residence | ¥6,000 | ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 (depends on the period granted) |
| Permanent residence | ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 |
Visa renewal and change of status use the same fee table. The longer the period you are granted, the higher the fee, but per year, longer periods work out cheaper.
Fees for re-entry permits (¥3,500 for single, ¥6,500 for multiple) and for the certificate of authorized employment (¥1,600) have not changed.
(Source: ISA "Revision of Residence Permit Fees as of October 1, 2026" / ISA "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" / ISA "Application for Change of Status of Residence" / ISA "Application for Permanent Residence" / ISA "Paying Fees for Online Applications")
2. Visa Renewal and Change of Status Fees by Period of Stay
Check how much you would pay for your period of stay. Online applications have a slightly lower fee, plus a separate payment fee.
| Period of stay granted | At the counter | Online (fee + payment fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 + ¥330 |
| Over 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 | ¥15,000 + ¥330 |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | ¥25,000 | ¥21,000 + ¥330 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 + ¥330 |
| Over 1 year, under 3 years | ¥48,000 | ¥42,000 + ¥330 |
| 3 years or more, under 5 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 + ¥550 |
| 5 years or more | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 + ¥550 |
Even with the payment fee added, online is cheaper whenever you are granted more than 3 months. Only for 3 months or less is online ¥330 more, because of the payment fee.
Keep in mind that you cannot choose the amount yourself. Even if you want 5 years, the period is decided in the review, and the fee follows from that. For why you might get 1, 3, or 5 years, see Japan Visa Renewal: When to Apply, Documents, Special Period.
Applied by September 30? You pay the old fee
Applications received by September 30, 2026 pay the old fee (¥6,000 at the counter, ¥5,500 online), even if they are approved after October 1. If you applied in September and your approval postcard came in October, you still pay the old amount.
(Source: ISA "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" / ISA "Application for Change of Status of Residence" / ISA "Paying Fees for Online Applications")
3. The Permanent Residence Fee Is ¥200,000
The permanent residence fee went from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000, 20 times higher.
| Previous fee | From October 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 |
| Permanent residence (reduced fee) | ¥20,000 |
You may have seen “¥300,000.” That is the legal cap. The actual amount is set by government ordinance (the rules the government makes to put a law into practice), and it is ¥200,000.
For permanent residence too, applications received by September 30, 2026 pay the old ¥10,000.
If you are thinking about permanent residence, paying taxes and pension properly matters as much as the fee. Check the conditions in the Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence.
(Source: ISA "Application for Permanent Residence" / ISA "Outline of the Amended Act" (PDF))
4. When Fees Are Reduced or Not Charged
Reduced fees for people in serious financial hardship
People in serious financial hardship, such as those receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo), and people who need humanitarian consideration may pay a reduced fee. The reduced amounts are:
| Procedure | Reduced fee |
|---|---|
| Change of status of residence | ¥10,000 (whatever period is granted) |
| Extension of period of stay | ¥10,000 (whatever period is granted) |
| Permanent residence | ¥20,000 |
To get the reduction, you submit proof such as a certificate of receiving public assistance together with your application. The reduction is not available for online applications. If you qualify, apply at the counter. The detailed conditions are in the ISA’s guidelines on who qualifies for the reduced fee.
Permanent residents renew their Residence Card for free
Many people worry that renewal got expensive for permanent residents too. But permanent residents do not have visa renewal (extension of period of stay). What they do is apply to renew the validity of the Residence Card itself, and the ISA’s official page says “no fee is charged.”
However, if you receive a Specified Residence Card (a single card combining the Residence Card and My Number Card), a fee may apply. It is basically free the first time you get one from June 14, 2026, but later exchanges and similar cases may require a fee.
(Source: ISA "Fee Reductions and Exemptions from October 1, 2026" / ISA "Application for Renewal of the Validity Period of the Residence Card" / ISA "Specified Residence Card Application")
5. When and How Do You Pay?
You pay when your application is approved, not when you apply. If your application is not approved, you do not pay the fee.
| How you applied | How to pay | When to pay |
|---|---|---|
| At the counter | Revenue stamps (shunyu inshi, stamps used to pay government fees, sold at post offices and elsewhere) | When the postcard arrives, buy stamps for the amount written on it and bring them when you pick up your new Residence Card |
| Online | Convenience store payment or bank payment (Pay-easy or online banking) | Follow the email you receive after the review is finished |
For online applications, credit cards and QR code payments are not accepted. Online applications from October 1, 2026 cannot be paid with revenue stamps either.
The payment email comes from “@service-dgft.com,” and emails about the payment process and completion come from “@veritrans.jp.” The ISA warns that any email asking you to pay the fee from a different address is a scam. If an unfamiliar address asks you to pay, do not click the link; check the official ISA page instead.
The ISA also says that shops and convenience stores inside immigration offices have limited stocks of revenue stamps, and asks applicants to buy them in advance at a large post office. The amounts are large, such as ¥75,000, so preparing early helps.
(Source: ISA "Buying Revenue Stamps" / ISA "Paying Fees for Online Applications")
6. How Much Does It Cost When a Family Renews?
Here are rough totals under the new fees. The period you are granted is decided in the review, so treat these as estimates (counter applications).
Working on your own
| Periods granted | Total fees over 5 years |
|---|---|
| 1 year every time (5 renewals) | ¥33,000 × 5 = ¥165,000 |
| 3 years + 1 year, etc. | ¥64,000 + ¥33,000 + … (depends on the combination) |
| 5 years in one go | ¥75,000 |
For the same 5 years, renewing every year costs more than twice as much as getting 5 years at once. To get a longer period, pay your taxes and insurance properly and do not forget your notifications to immigration.
A family of three (you, your spouse, one child)
| If all three are granted 1 year | Total per renewal |
|---|---|
| Previous fee (¥6,000 × 3) | ¥18,000 |
| New fee (¥33,000 × 3) | ¥99,000 |
With a bigger family, one renewal can cost close to ¥100,000. If your family renews in the same month, leave room in that month’s budget.
(Source: ISA "Application for Extension of Period of Stay")
7. Why the Increase? How the Law and Ordinance Changed
The fee increase happened in this order.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | Fees revised to ¥6,000 for renewal and change of status (¥5,500 online) and ¥10,000 for permanent residence |
| May 29, 2026 | The amended Immigration Control Act passed. The legal cap rose to ¥100,000 for renewal and change of status, and ¥300,000 for permanent residence |
| October 1, 2026 | New fees set by government ordinance took effect (¥10,000 to ¥75,000 for renewal and change of status, ¥200,000 for permanent residence) |
Until then, the legal cap was ¥10,000. The ISA explains that the specific amounts are left to government ordinance so fees can be adjusted flexibly as prices and costs rise.
The same amendment also created JESTA, an electronic travel authorization system. People from countries that can enter Japan without a visa will get authorization online before departure when coming for short stays such as tourism. Its start date is set as “a date specified by government ordinance by March 31, 2029 (Reiwa 11)” and has not been decided yet. It does not directly affect people already living in Japan, but family and friends visiting you may need it.
(Source: ISA "Outline of the Amended Act" (PDF) / ISA "Revision of Fees for Residence Procedures" / Nikkei "Residence Renewal Fee Cap Raised to ¥100,000 as Amended Immigration Act Passes" / ISA "Revision of Residence Permit Fees as of October 1, 2026")
FAQ
Q: How much is the visa renewal fee in Japan now?
A: From October 1, 2026, it depends on the period you are granted. At the counter, 1 year costs ¥33,000 and 5 years or more costs ¥75,000. Online is cheaper, plus a separate payment fee of ¥330 or ¥550.
Q: When did the new fees start?
A: With applications received on October 1, 2026. Applications received by September 30 pay the old fee (¥6,000 at the counter, ¥5,500 online), even if approved after October.
Q: Is the permanent residence fee ¥300,000?
A: No. The actual fee is ¥200,000. ¥300,000 is the legal cap.
Q: Do permanent residents pay a high fee to renew their Residence Card?
A: No. The ISA says there is no fee for permanent residents to renew the validity of their Residence Card. A fee may apply if you receive a Specified Residence Card.
Q: Did my family’s visa renewal fees go up too?
A: Yes. Renewal and change of status for every status of residence, including Dependent and Spouse or Child of Japanese National, use the same fee table. You pay one fee per family member.
Q: What if I cannot afford the fee?
A: People in serious financial hardship, such as those receiving public assistance, may have the fee reduced to ¥10,000 (¥20,000 for permanent residence). This is only for counter applications.
Q: How much cheaper is applying online?
A: If you are granted more than 3 months, online is cheaper than the counter even with the payment fee. For 1 year, for example, it is ¥27,330 online versus ¥33,000 at the counter.
Q: Did the re-entry permit fee go up too?
A: No. A re-entry permit is still ¥3,500 for single use and ¥6,500 for multiple use (online adds a separate payment fee).
Key Takeaways
Visa fees in Japan are no longer “¥6,000 for everything” from October 2026. Build them into your budget before your next renewal.
- ✅ Visa renewal and change of status cost ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 (counter), depending on the period granted
- ✅ Permanent residence costs ¥200,000. ¥300,000 is the legal cap, not the actual fee
- ✅ Online is cheaper than the counter when you are granted more than 3 months (payment fee separate)
- ✅ Applications received by September 30 pay the old fee
- ✅ Permanent residents renew their Residence Card for free (unless receiving a Specified Residence Card)
- ✅ You pay when approved. Payment emails from anywhere other than “@service-dgft.com” are scams
