On May 29, 2026, Japan's House of Councillors (参議院 - Sangiin) officially voted to pass the Amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (入管難民法改正案) at its plenary session. After the House of Representatives passed it on April 28, this final step means the law is now officially enacted — no longer a bill.
This marks the first revision to Japan's administrative residence fee ceilings since 1982 — a span of 44 years.
📰 Update — May 29, 2026, Nikkei Shimbun: The House of Councillors voted to enact the immigration reform, raising the residence fee ceiling to 100,000 JPY (extensions/changes) and 300,000 JPY (permanent residency). The biggest immigration fee reform in 44 years.
- Source: Nikkei Shimbun 29/05/2026
1. Official Fee Table After the Law Takes Effect
The law raises the maximum fee ceilings. Actual fees will be set by government ordinance (政令 - Seirei), but the Immigration Services Agency (Nyukan) has already announced expected figures:
| Procedure Type | Previous Fee Ceiling | New Fee Ceiling | Expected Actual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Status Extension / Change | 10,000 JPY | 100,000 JPY | Depends on visa duration granted |
| Permanent Residency Application (永住許可) | 10,000 JPY | 300,000 JPY | Expected ~200,000 JPY |
Breakdown by visa duration:
| Visa Duration Granted | Current Fee | Proposed New Fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 3 months | ~6,000 JPY | ~10,000 JPY | × 1.7 |
| 1 year | ~6,000 JPY | ~30,000 JPY | × 5 |
| 3 years | ~6,000 JPY | ~60,000 JPY | × 10 |
| 5 years | ~6,000 JPY | ~70,000 JPY | × 11.7 |
| Permanent Residency (永住) | ~10,000 JPY | ~200,000 JPY | × 20 |
⚠️ Important: The figures above are projected by the Immigration Services Agency. The final exact fees will be published via government ordinance (政令). However, these figures are widely regarded as near-certain for financial planning purposes.
2. What's New: The JESTA System
Alongside the fee increases, this amendment formally establishes the legal framework for JESTA (Japan Electronic Travel Authorization — ジェスタ) — an online pre-entry screening system similar to the US ESTA.
| Feature | ESTA (USA) | JESTA (Japan — expected 2028) |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Visa-exempt travelers to the US | Tourists entering Japan |
| Method | Online pre-trip registration | Online pre-trip registration |
| Processing time | Minutes to 72 hours | Not yet announced |
| Validity | 2 years | Not yet announced |
| Fee | $21 USD | Not yet announced |
| Launch | Active | Fiscal year 2028 |
JESTA does not affect current Japan residents (work visa, student visa, permanent residency holders). It targets tourists arriving from visa-exempt countries.
3. Implementation Timeline — How Much Time Is Left?
The law passed today (May 29, 2026), but new fees are not collected immediately. The roadmap:
- May 29, 2026 — Today: House of Councillors passes → Law officially enacted.
- Coming weeks: Government issues government ordinance (政令) specifying exact fee amounts.
- Estimated autumn 2026: New fees begin being collected at Nyukan offices.
- No later than March 31, 2027: All new fees must be in effect.
The window to file under old fee rates is approximately 3-4 months, but this is not guaranteed — the government could accelerate the timeline at any point.
4. Who Needs to Act Right Now?
4.1 Anyone Considering Permanent Residency (永住)
This group faces the largest impact: fees jumping from 10,000 JPY to 200,000 JPY (× 20). If you already meet PR eligibility (10-year residency, or 3 years via HSP Visa), prepare and submit your application this week — do not wait.
Key note: PR applications average 4-6 months to process. Fees are paid when you collect your new residence card, not when you submit. So submitting early maximizes your chance of paying the old fee.
4.2 Workers with Expiring Visas (Gijinkoku, Tokutei Gino, Students)
If your visa expires between September 2026 and March 2027, you should:
- Submit your renewal application as early as possible (at least 3 months before expiry).
- Budget 30,000–70,000 JPY depending on the duration likely to be granted.
- Review Japan Visa Update 2026 for the full picture of recent policy changes.
4.3 IT Engineers (Gijinkoku) — Note on the N2 Requirement
Since April 15, 2026, Japan's Engineer Visa requires N2 Japanese proficiency. If you don't hold N2 yet, renewing or switching to Gijinkoku will be blocked — regardless of how much you pay. Prioritize passing N2, then address the fee.
5. International PR Fee Comparison — Where Does Japan Stand?
The Japanese government cited international benchmarking as justification for the increase:
| Country | Permanent Residency Fee | JPY Equivalent (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain) | ~£2,885 GBP | ~541,000 JPY |
| 🇦🇺 Australia (Permanent Residency) | ~$4,640 AUD | ~465,000 JPY |
| 🇺🇸 USA (Green Card) | ~$1,440 USD | ~216,000 JPY |
| 🇯🇵 Japan (new law) | ~200,000 JPY | 200,000 JPY |
| 🇨🇦 Canada (PR) | ~$1,365 CAD | ~150,000 JPY |
| 🇯🇵 Japan (old law) | 10,000 JPY | 10,000 JPY |
Japan's new 200,000 JPY fee is still below the UK, Australia, and the US — but the ×20 increase in a single revision is unprecedented in the country's immigration history.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is the law officially in effect now?
Answer: Yes — legally. The House of Councillors passed it on May 29, 2026, making it fully enacted law. However, the new fees are not yet being collected. An additional government ordinance (政令) must be published to set the exact amounts. New fees are expected to start being collected in autumn 2026, no later than March 31, 2027.
2. I'm in the middle of a visa renewal — will I pay old or new fees?
Answer: Revenue stamps (収入印紙) are only collected when you pick up your new residence card after approval — not at the time of filing. So if your application is already submitted but you pick up your card after the new fee schedule takes effect, you may pay the new rate. Monitor official Nyukan announcements for the exact enforcement start date.
3. Is 200,000 JPY the confirmed PR application fee?
Answer: It is the projected figure announced by the Immigration Services Agency, within the new legal ceiling of 300,000 JPY. The official amount will be set by government ordinance (政令). However, 200,000 JPY is the figure cited by virtually all official sources and immigration attorneys.
4. Are there fee waivers for international students or Tokutei Gino workers?
Answer: The law mentions possible reductions for refugees and government scholarship recipients. Workers on commercial visas (engineers, Tokutei Gino, self-funded students) are almost certainly required to pay the full new rate. Specific waiver policies will be clarified when the government ordinance is published.
5. Does JESTA affect people already living in Japan?
Answer: No. JESTA is designed for tourists arriving from visa-exempt countries — it has no impact on foreign nationals already holding valid residence status in Japan (work, student, or permanent residency visas). More details on JESTA will emerge as the 2028 launch approaches.
Related Articles
Japan's immigration policies are shifting rapidly in 2026. Stay informed:
- Japan House Passes Visa Fee Hike Bill — April 28, 2026
- 2026 Warning: PR Application Fee Cap to Increase to 300,000 JPY
- Japan Visa Update 2026: Rising Fees, Stricter PR Rules & New Departure Tax
- Japan HSP Visa 2026: Detailed Points Table and Fast-Track PR in 1-3 Years
- Breaking: Japan's Engineer Visa Now Requires N2 — April 2026
- Complete Guide to Japan Visa Types 2026: Work, HSP, Student, Spouse & Tourist Visas
- 5 Crucial Japanese Law Changes in 2026: Bicycle Fines, Taxes, Pension
✍️ This article was researched and written by the Expert Review Team at KidNihon, based on official reporting from Nikkei Shimbun on May 29, 2026. For any visa-related questions, please leave a comment below — we offer free consultations!