The Japanese government has increased residence permit fees by approximately twenty times for foreigners who wish to remain in the country.
In line with its policy of tightening border and immigration controls—led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—the Japanese government has made it more difficult for foreigners living in the country to obtain permanent residency.
Under the new rules, which will be phased in gradually, foreigners seeking permanent residency in Japan will be required to document an annual income above the national average and prove they can communicate fluently in Japanese in daily life. Additionally, applicants will need to document that they have made pension contributions equivalent to those of an individual who has paid social security premiums continuously for 30 years in the country. Previous guidelines did not specify clear minimum thresholds for income, language proficiency, or the required length of pension contributions.
Under the new regulations, the application fee for permanent residency has been increased 20-fold, rising from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. Hundreds of people seeking to complete their applications before the fee increase and new criteria took effect formed long lines outside immigration offices in the capital, Tokyo.
In a statement posted on her social media account, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted that the growing foreign population in the country had sparked public concerns and a perception of unfairness; she stated that these measures were taken to preserve social harmony and establish “orderly coexistence” with foreigners.
