Immigration Fee Hike from October 1: Only One Month Left to Act

Starting October 1, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan will implement the largest fee increase in history for immigration procedures. This revision applies to all residence status categories, including Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (EHI), and covers both status changes and period extensions.
Most importantly—there’s only one month left before the new fees take effect.

💴 The Fee Increase Is Massive

This is not a minor adjustment of a few thousand yen. It’s a jump of tens of thousands of yen—a major cost increase for both individuals and companies.

● Residence Status Change / Extension

Type	Current Fee	New Fee (from Oct 1)
1-year period	¥6,000	¥33,000
3-year period	¥6,000	¥64,000
5-year period	¥6,000	¥75,000

● Permanent Residence

Type	Current Fee	New Fee (from Oct 1)
Permanent Residence	¥10,000	¥200,000

That’s a ¥190,000 increase for permanent residence, and more than ¥60,000 higher for typical EHI renewals.

This is a serious financial burden for both foreign residents and employers.

📅 The Key Rule: The Fee Depends on the Application Date

A common misunderstanding is that the fee depends on the approval date. In fact, the fee is determined by the date of application.

• Applications submitted by September 30 → old fees apply
• Applications submitted on or after October 1 → new fees apply

This rule has been clearly stated by the Immigration Services Agency.

⏰ Only One Month Left — Apply Early

You can apply for an extension up to three months before your current period expires. That means anyone whose residence expires between October and December can still apply now and pay the old fee.

For companies employing foreign staff, this is the time to review renewal schedules immediately.

🧑‍💼 Affected Residence Statuses (Including EHI)

The new fees apply to all residence status categories for both changes and extensions:

• Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (EHI)
• Business Manager
• Specified Skilled Worker
• Dependent
• Professor / Researcher / Skilled Labor
• Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
• Spouse or Child of Japanese National
• Student → EHI
• EHI → Business Manager

The only exception is Temporary Visitor.

✅ Summary: Prices Are Rising — Act Now

• All residence status changes and extensions are affected
• Permanent residence: ¥200,000
• Other statuses: ¥33,000–¥75,000
• Fee determined by application date, not approval date
• Apply by September 30 to keep the old fee

Both companies and foreign residents will face significant cost increases. Act now to avoid paying several times more than necessary.

Our office provides full support for residence status renewals, changes, and permanent residence applications—especially in light of this upcoming fee hike.

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