The Japanese government has approved a proposal to significantly raise fees associated with residency applications, amid growing concerns from foreign residents.
On October 10, the Japanese government officially decided to propose amendments to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act which include substantial increases in fees for residency examination. The fees for renewing or changing residency status will rise significantly from the current 6,000 yen to a range of 10,000 to 70,000 yen, while the fee for permanent residency permission is expected to increase from 10,000 yen to about 200,000 yen. This decision is linked not only to the surge in the number of foreign residents in Japan but also to the Ministry of Finance's pursuit of additional funding sources.
The new law will also introduce an electronic travel authorization system (JESTA) starting in 2028, aimed at pre-assessing the eligibility of foreign visitors for entry. This system is projected to generate over 100 billion yen in revenue by charging fees to tourists entering Japan without visas. The immigration office envisions that these funds will support language education and other policies for foreign residents, although critics highlight that the primary users of JESTA are short-term visitors, raising questions about the allocation of these revenues.
Historically, the fee ceiling for residency applications was set at 10,000 yen in an amendment made in 1981. The latest proposal suggests raising this ceiling dramatically, indicating a trend towards shifting the financial burden of immigration services onto foreign nationals. The Immigration Agency aims to present its rationale for these fee hikes in hopes of garnering public understanding, despite the underlying financial complexities and concerns from the foreign community about the affordability and transparency of these changes.
