Japan Residence Procedure Fees Effective October 1, 2026: Change of Status, Extension of Period of Stay, and Permanent Residence
The fees that apply from October 1, 2026 to change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence; the payment method for online applications; and the fee reduction and exemption measures.Key Points
- From October 1, 2026, the fee for permission for change of status of residence or extension of period of stay in Japan depends on the period of stay granted: JPY 10,000 to JPY 75,000 for a counter application and JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000 for an online application.
- The fee for permission for permanent residence is JPY 200,000 for a counter application; the Immigration Services Agency’s notice shows no online amount for it.
- The revised fees apply to applications received on or after October 1, 2026. For an application received by September 30, 2026, the fee before the revision applies, even if permission is granted on or after October 1.
- For online applications filed on or after October 1, 2026, the fee is paid by convenience-store payment or bank payment instead of revenue stamps, and a separate payment fee of JPY 330 or JPY 550, depending on the fee amount, is required in addition to the fee. Credit card and QR code payments are not accepted.
- The notice provides that the fee may be reduced for a person who is both in hardship comparable to that of persons requiring public assistance and in need of humanitarian consideration; hardship alone does not qualify, and in some cases eligibility is determined individually. A reduction can be sought only in a counter application with supporting documents; where one is granted, the fee is JPY 10,000 for change of status or extension of period of stay and JPY 20,000 for permanent residence.
- Fee exemptions are limited to specified cases involving the Diplomat and Official statuses of residence and certain Designated Activities cases.
From October 1, 2026, the fee for permission to change status of residence or to extend a period of stay in Japan is set by the period of stay granted and by the filing channel. A counter application granted a period of 3 months or less carries a fee of JPY 10,000; one granted 5 years or more carries a fee of JPY 75,000.
The fee amounts are set in Article 25, paragraph 1 of the Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, as amended by Cabinet Order No. 268 of 2026 with effect from October 1, 2026. The amended order also defines who may receive a fee reduction or a fee exemption.
For global mobility and HR teams supporting employees in Japan, overseas professionals whose clients live in Japan, and foreign nationals preparing their own applications, this article sets out the fees that apply from October 1, 2026, the payment method for online applications, and the reduction and exemption measures, based on the Immigration Services Agency’s notice dated September 17, 2026, its public information leaflet, and its fee-reduction guidelines of August 2026.
1. Residence Procedure Fees Effective October 1, 2026
Four points take effect on that date:
- Change of status and extension of period of stay — fees are determined by the period of stay granted and the filing channel, in seven tiers (Section 2).
- Permanent residence — the fee for a counter application is JPY 200,000.
- Payment for online applications — for online applications filed on or after October 1, 2026, the fee is paid by convenience-store payment or bank payment; revenue stamps cannot be used.
- Reduction and exemption — the amended order defines who may receive a reduced fee and who may be exempted from the fee.
Which applications the revised fees apply to. The revised fees apply to applications received on or after October 1, 2026. For an application received by September 30, 2026, the fee before the revision applies, even if permission for that application is granted on or after October 1, 2026. The applicable fee therefore depends on the date the application was received, not the date of permission.
The Immigration Services Agency sets out this rule in its notice on the fee revision and its Q&A on the fee revision (both in Japanese).
2. Fees for Change of Status and Extension of Period of Stay
For permission for change of status of residence and permission for extension of period of stay, the fee is set by two facts: the period of stay granted and the filing channel.
| Period of Stay Granted | Counter Application | Online Application |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | JPY 10,000 | JPY 10,000 |
| More than 3 months, up to 6 months | JPY 18,000 | JPY 15,000 |
| More than 6 months, less than 1 year | JPY 25,000 | JPY 21,000 |
| 1 year | JPY 33,000 | JPY 27,000 |
| More than 1 year, less than 3 years | JPY 48,000 | JPY 42,000 |
| 3 years or more, less than 5 years | JPY 64,000 | JPY 56,000 |
| 5 years or more | JPY 75,000 | JPY 65,000 |
In every tier except the shortest, the online fee is lower than the counter fee; for a period of 3 months or less, both are JPY 10,000. For online applications, a separate payment fee is added to these amounts (Section 4).
3. Permanent Residence: JPY 200,000
From October 1, 2026, the fee for permission for permanent residence is JPY 200,000 for a counter application.
The notice sets out this fee for counter applications only; its online column for permanent residence shows no amount. This article therefore gives no online figure for permanent residence, and any question about filing a permanent residence application online should be confirmed with the Immigration Services Agency.
A fee reduction for permanent residence applicants is possible only in limited cases, described in Section 5.
4. Online Applications: Payment Method
For online applications filed on or after October 1, 2026 through the Immigration Services Agency’s online residence application system, the fee is paid through a payment service provider designated by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, by convenience-store payment or bank payment. Revenue stamps cannot be used for these online applications.
A separate payment fee is required in addition to the online fees in Section 2. For permission for change of status of residence and permission for extension of period of stay, the Immigration Services Agency’s page on fees and payment methods for online applications (in Japanese) sets the payment fee according to the fee amount:
| Online Fee | Payment Fee |
|---|---|
| JPY 10,000 | JPY 330 |
| JPY 15,000 | JPY 330 |
| JPY 21,000 | JPY 330 |
| JPY 27,000 | JPY 330 |
| JPY 42,000 | JPY 330 |
| JPY 56,000 | JPY 550 |
| JPY 65,000 | JPY 550 |
The amount paid is the fee plus the payment fee — for example, JPY 27,330 for a fee of JPY 27,000. The payment fee is the same for convenience-store payment and bank payment, and it includes tax. Credit card payment and QR code payment are not accepted.
The payment steps, and any later change to these amounts, should be confirmed on that page before filing.
5. Fee Reduction and Exemption
The order also defines who may pay a reduced fee and who may be exempted from the fee. Both are limited to defined groups.
Reduction. The notice provides that the fee may be reduced for a person recognized as being in hardship comparable to that of persons requiring public assistance under the Public Assistance Act, and who requires humanitarian consideration. Both conditions must be met; hardship alone does not qualify.
The Immigration Services Agency’s guidelines of August 2026 describe the persons expected to fall within each condition. Examples include:
- Hardship — a person receiving protection treated in accordance with the Public Assistance Act, or a refugee or complementary protection applicant receiving protection payments under the protection measures for such applicants.
- Humanitarian consideration — recognized refugees and persons granted complementary protection who extend their period of stay as Long-Term Residents; victims of trafficking in persons changing to or extending Designated Activities status; and a foreign national solely raising a biological child of a Japanese national or special permanent resident.
The guidelines describe persons who may qualify, and the notice states that the fee may be reduced — not that it will be. For certain change-of-status or extension cases, the guidelines state that eligibility is determined individually, taking into account factors such as assets and work status. For permanent residence applicants who fall within the limited eligible categories, the determination is also made individually, taking into account factors such as assets and residence circumstances. For permanent residence, the guidelines limit potential eligibility to certain family members of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, or special permanent residents, with eligibility determined individually.
The guidelines set out twelve categories of humanitarian consideration in full, and they should be consulted directly rather than inferred from these examples.
Reduced fee amounts. Where a reduction is granted, the fee is:
- Permission for change of status of residence — JPY 10,000
- Permission for extension of period of stay — JPY 10,000
- Permission for permanent residence — JPY 20,000
For change of status and extension of period of stay, the Immigration Services Agency’s Q&A describes the reduction to JPY 10,000 as applying where a period of stay of more than 3 months is granted; for a period of stay of 3 months or less, the standard fee is already JPY 10,000 (Section 2). A person who receives a Specified Residence Card at the time of permission may need to pay the fee for issuing that card in addition to these amounts.
Counter applications only. The online residence application system does not currently support fee reductions. Meeting the conditions described in the guidelines does not in itself reduce the fee: a person seeking a reduction must file the application at a counter and submit, together with the application documents, the supporting documents that the Immigration Services Agency specifies for the relevant categories. Whether the fee is reduced is determined by the Immigration Services Agency.
The supporting documents for each category are listed on the Immigration Services Agency’s page on fee reduction and exemption measures from October 1, 2026 (in Japanese).
Exemption. The notice provides that the fee may be waived for persons changing to the Diplomat or Official status, for Official status holders extending their period of stay, and for persons changing to or extending Designated Activities status for specified activities as staff, or household members of staff, of two offices in Japan named in the notice.
6. Check Current Official Information Before Filing
This article reflects the Immigration Services Agency’s notice and materials as of September 30, 2026.
Operational details — the payment steps for online applications, the payment fee, and guidance on specific cases — may be updated over time. Current information should be confirmed on the Immigration Services Agency’s website before an application is filed, and questions about a specific application should be directed to the nearest regional immigration services office.
The period of stay granted, and therefore the fee for change of status or extension of period of stay, is determined in the Immigration Services Agency’s examination. This article does not predict it.
7. Conclusion
For applications received on or after October 1, 2026, the fee for a change-of-status or extension application turns on a short sequence of facts:
Period of stay granted
→ Counter or online filing
→ Applicable standard fee
→ Online payment method and separate payment fee, where applicable
→ Reduction or exemption, where applicable
This leads to the operational rule of this article:
For change-of-status and extension applications, the standard fee is determined by the period of stay granted and the filing channel.
Online applications are paid by convenience-store payment or bank payment, with a separate payment fee of JPY 330 or JPY 550 in addition to the fee. Permission for permanent residence carries a fee of JPY 200,000 for a counter application. Reductions are limited to persons who meet both conditions set by the order and can be sought only in a counter application with supporting documents; exemptions are limited to the specified cases. Eligibility in any individual case is for the Immigration Services Agency to determine.
Scope Note
Apostille Japan is a Tokyo-based Gyoseishoshi office handling agreed Japan-side steps for eligible documents issued or prepared in Japan, including document review and procurement where legally and practically permissible, notary coordination where required, Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille applications, Certified Translation, final document checks, and international delivery for submissions to the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The required evidence, document form, authentication route, translation requirement, and final submission structure depend on the receiving authority, document type, issuing authority, and purpose of use. Apostille Japan does not determine foreign-law requirements or guarantee acceptance by a receiving authority.
This article summarizes the Immigration Services Agency’s published information on residence procedure fees effective October 1, 2026, for general reference. Apostille Japan does not currently handle applications for change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, or permanent residence, and this article does not provide advice on any individual immigration application in Japan.