Japan Residence & PR Fees Rise Up to 20× from 1 October 2026: What Indians Should Do Before Sep 30
TL;DR: Japan's Cabinet adopted the ordinance on 25 August 2026 — the fee increase is now confirmed law. The PR application fee rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 (20×) on 1 October 2026. Applications accepted on or before 30 September 2026 keep the current fees. The fee amount is locked by your acceptance date, but you pay when your application is approved.
What's changing?
Japan's Immigration Services Agency (ISA) formally adopted the new residence procedure fee structure, effective 1 October 2026. The Cabinet adopted the ordinance on 25 August 2026, following a public comment period that closed on 3 August. This is now confirmed law.
The key changes:
- PR application fee: ¥10,000 → ¥200,000 (20× increase)
- Renewal/extension fees: Flat ¥6,000 → tiered ¥10,000–¥75,000 based on permission length
- Online discount: Online filing is cheaper than in-person at every tier
These are in-Japan residence procedure fees paid to the ISA when your application is approved. They are completely separate from the visa sticker fee paid at embassies/consulates abroad.
The new fee table (effective 1 October 2026)
| Permission length | In-person (¥) | Online (¥) | In-person (₹) | Online (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 months | 10,000 | 10,000 | ₹5,900 | ₹5,900 |
| 3–6 months | 18,000 | 15,000 | ₹10,620 | ₹8,850 |
| 6–12 months | 25,000 | 21,000 | ₹14,750 | ₹12,390 |
| 1 year | 33,000 | 27,000 | ₹19,470 | ₹15,930 |
| 1–3 years | 48,000 | 42,000 | ₹28,320 | ₹24,780 |
| 3–5 years | 64,000 | 56,000 | ₹37,760 | ₹33,040 |
| 5 years+ | 75,000 | 65,000 | ₹44,250 | ₹38,350 |
| Permanent Residence | 200,000 | — | ₹1,18,000 | — |
Current fees (until 30 Sep 2026): Renewal/change-of-status ¥6,000 in-person / ¥5,500 online. PR ¥10,000.
Note: PR applications have no online option — the ¥200,000 fee applies regardless of how you file.
The grandfather clause (confirmed)
Applications accepted on or before 30 September 2026 pay the current fees (PR ¥10,000; renewals ¥6,000). The applicable fee is fixed by the acceptance/receipt date at the ISA counter or online portal.
The key point: The fee amount is locked by your acceptance date, but you pay it when Immigration approves your application. So if you file before 1 October but are approved in December, you still pay the old ¥10,000 — payable at approval. This is the rule that makes the 30 September deadline meaningful.
Who's most affected?
PR applicants feel the biggest hit: ¥10,000 → ¥200,000 is a 20× increase — from about ₹5,900 to ₹1,18,000.
Long-permission renewals hurt more than short ones:
- A 3–5 year renewal: ¥64,000 in-person vs the current ¥6,000 (10×+)
- A 1-year renewal: ¥33,000 in-person vs ¥6,000 (5×+)
Short stays (up to 3 months) see minimal change at ¥10,000.
Online filing is cheaper at every band — use it if you can.
Is this the same as the visa fee at the embassy?
No — these are two completely different fees.
| Fee | Where paid | Current amount | Changing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa sticker fee | Indian embassy / VFS | ₹500 for Indians | No — unchanged |
| Residence procedure fee (this article) | ISA in Japan | ¥6,000–¥10,000 | Yes — from 1 Oct 2026 |
Komichi's guides on SSW visa costs and fake agents correctly state the embassy visa fee is ₹500 for Indians and exempt from the July 2026 embassy fee hike. That remains true. This article is about a different fee entirely.
What should you do?
If you're PR-eligible
Filing so your application is accepted on or before 30 September 2026 locks in the ¥10,000 fee — a ¥190,000 (~₹1,12,100) saving.
Check if you meet the income and pension requirements:
If you have a renewal coming up
Consider whether to renew before October — but remember the fee is paid on approval, and processing times vary. The acceptance date is what matters for which fee applies.
For everyone
- File online where possible — the online discount is real (¥6,000–¥10,000 saved at higher tiers)
- Keep records of your acceptance date — this determines which fee applies
- Check the ISA website for current processing times if timing is critical
The bigger picture
Yes, ¥200,000 (~₹1,18,000) for PR is a large jump. But context matters:
- US green card filing fees exceed $1,200 (~¥190,000) — and that's before attorney costs
- UK ILR (indefinite leave to remain) costs £2,885 (~¥540,000)
- Australia PR (subclass 189) visa charge is AUD 4,640 (~¥450,000)
Japan's PR fee is rising, but it's still not extreme by global standards. The bigger impact may be psychological — a higher fee signals the government is raising the bar for permanent settlement.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 July 2026 | ISA announces proposed fee revision |
| 3 August 2026 | Public comment period closes |
| 25 August 2026 | Cabinet adopts the ordinance |
| 1 October 2026 | New fees take effect |
Related reading
- Japan PR for Indians — Complete Guide
- How Much Money to Move to Japan
- Three Years or Forever — Choosing Your Japan Strategy
- SSW Visa Cost from India
- Dependent Visa for Family
This article reflects the fee structure adopted by Japan's Cabinet on 25 August 2026, effective 1 October 2026. For your specific situation, consult an immigration specialist.