Japan PR Application Fee Jumping to ¥200,000+: Apply Before the Hike

Japan's PR fee is jumping from ¥10,000 to an estimated ¥200,000+. Cabinet approved the bill March 2026. Apply now and save ¥190,000 or more.

Bottom line: Japan's PR application fee is about to jump from ¥10,000 to an estimated ¥200,000+. The Cabinet approved a bill on March 10, 2026, raising the statutory fee cap to ¥300,000. The bill is now in the Diet. If you're planning to apply for PR, doing it at the current fee could save you ¥190,000 or more.

Information current as of March 2026 based on the Immigration Services Agency announcements and Cabinet decisions. The exact new fee will be set by Cabinet Order after the bill passes the Diet. For a full overview of PR requirements, see our complete PR guide.

The fee history and what's coming

Period	PR application fee	Status
Until March 2025	¥8,000	Past
April 2025 – present	¥10,000	Current
After bill passes (expected before March 2027)	Estimated ¥200,000 (cap: ¥300,000)	Cabinet-approved bill, in Diet

This is a 20–30x increase. The fee cap also affects other immigration procedures:

Procedure	Current fee	Proposed new cap
PR application (永住許可)	¥10,000	¥300,000
Status change (在留資格変更)	¥4,000	¥100,000
Period extension (在留期間更新)	¥4,000	¥100,000

Important: The ¥300,000 is the statutory cap, not the actual fee. The actual fee will be set lower by Cabinet Order. Based on government discussions, the PR fee is expected to land around ¥200,000. But even ¥200,000 is a massive jump from ¥10,000.

Why the increase?

The government's stated rationale:

Cost recovery: Processing a PR application costs the ISA significantly more than ¥10,000. The new fee is meant to reflect the actual administrative cost of reviewing documents, conducting background checks, and processing the application over months.
Alignment with other countries: The US Green Card costs $1,440+ (application + biometrics). UK Indefinite Leave to Remain costs £2,885. Japan's current ¥10,000 is exceptionally low by international standards.
Funding immigration enforcement: The increased revenue will fund stronger enforcement of the new revocation provisions and other immigration control measures.

When will the new fee take effect?

The timeline:

March 10, 2026: Cabinet approved the bill raising fee caps
2026 Diet session: Bill is currently being debated in the Diet
After Diet approval: Cabinet Order sets the actual fee amount
Expected enforcement: Before March 31, 2027

There has been no announcement of an exact enforcement date. The bill must pass the Diet first. But given the April 2027 timeline for other immigration changes (PR revocation enforcement, 5-year visa requirement deadline), a similar timeframe is likely.

Should you apply now?

If you meet the PR requirements or are close to meeting them, the math is simple:

Apply at ¥10,000 now vs. apply at ¥200,000+ later = ¥190,000 saved.

Even if your application is rejected, ¥10,000 is a small price to pay for trying. At ¥200,000+, a rejection stings much more.

However, don't rush into an application with weak documentation just to beat the fee increase. A rejection goes on your record and may affect future applications. The key question: are your tax and pension payments fully up to date with no late history? If yes, apply now. If not, fix the gaps first — the fee increase isn't worth a rejection. For a detailed assessment, see our guide on whether to apply now or wait.

What about applications already submitted?

If you've already submitted your PR application at the current ¥10,000 fee, you're safe. The fee change applies to new applications filed after the enforcement date. Applications pending before the change will be processed at the fee paid at submission.

Processing times matter

Remember that Tokyo processing times are currently 18–24 months. If you apply now at ¥10,000, your application will be in the queue well before the fee changes. Even if the fee increases during your processing period, you won't be charged extra.

Location	Current processing time
Tokyo (Shinagawa)	18–24 months
Osaka	10–12 months
Nagoya	8–12 months
Other regional bureaus	6–10 months

If navigating the PR requirements and deciding whether to apply now feels overwhelming — especially with rules changing on multiple fronts — that's exactly why I built LO-PAL. Post your question for free and get advice from people who understand the system.

Other immigration fees also rising

The same bill raises caps for all major immigration procedures. If you're planning any visa-related applications in the next year (status change, period extension, re-entry permit), be aware that those fees may also increase significantly.

Get Your PR Application Ready Before the Fee Hike

At ¥10,000, the cost of applying is negligible. At ¥200,000+, every detail needs to be perfect. Post a task on LO-PAL for free: a local helper can review your documents, check your eligibility, and help you prepare a strong application while the fee is still low. You only pay when you accept task help.