Visa Watch! The Gulf and Japan: week of 28 September 2026

Want to stay in Japan for good? It just got harder: income, pension and Japanese now tested

See if it affects you.

The Immigration Services Agency, the government office that decides residence cases, published revised permanent residence guidelines on 1 October 2026. The income part applies now: household income must be above the average for a Japanese household of the same size. Expected pension and Japanese at B1 level apply to applications made from 1 April 2027.

Effective from 1 October 2026.

Official source: 永住許可に関するガイドライン（令和８年１０月１日改定）

Staying in Japan just got a lot more expensive: permanent residence now 200,000 yen

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From 1 October 2026, Japan charges much more for residence permits. Permanent residence now costs 200,000 yen, 20 times the old fee of 10,000 yen. Changing your status or extending your stay used to cost a flat 6,000 yen at the counter, or 5,500 yen online. The price now depends on how long a stay you’re granted: from 10,000 yen for three months or less, up to 75,000 yen for five years or more at the counter (65,000 yen online). Anyone whose application was received by 30 September 2026 pays the old fee.

Effective from 1 October 2026.

Official source: Fees for residence procedures for foreign nationals will be revised from October 1, 2026