Japan immigration changes: week of 28 September 2026

Japan begins applying tougher permanent residence rules from 1 October 2026: income, pension and Japanese language now tested

From 1 October 2026 the Immigration Services Agency, the Japanese government office that decides visa and residence cases, started using new guidelines for people applying to stay in Japan permanently. Applicants are now expected to show yearly income above the average Japanese household, expected pension of about 30 years of contributions, and enough Japanese to hold an everyday conversation. The new rules are being brought in by stages, and they affect foreign residents already living in Japan on work or study-based status who hoped to move to permanent residence.

Reported in the news, not yet confirmed on an official government website. Check the linked source before you rely on it.

Reported by euronews.com: https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/01/japans-sanae-takaichi-announces-new-tightened-measures-for-foreigners-seeking-permanent-re

Japan's new residence permit fees reported to start on 1 October 2026, with the price rising with the length of stay granted

An immigration law firm reports that the Immigration Services Agency, which handles residence permits in Japan, replaced its flat fee with a sliding scale from 1 October 2026. Changing your residence status or extending your stay is reported to cost from 10,000 yen for up to three months to 75,000 yen for five years or more when filed in person, instead of a flat 6,000 yen; online filing is reported to run from 10,000 to 65,000 yen, instead of a flat 5,500 yen. This has not been confirmed here against the agency's own published fee page, so check the agency before paying.

Reported in the news, not yet confirmed on an official government website. Check the linked source before you rely on it.

Reported by fragomen.com: https://www.fragomen.com/insights/japan-new-residence-permit-fee-structure-from-october-1-2026.html ,