When foreign nationals apply for a status of residence in Japan, an application fee may be required depending on the type of application.

From October 1, 2026, application fees for procedures such as change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence have been significantly revised.

This article provides an overview of the fees for major residence-related procedures, including the differences between applications made at an immigration office and online applications.

1. Application for Change of Status of Residence / Application for Extension of Period of Stay

For applications for change of status of residence and extension of period of stay accepted on or after October 1, 2026, the application fee depends on the period of stay actually granted.

For applications made at an immigration office, the fee is 10,000 yen when the granted period of stay is three months or less, 18,000 yen when it is more than three months and up to six months, 25,000 yen when it is more than six months and less than one year, 33,000 yen for one year, 48,000 yen when it is more than one year and less than three years, 64,000 yen when it is three years or more but less than five years, and 75,000 yen when it is five years or more.

For online applications, the basic fees are 10,000 yen, 15,000 yen, 21,000 yen, 27,000 yen, 42,000 yen, 56,000 yen, and 65,000 yen, respectively.

In addition, online applications are subject to a separate payment processing fee.

The payment processing fee is 330 yen when the basic fee is 42,000 yen or less, and 550 yen when the basic fee is 56,000 yen or 65,000 yen.

For example, if a three-year period of stay is granted, the total fee for an online application is 42,330 yen, consisting of the basic fee of 42,000 yen plus a 330-yen payment processing fee.

If a period of stay of five years or more is granted, the total fee is 65,550 yen, consisting of the basic fee of 65,000 yen plus a 550-yen payment processing fee.

The fee is determined based on the period of stay actually granted, not the period of stay requested by the applicant.

2. Application for Permanent Residence

For applications for permanent residence accepted on or after October 1, 2026, the application fee has been increased from the previous 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen.

Unlike applications for change of status of residence or extension of period of stay, the permanent residence fee does not vary according to the period of stay granted.

Permanent residence applications are also not currently included in the online residence application system.

Therefore, the permanent residence fee is generally 200,000 yen and is paid using a revenue stamp.

In certain cases, the fee may be reduced or exempted if the applicant meets specific requirements.

When the fee is reduced, the amount is 20,000 yen.

3. Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

There is no statutory fee payable to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for an application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Therefore, when applying for a COE before entering Japan from overseas, there is no immigration application fee for the issuance of the COE itself.

However, other costs may arise, such as visa application fees, fees for obtaining certificates, postage, and translation costs.

4. Application for Acquisition of Status of Residence

There is also no statutory fee payable to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan for an application for acquisition of status of residence.

For example, this procedure may apply when a foreign national is born in Japan and wishes to remain in Japan after birth.

5. Application for Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted

There is no application fee for permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the status of residence previously granted.

This permission allows a foreign national to engage in an activity that is different from the activities permitted under their current status of residence. The scope and conditions of the permission vary depending on the status of residence and the activity involved.

For online applications, this permission is not generally applied for as a standalone online procedure. It may be included in an online application when it is submitted together with an application for change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, acquisition of status of residence, or another eligible procedure.

6. Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment

The fee for an application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment is 2,000 yen when applying at an immigration office and 1,600 yen when applying online.

For an online application, a separate payment processing fee of 220 yen is added, making the total 1,820 yen.

A Certificate of Authorized Employment does not itself grant a new work permit to a foreign national.

7. Application for a Re-entry Permit

For a single re-entry permit, the fee is 4,000 yen for an application made at an immigration office and 3,500 yen for an online application.

For a multiple re-entry permit, the fee is 7,000 yen at an immigration office and 6,500 yen for an online application.

For online applications, a separate payment processing fee of 220 yen is required.

Therefore, the total fee for a single re-entry permit submitted online is 3,720 yen, while the total for a multiple re-entry permit is 6,720 yen.

However, under the current online system, an application for a re-entry permit can be submitted online when it is made together with an application for change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, or acquisition of status of residence.

In addition, foreign nationals who meet certain conditions may be able to use the Special Re-entry Permit System without obtaining an ordinary re-entry permit.

Summary

From October 1, 2026, the fees for applications for change of status of residence and extension of period of stay are determined according to the period of stay actually granted.

For online applications, a separate payment processing fee is also required in addition to the basic application fee.

The fee for permanent residence has also been significantly increased to 200,000 yen.

The fees introduced in this article are statutory fees paid to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Residence-related applications often require the preparation of many documents, and an application may be denied if there are deficiencies or problems with the submitted documents.

For this reason, in practice, many applicants choose to obtain assistance from an administrative scrivener or another professional. In such cases, professional fees, certificate issuance fees, translation costs, postage, and other expenses may be charged separately.

The applicable fees and online application procedures may vary depending on the type of application. When making an application, it is important to check the latest information applicable to your specific situation.

【１　Types of Status of Residence in Japan】

【３　Main Residence and Immigration Applications in Japan】

【９　Submitting Immigration Applications on Behalf of Foreign Nationals in Japan】