For many foreigners living in Japan, visa renewal is one of the most important, and sometimes stressful, parts of life in this country. A missing document, an error in your application, or simply not preparing in time can delay the process and, in some cases, affect the outcome of your application.

Starting October 1, 2026, there will be another important change to keep in mind. Japan’s Immigration Services Agency is introducing significant increases to the fees for changes of status of residence, extensions of your period of stay, permanent residence, and other residence procedures.

How much are the fees increasing?

Up until September 30, 2026:

• Change status of residence or extend period of stay: ¥6,000 at the counter / ¥5,500 online
• Permanent residence: ¥10,000

From October 1, 2026:

• 1-year permit: ¥33,000 at the counter / ¥27,000 online
• 3-year permit: ¥64,000 at the counter / ¥56,000 online
• 5-year or longer permit: ¥75,000 at the counter / ¥65,000 online
• Permanent residence: ¥200,000

You can find more information on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s website, including through this helpful English poster.

What does this mean for you?

As you can see above, the new fees are significantly more expensive. You will also note that the increase is more significant for visas with longer periods of stay. While all visa renewals previously cost the same flat fee, longer durations are now tiered – as an example, a five-year visa is ¥75,000 at the counter or ¥65,000 online.

This price increase is even more substantial for permanent residence status, which now carries a fee of ¥200,000.

For many, these cost increases will mean that the visa process will require even more consideration and planning.

How should you plan ahead?

First, it is important to keep in mind that for the vast majority of companies, including YARUKI Switch Group and YARUKI Switch Career, visa fees are the responsibility of the employee.

There are many reasons for this, including that many kinds of visas are not directly connected to your employer, such as “spouse or child of Japanese national.” Even for visas that are sponsored by a company, while they may be issued based on employment with that specific organization, they still ultimately belong to the employee.

With this in mind, financial planning is key to navigating this new landscape. Here are some tips:

1. Know when you need to change your visa and save accordingly:

If you are looking to start a new job, this can already be expensive – especially if you need to move across the country or the globe. These new visa fees need to be factored into your planning so you are prepared to cover the costs.

Before accepting any new position, look at the relevant costs holistically. Along with the visa fees, consider costs associated with travel, accommodations, finalizing preparations in your original location, and anything else. If you are not financially ready to take on this new role, you may need to take more time to prepare your finances.

If you are currently established in a job and just need to renew your visa – don’t let this change catch you off guard. I highly recommend identifying when you will need to pay your visa fee and putting money away on a monthly basis to ensure that you are ready.

Visa renewals are extremely important, and you would not want an unexpected expense like a housing/car repair or a surprising utility bill affecting your plans to live and work in Japan.

2. Consider the duration of the visa you are applying for:

Of course, you do not have ultimate control of the visa duration you will receive, but you may want to consider the duration when you apply. The longer the visa, the higher the upfront cost, but the lower the cost on a per-year basis.

As an example, a five-year or longer permit is ¥75,000 at the counter. This is significantly more than the ¥33,000 that it would cost for a one-year permit. However, the five-year visa breaks down to ¥15,000 per year – which would be significantly less expensive in total than renewing a one-year permit five times.

With this in mind, considering your current financial situation, which is more important to you – saving money now or later? Also, I definitely would not recommend applying for a visa with a longer duration than your intended stay in Japan, as you would be paying for time that you would not use.

In addition, if you meet the conditions to apply for permanent residence and are considering applying, I would plan far in advance. This change has the steepest increase, with a total fee of ¥200,000. You are only able to apply at the counter for this status.

3. Apply online:

This may seem obvious based on the numbers listed above, but you can save money by applying online. It can also help you avoid the hassles of applying at the counter, which can include long lines, lengthy commutes, taking time off work, and more.

Learn more about processes and considerations for applying online.

How can YARUKI Switch Group/YARUKI Switch Career help?

For YARUKI Switch Group employees – including teachers with Kids Duo, i Kids Star, Kids Duo International, and WinBe – while we are not able to assist with visa-related costs, we do provide valuable support with the visa process.

For successful candidates, we are able to sponsor visas for both applicants based in Japan and overseas.

Also, our caring and dedicated support team can help guide you through the visa process and answer any questions you may have. Having successfully supported countless new employees over the years, our team has the knowledge and experience to ensure that your application proceeds as smoothly as possible.

With the possibility of more changes to the visa process on the horizon, this support will be invaluable to new employees – especially those who need help with the Japanese language or navigating Japanese bureaucratic processes.

You can find more information on how YARUKI Switch Career supports employees.

You can also learn about considerations and responsibilities for employees looking to hold a company-sponsored visa.

A final reminder

Your residence status is an important part of your ability to live and work in Japan. Whether you are renewing your current status, changing to a different status, or preparing for permanent residence, start preparing early.

Keep your residence card, passport, employment information, tax documents, and other required paperwork organized, and always check the latest requirements with the Immigration Services Agency before submitting your application.

For the latest information, application procedures, and fee schedules, always refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.