Japan raises residency fees for foreign nationals, increasing the cost of permanent residency by 20 times. Several outlets report the fee rises to 200,000 yen (about $1,270/£955), effective as part of broader immigration policy changes.
The updates also include new conditions for applicants. Sources say people seeking permanent residency must meet additional requirements related to income, pension status, and proficiency in the Japanese language. BBC and the other reports describe this as an attempt to manage Japan’s growing foreign population, with some outlets noting strong public demand shortly before and around the start of the changes.
While coverage aligns on the scale of the fee increase and the added eligibility requirements, outlets vary in emphasis. BBC foregrounds the policy-management rationale, while the other sources focus more on the specific costs and the practical impact for applicants, including the reported queues at immigration offices.
