Guide
What each step costs
Current fees, the dates they changed, and the superseded figures still circulating.
Two different ministries charge for two different things, and both raised their fees recently. The immigration fees below are paid in Japan by revenue stamp (収入印紙) and only when the application is granted -- a refusal costs nothing. The visa fee is paid abroad, in local currency, and is not charged if the visa is refused.
Both increases are recent enough that most secondary sources are still wrong. Immigration fees rose on 1 April 2025 and visa fees on 1 July 2026, so a guide written before those dates -- or copied from one -- will understate the cost.
Immigration procedures — paid in Japan, on permission
| Procedure | At a window | Filed online | In force since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 在留資格認定証明書交付申請 / Certificate of Eligibility | No fee | No fee | — |
| 在留資格変更許可申請 / Change of status | ¥6,000 | ¥5,500 | 1 Apr 2025 |
| 在留期間更新許可申請 / Renewal of period of stay | ¥6,000 | ¥5,500 | 1 Apr 2025 |
| 在留資格取得許可申請 / Acquisition of status | No fee | No fee | — |
| 永住許可申請 / Permanent residence (for comparison) | ¥10,000 | — | 1 Apr 2025 |
Visa — paid abroad at the embassy or consulate
| Visa type | Fee | In force since | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一次 / Single entry | approx. ¥15,000 | 1 Jul 2026 | Paid in local currency |
| 数次 / Multiple entry | approx. ¥30,000 | 1 Jul 2026 | Paid in local currency |
| Refused application | No fee | — | Nothing is charged if no visa is issued |
Superseded figures still widely quoted
| Item | Old figure | Applies only to |
|---|---|---|
| Change of status / renewal | ¥4,000 | Applications received on or before 31 Mar 2025 |
| Permanent residence | ¥8,000 | Applications received on or before 31 Mar 2025 |
| Single-entry visa | ¥3,000 | Applications accepted on or before 30 Jun 2026 |
| Multiple-entry visa | ¥6,000 | Applications accepted on or before 30 Jun 2026 |
Sources
Application for Certificate of Eligibility
出入国在留管理庁 / Immigration Services Agency
The Certificate of Eligibility procedure; its statutory basis (入管法第7条の2); that no fee is charged; and a standard processing period of one to three months.
Application for Change of Status of Residence
出入国在留管理庁 / Immigration Services Agency
The change-of-status procedure (入管法第20条); the filing period; a standard processing period of one to two months; and the fee payable on permission -- 6,000 yen at a window, 5,500 yen online, revised 1 April 2025.
Application for Extension of Period of Stay
出入国在留管理庁 / Immigration Services Agency
The renewal procedure (入管法第21条); that a holder of six months or more may file from about three months before expiry; a standard processing period of two weeks to one month; and the same revised fee.
Application for Acquisition of Status of Residence
出入国在留管理庁 / Immigration Services Agency
The acquisition procedure (入管法第22条の2・第22条の3); that it must be filed within 30 days of the triggering event; and that no fee is charged.
Revision of fees for residence procedures
出入国在留管理庁 / Immigration Services Agency
The fee revision effective 1 April 2025 that raised change-of-status and renewal from 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen at a window, with a reduced 5,500 yen for online filing, and permanent residence from 8,000 yen to 10,000 yen.
Visa fees (in force from 1 July 2026)
外務省 / Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The fee schedule in force from 1 July 2026 -- approximately 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa. The 3,000 yen figure quoted almost everywhere applies only to applications accepted by 30 June 2026.
Time required to obtain a visa
外務省 / Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A standard processing period of five working days where a Certificate of Eligibility is presented, against roughly one to three months without one.