Story perspectives

Japan spikes residency fees 200,000 yen, visa exits surge

By Drooid · Oct 3, 2026, 2:54 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised permanent residency fees to 200,000 yen, up from 10,000 yen.
Applicants now must earn at least 5.75 million yen annually, the national average household income.
Business manager visa costs jumped from 5 million to 30 million yen, prompting many exits.
Visa applications fell 96 percent and 953 holders left Japan in early 2026.

History

Historical Context

Japan’s 1990 immigration revision added a 30,000-yen fee and a three-year residence rule, part of a global shift toward tighter controls. That same year the United States passed the Immigration Act, signed by President George H. W. Bush on 29 November, raising the annual visa ceiling to 700,000 and expanding family and employment categories. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s 2026 fee increase mirrors this tightening trend.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised permanent residency fees to 200,000 yen, up from 10,000 yen.
Applicants now must earn at least 5.75 million yen annually, the national average household income.
Business manager visa costs jumped from 5 million to 30 million yen, prompting many exits.
Visa applications fell 96 percent and 953 holders left Japan in early 2026.

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