Japan has made it harder for foreign nationals to get permanent residency. The new rules bring a much higher fee and stricter conditions on income, pensions and Japanese language skills.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency announced the changes on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The agency first published a draft of the revision on August 4, 2026, and the public comment period ran through September 4, 2026.
The application fee for permanent residency rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. That is a 20-fold increase and is roughly US$1,257 to US$1,263, or about €1,116, depending on the exchange rate used.
The new fee applies to applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026. Applications accepted by September 30, 2026 stay at ¥10,000, even if permission is granted later.
Income rule starts nowApplicants must now show that their yearly income is higher than the average for Japanese households, and that it stays above that level over time. The reported benchmark is about ¥5.75 million a year, or around ¥479,000 a month in household income.
The income rule begins on October 1, 2026. It also covers applications filed on or after April 1, 2026 that have not yet been processed.
More rules from April 2027
The remaining requirements take effect in April 2027 and apply to applications filed from that date.
- Language: Applicants must show "independent user" level Japanese, around B1. This is enough for everyday conversation.
- Pension: Applicants must show they can expect pension benefits equal to 30 years of Employees' Pension Insurance payments. Assets may be used to cover a shortfall.
- Social rules: Applicants must show they understand Japan's social rules and systems, such as taxes, pensions and local administration.
- Children's schooling: Screening will include a review of whether children attend school.
Authorities will also keep checking tax and pension payments. Under the guidelines, paying late is judged negatively, even if the payment is made before the application is filed.
Spouse route gets longer
The rules for people applying through marriage are also stricter. Before, a person needed 3 years of marriage and 1 year of living in Japan. Now the requirement is 5 years of marriage and 3 years of living in Japan.
The points-based route for highly skilled professionals remains in place. A person with 70 points can still apply after 3 years of residence, and a person with 80 points after 1 year. However, these applicants must also meet the revised guidelines.
The changes are part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push for tighter immigration control. She won an election in February 2026 on a conservative platform. About 3.4% of Japan's population are immigrants.
