Japan raises permanent residency fee 20-fold and adds income, pension and language rules
From 1 October Japan multiplied the permanent residency application fee by 20 and began phasing in income, pension and Japanese-language requirements under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's immigration tightening.
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The story, neutrally told
Japan tightened requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residency on Thursday 1 October, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to tighten immigration controls. CNAN “Japan toughened on Thursday (Oct 1) requirements for foreigners wanting to obtain permanent residency, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to tighten immigration controls.” Read at CNA ↗ The permanent residency fee rose 20-fold to 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955). BBC NewsN “the cost of permanent residency going up 20 times to 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955)” Read at BBC News ↗ CNAN “Application fees will also rise 20-fold from Thursday” Read at CNA ↗ Applicants must now earn a stable income at or above the Japanese average, which the BBC puts at 5.75 million yen in household income as of 2024. BBC NewsN “Aspiring permanent residents must now also earn a stable income at or above the Japanese average.” Read at BBC News ↗
Stricter terms follow in stages: from April next year applicants will face basic Japanese language requirements, and expected pension benefits must equal those of someone in the employee pension system for 30 years, though financial assets can be considered if they fall short. BBC NewsN “From April next year, permanent residency applicants will face even tighter requirements, including basic Japanese language proficiency.” Read at BBC News ↗ CNAN “Under new rules that will come into effect in stages” Read at CNA ↗ CNA, citing AFP, says earlier guidelines set no specific thresholds for income, pension or language skills. CNAN “Previous guidelines did not lay out specific thresholds for income, pension or language skills.” Read at CNA ↗ Ahead of the fee rise, long queues formed at immigration offices; the BBC reports Tokyo's main bureau had waits of over seven hours. BBC NewsN “Tokyo's main immigration bureau reporting wait times of over seven hours.” Read at BBC News ↗ CNAN “hundreds of people queued, hoping to wrap up procedures before the price spike.” Read at CNA ↗
Fees for other residency applications also rose: from 1 October a status change or extension costs from 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen depending on length of stay, up from 6,000 yen, with discounts for hardship and refugees. This follows a five-fold visa fee increase in July. BBC NewsN “from 10,000 yen for three months or less, to 75,000 yen for five years or more.”“In July, Japan implemented a five-fold increase in visa fees for all foreigners” Read at BBC News ↗ In an X post, Takaichi said the government faces the fact that some citizens feel anxiety and unfairness as foreign residents increase, and that she is pursuing 'orderly coexistence'. CNAN “she was pushing for "orderly coexistence" with foreign nationals.” Read at CNA ↗ BBC NewsN “"some members of the public may feel a sense of concern or unfairness"” Read at BBC News ↗ Japan's foreign resident population passed 4.12 million at the end of 2025, while the ageing population and labour shortages increase reliance on foreign workers; CNA adds that experts and business leaders, and the Nikkei editorial page, urge Japan to welcome more foreigners. BBC NewsN “Japan's foreign resident population surpassed 4.12 million at the end of 2025” Read at BBC News ↗ CNAN “Experts and many business leaders warn, however, that Japan must welcome more foreign workers to sustain itself.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the change as part of Takaichi's immigration tightening, set against labour needs and rising public unease. CNA (AFP reporting) leads on tougher rules and a queuing applicant; the BBC leads on the fee rise.
- Emphasis
- CNA stresses the policy tension, including anti-immigration sentiment, false social media claims and calls from business to welcome more foreigners. The BBC stresses figures: fee levels, income benchmark, pension and language rules, and the July visa fee rise.
- Leaves out or plays down
- CNA gives no fee amount, income benchmark or April timing for language rules. The BBC does not mention misinformation or business and Nikkei calls for more openness.
- Charged language
- “toughened”“price spike”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Permanent residency fees rose 20-fold on 1 October.
- New income, pension and Japanese-language requirements apply to permanent residency applicants.
- Long queues formed before the fee rise.
- Takaichi has framed the policy around public concern and 'orderly' policy toward foreign nationals.
- Japan's ageing population and labour shortages make it reliant on foreign workers.
Sanae Takaichi person
Takaichi says the government recognises citizens' concern and unfairness and is pursuing orderly policies so citizens and foreign residents can live safely.
“its policies toward foreign nationals are orderly, and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely” — BBC News
“the government is facing the fact that some citizens feel anxiety and a sense of unfairness” — CNA
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
CNA, using AFP reporting, adds applicant voices and Japanese debate over culture, demographics and misinformation.
“false claims have circulated widely” — CNA
CNA
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The BBC gives an explanatory, figures-led account for an international audience.
“Japan's foreign resident population surpassed 4.12 million at the end of 2025” — BBC News
BBC News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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CNAN ·
Japan tightens rules for foreigners wanting permanent residency
Mixed Presents the tightening alongside public anxiety, false online claims and business warnings that Japan needs more foreign workers.
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Japan raises residency fee for foreign nationals by twenty-fold
Neutral Fact-heavy explainer on fee increases and new eligibility thresholds, linking them to managing a growing foreign population.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 02:16 First CNAN Japan tightens rules for foreigners wanting permanent residency
- 1 Oct 03:11 +55m BBC NewsN Japan raises residency fee for foreign nationals by twenty-fold
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.