Immigration Fee Reform Bill and JESTA in Japan: Key Points for Foreign Residents and Employers

On March 10, 2026, the Japanese government approved a bill that includes two major points: the creation of JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) and an increase in the statutory ceiling for certain immigration-related fees, such as change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, and permanent residence.

Some headlines say immigration fees may rise by “up to 30 times,” but it is important to understand that this does not mean all fees have immediately increased to those amounts.

What does “up to 30 times higher” actually mean?

The bill is designed to raise the legal upper limit for certain immigration-related fees. According to government materials, the proposed ceilings are as follows:

• Change of status of residence: up to JPY 100,000
• Extension of period of stay: up to JPY 100,000
• Permanent residence: up to JPY 300,000

In other words, the “30 times” figure mainly refers to the proposed ceiling for permanent residence permission.

The actual fee has not been fixed yet

This is a very important point. The proposed bill raises the legal maximum, but the actual fee amount to be charged has not yet been finalized. The specific amount is expected to be set later by Cabinet Order and related rules.

For that reason, it is not yet accurate to say that permanent residence will definitely cost JPY 300,000 right away, or that extension applications will immediately cost JPY 100,000.

What are the current fees?

For now, applications are still handled under the current fee schedule that applies to applications accepted on or after April 1, 2025. Representative fees include:

• Change of status of residence: JPY 6,000
• Extension of period of stay: JPY 6,000
• Online application for change / extension: JPY 5,500
• Permanent residence: JPY 10,000

So, at present, it is still correct to work on the basis of the current fee structure.

What is JESTA?

JESTA is a new system under which certain visa-exempt short-term visitors would be required to obtain electronic authorization before traveling to Japan. The idea is to strengthen pre-arrival screening while also making landing procedures smoother for authorized travelers.

This system mainly concerns tourism and short-term entry management. It is therefore different from the procedures for medium- to long-term residence applications such as visa extension or change of status.

When is JESTA expected to start?

Government materials indicate that Japan aims to introduce JESTA during FY2028. The current bill should be understood as part of the legal preparation for that future rollout.

What should foreign residents and employers keep in mind?

The practical takeaway is that government filing costs may rise in the future, especially for extension, change of status, and permanent residence cases.

The exact amount is still unknown. However, once the bill is enacted and the actual fees are set, employers and applicants may need to review who will bear those costs.

Permanent residence deserves particular attention because the proposed increase in the legal ceiling is especially significant.

Conclusion

The most important point is this: the government has approved a bill to raise the legal ceiling for certain immigration-related fees, but the actual fees have not yet been finalized.

Going forward, it will be important to monitor the bill’s progress in the Diet, the Cabinet Order setting the actual fee amounts, and the implementation date.

Tommy’s Legal Service provides support for change of status, extension of period of stay, permanent residence applications, dependent visas, work visas, and employer compliance involving foreign nationals in Japan. We will continue to share practical updates based on official information.