Japan adopts ordinance to raise foreign nationals’ residency fees from October
The Japanese government has adopted an ordinance to raise fees for foreign nationals to renew or change their residency status in Japan, effective from October. The fees will increase to up to ¥75,000 from a uniform ¥6,000 at present.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The Japanese government has raised fees for foreign nationals to renew or change their residency status in Japan, effective from October. The fees will increase to up to ¥75,000 from a uniform ¥6,000 at present.
Imagine you're a foreigner living in Japan and you need to renew your residency status. The Japanese government just raised the fees for this, so it will cost more money to do this. This might affect people who live in Japan and the country's rules for immigrants.
Analysis
Revised Residency Fees Structure
The Japanese government has adopted an ordinance to raise fees for foreign nationals to renew or change their residency status in Japan, effective from October. The revised fees structure will apply to residency extensions of up to three months, at ¥10,000; of one year, at ¥33,000; of three to under five years, at ¥64,000; and of five years or more, at ¥75,000. Applying for permanent residency status will cost ¥200,000, up sharply from ¥10,000.
Humanitarian Considerations
The scope of people eligible for reduced fees was expanded based on public comments. The Immigration Services Agency’s related guidelines initially stipulated that the fee can be reduced to ¥10,000 for temporary stays and ¥20,000 for permanent residency for people who meet two conditions — having financial hardship equivalent to the levels of welfare recipients under the public assistance law and needing humanitarian consideration. Based on public comments, the agency expanded the scope of people whose fees can be reduced in light of humanitarian condition to include foreign nationals who single-handedly safeguard and raise the biological children of Japanese nationals or special permanent foreign residents, as well as those for whom the denial of residency is considered inhumane. Special permanent foreign residents refer to those who have lived in Japan since before World War II and lost their Japanese citizenship after the war, as well as their descendants.
Implications
The revised law caps the fees at ¥100,000 for temporary residency and ¥300,000 for permanent residency. Specific fee levels are decided under a relevant ordinance. The increased fees may impact the lives of foreign nationals living in Japan and may also impact the country's immigration policies.
Key points
- The Japanese government has adopted an ordinance to raise fees for foreign nationals to renew or change their residency status in Japan, effective from October.
- The revised fees structure will apply to residency extensions of up to three months, at ¥10,000; of one year, at ¥33,000; of three to under five years, at ¥64,000; and of five years or more, at ¥75,000.
- Applying for permanent residency status will cost ¥200,000, up sharply from ¥10,000.
- The scope of people eligible for reduced fees was expanded based on public comments.
- The Immigration Services Agency’s related guidelines initially stipulated that the fee can be reduced to ¥10,000 for temporary stays and ¥20,000 for permanent residency for people who meet two conditions — having financial hardship equivalent to the levels of welfare recipient…
The increased fees may lead to a more sustainable immigration system, where foreign nationals who meet certain conditions can receive reduced fees. This could benefit those who are eligible and help them integrate into Japanese society.
The increased fees may deter foreign nationals from renewing or changing their residency status, leading to a decrease in the number of immigrants in Japan. This could have negative impacts on the country's economy and society.