Major Changes to Permanent Residency Fees and Naturalization Requirements

～Two Critical Updates Every Foreign Resident in Japan Must Know in 2026～

Hello everyone. I'm Hiroaki Higuchi, a licensed administrative scrivener at Mirai Fuso Administrative Scrivener Office.

From March through April 2026, two significant regulatory changes have come into effect that directly affect foreign nationals living in Japan. The first is a substantial increase in application fees for residence status. The second is a tightening of the residency and payment verification requirements for naturalization applications. Neither of these is something you can afford to overlook. In this article, I'll walk you through both changes together.

Application Fees for Residence Status Set for Major Increase

Current Fees and the New Statutory Ceiling

Under the current system, the application fee for permanent residency is ¥10,000, and the fee for changing or renewing a residence status is ¥6,000. These figures have remained unchanged since the upper limit was established under the Immigration Control Act revision of 1981.

The recent legislative amendment raises the statutory ceiling significantly:

• Change or renewal of residence status: ceiling raised to ¥100,000

• Permanent residency: ceiling raised to ¥300,000

What Will You Actually Pay?

Here is the critical point that many people misunderstand. The figures of ¥100,000 and ¥300,000 are the statutory upper limits, not the amounts applicants will actually be charged. The actual fees will continue to be set separately by Cabinet Order.

According to some media reports, the actual fee levels being considered are as follows (these are not confirmed figures):

• Change or renewal of residence status: approximately ¥10,000 to ¥70,000, depending on the period of stay granted

• Permanent residency: approximately ¥200,000

The implementation date has been set as a date to be determined by Cabinet Order, no later than March 31, 2027. The specific timeline has not yet been confirmed. Until the official Cabinet Order is published, it is essential to keep a close eye on further announcements.

Fee reductions and exemptions are also provided for those facing financial hardship or other special circumstances. However, for permanent residency applications, eligibility for such reductions is limited to spouses or children of Japanese nationals, permanent residents, or special permanent residents.

What This Means in Practice

While it is important to remain calm and recognize that the statutory ceiling does not equal the actual payment amount, the overall cost landscape for applications is likely to shift considerably. If you have been putting off your permanent residency application with a "wait and see" approach, it may be worth reconsidering your timeline with the implementation date in mind.

Naturalization Screening Tightened from April 1, 2026

What Has Changed?

On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced that the screening process for naturalization applications would be revised effective April 1, 2026. There are two key changes.

① Revision of Residency Requirement (Effectively "10 Years or More" as a Rule)

The Nationality Act continues to state that an applicant must "have a domicile in Japan continuously for five years or more." This statutory language has not changed. However, in terms of how applications are screened in practice, the Ministry has now adopted a policy of requiring "at least 10 years of residency as a rule," based on the principle of assessing the applicant's integration into Japanese society.

The background to this change lies in a long-standing imbalance: while guidelines for permanent residency already require "at least 10 years of residency as a rule," the operational standard for naturalization had been comparatively lenient. In November 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiraguchi to review this inconsistency, leading to the current revision.

② Extension of Tax and Social Insurance Payment Verification Period

The approach of simply catching up on payments in the final year before applying will no longer be sufficient.

New Standards Apply Even to Already-Submitted Applications

As a general principle in administrative practice, changes to screening standards apply only to applications submitted after the change takes effect. This revision, however, is being applied retroactively — including to applications already submitted before April 1, 2026. Those currently in the middle of the screening process are not exempt.

This is an exceptional departure from standard practice. For anyone who submitted their application believing they were safely under the old rules, this is a sobering reality. If you have already applied, we strongly recommend reviewing your residency history, tax payment record, and social insurance contributions as soon as possible to confirm whether you meet the new standards.

It is also worth noting that when a naturalization application is rejected, no explanation of the reasons is provided. Submitting an application without adequate preparation, only to receive a rejection, can also affect the prospects of any subsequent application. In recent years, the screening period has been growing longer, with cases exceeding one and a half to two years becoming increasingly common. Rather than acting in haste, prioritizing the quality of your documentation and the substance of your life record in Japan is the wisest approach.

What Does "Integration into Japanese Society" Actually Mean?

This change is about more than numbers. The concept of "integration into Japanese society" is now being given more substantive weight as a screening criterion. In practical terms, the following factors are expected to play a more explicit role in the assessment:

• Japanese language proficiency sufficient for daily life

• Positive relationships with neighbors and colleagues

• Continuous participation in employment, tax obligations, and social insurance

The question being asked is this: how have you lived in Japan over the past decade, and how have you engaged with your local community? It is the accumulated record of that life which is now under scrutiny.

Many local governments offer Japanese language classes and community programs. Making use of these public resources to strengthen your language skills and deepen your involvement in the local community is increasingly important from the perspective of meeting these screening standards.

Effective Requirements for Naturalization (from April 1, 2026)

• Continuous residency in Japan for 10 or more years

• Tax payments verified for the most recent 5 years; social insurance contributions verified for the most recent 2 years

• Age 18 or older

• Good conduct

• Ability to support oneself financially

Note that a simplified naturalization process with reduced residency requirements exists for certain individuals, such as spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents. However, how today's operational changes interact with that process is something that will need to be monitored as practical case outcomes emerge.

The Common Thread Running Through Both Changes

At first glance, the fee increase and the naturalization tightening may appear to be separate developments. But they reflect a consistent direction of policy: whether you are seeking to maintain your residence status, obtain permanent residency, or naturalize as a Japanese citizen, what is now being asked of you is a demonstrated track record of fulfilling your civic obligations on a continuous basis.

Rather than rushing to get things in order at the last moment, building that foundation day by day — through timely tax payments, social insurance contributions, proper notifications, and genuine community engagement — is what will matter most when the time comes to apply.

Summary

• The statutory ceiling for residence status application fees has been raised significantly (up to ¥300,000 for permanent residency). The actual amount will be set by Cabinet Order — stay tuned for official announcements before the implementation date.

• Naturalization screening has been tightened from April 1, 2026: residency now effectively requires 10 or more years as a rule, with tax verification extended to 5 years and social insurance verification to 2 years.

• In an exceptional departure from standard administrative practice, the new standards apply retroactively — even to applications already submitted. "I've already applied, so I'm safe" is no longer a valid assumption.

• Both changes point in the same direction: a continuous record of fulfilling civic obligations is now the foundation of any successful application.

How did you find this article? If you have questions such as "Which is better suited to my situation — permanent residency or naturalization?" or "What should I start preparing now?", please feel free to share your thoughts or inquiries through the contact form. I would be happy to hear from you.

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