Hello! This is Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office (VISA SUPPORT JAPAN)<\/b> in Oita Prefecture.<\/p>\n
Thank you for always reading our blog. Today, we have a very important announcement that will heavily impact companies employing foreign staff, as well as foreign nationals working in Japan.<\/p>\n
The Immigration Bureau\u2019s “residence permission fee (revenue stamp fee\/ inshi-dai<\/i>),” which has remained unchanged for many years, is scheduled to undergo a massive price increase starting October 1, 2026<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Because these amounts will no longer be something companies can casually say, “We\u2019ll just cover it as an expense,” it is crucial to start preparing now. As immigration professionals, we will explain the full picture of this price increase and address the labor management issue of “who should bear this cost.”<\/p>\n
Currently, the handling fee (paid via revenue stamp) required at the counter when a visa renewal or change of status is approved is a flat 6,000 yen<\/b>, regardless of the length of the period granted.<\/p>\n
However, starting in October 2026 (planned), this will change to a graduated system where the fee increases the longer the granted period of stay is<\/b>. According to the currently announced draft ordinance (for counter applications), the new fees will be as follows:<\/p>\n (Note: There are some discounts for online applications, but it will still be a substantial increase in burden.)<\/i><\/p>\n Until now, getting a 3-year visa was purely a cause for celebration. Moving forward, however, it comes with the heavy financial reality of having to pay 64,000 yen in revenue stamps just to receive the new residence card.<\/p>\n When hearing this news, companies almost always ask: “Since the stamp fee is going to be so high, is it illegal if the company doesn’t pay it for them?”<\/i><\/p>\n To get straight to the point: Companies are not legally required to bear this cost. As a general rule, the stamp fee is “to be borne by the foreign national themselves.”<\/b><\/p>\n Legally speaking, the “permission of status of residence” (the right to stay and work in Japan) is granted to the individual foreigner<\/i>, not the company. Therefore, the legal obligation to pay the fee to the Immigration Bureau lies with the individual.<\/p>\n When the stamp fee was just 6,000 yen, many kind-hearted companies simply paid it as a business expense for their employees. However, moving forward, the cost could be “over 60,000 yen per person,” plus additional fees if the employee has family members in Japan (Dependent visa).<\/p>\n If you have 10 foreign employees, this quickly adds up to hundreds of thousands of yen in extra costs for the company.<\/p>\n Even if the fee is legally the employee’s responsibility, suddenly telling them, “The government changed the rules, so please pay the 70,000 yen yourself starting tomorrow,” without any prior notice can cause severe shock, a drop in motivation, or even resignation.<\/p>\n Before the October enforcement, companies should implement the following measures:<\/p>\n Countermeasure \u2460: Establish Clear Internal “Cost Burden Rules”<\/b><\/p>\n Decide your company’s policy in advance: Will you require the employee to pay the full amount as per the legal principle? Will the company cover it entirely as a welfare benefit to retain top talent? Or will the company subsidize a fixed amount (e.g., half the cost)? Be sure to clearly document this in your employment regulations and contracts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Countermeasure \u2461: Explain the Changes Early to Foreign Employees<\/b><\/p>\n Many foreign nationals who do not watch Japanese news are completely unaware of this massive fee hike. Please explain the facts early on\u2014”The national rules are changing this autumn, and visa fees will become very expensive”\u2014so they have time to save up the necessary money.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Countermeasure \u2462: Consider “Early Applications” Before September<\/b><\/p>\n You can apply for a visa renewal approximately 3 months before the expiration date. If you have employees whose visas expire later in the year, submitting their renewal applications before the end of September could potentially allow them to apply under the old fee structure (6,000 yen). (Note: Please wait for the final ordinance details to confirm the exact cutoff dates).<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This historic increase in immigration fees is a major issue directly tied to the labor management of companies employing foreign nationals.<\/p>\n “What is the best way for our company to handle this?”<\/i><\/p>\n “How can we explain this to our employees without causing friction?”<\/i><\/p>\n “We want to rush the renewal applications for our staff so we can submit them by September!”<\/i><\/p>\n If you have any of these concerns, please feel free to contact Legal Gate Immigration Lawyer Office<\/b>. We provide robust support from both legal and labor perspectives to ensure that both your company and your foreign employees can continue working together comfortably!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello! 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\n Type of Procedure (Granted Period)<\/strong><\/td>\n Current Fee<\/strong><\/td>\n New Fee (Draft Ordinance)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n Renewal \/ Change of Status (1 year)<\/span><\/td>\n Flat 6,000 yen<\/span><\/td>\n 33,000 yen<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Renewal \/ Change of Status (3 to under 5 years)<\/span><\/td>\n Flat 6,000 yen<\/span><\/td>\n 64,000 yen<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Renewal \/ Change of Status (5 years or more)<\/span><\/td>\n Flat 6,000 yen<\/span><\/td>\n 75,000 yen<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Permanent Residence (Eiju)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n 10,000 yen<\/span><\/td>\n 200,000 yen<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n 2. Should Companies Pay These Expensive Stamp Fees?<\/h2>\n
The Principle: “Borne by the Foreign Employee”<\/h3>\n
“Company Covers It” Will Mean a Huge Cost Increase<\/h3>\n
3. 3 Countermeasures Companies Should Decide “Right Now” to Prevent Trouble<\/h2>\n
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Final Thoughts: Consult Us for Visa Concerns and Internal Rule-Making!<\/h2>\n