May 20, 2026

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Nihi Sohei, at a meeting of the House of Councillors Committee on Judicial Affairs on May 19, opposed a bill to revise the Immigration Control Act that would significantly increase the fees for foreign nationals to renew or change their residency status.

The proposed amendment, if approved, will raise the fees for renewing or changing residency status from the current 6,000 yen to a maximum of 100,000 yen, and the fee for permanent residency from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen.

Nihi pointed out that those unable to pay the fees for financial reasons would lose their residency status which is essential for living in Japan.

Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi stated that the government intends to raise the fees to cover the actual costs of strengthening immigration policies, taking into account “the amount of expenses required for the fair management of the entry, exit, and residency of foreign nationals”.

A senior Immigration Services Agency official stated that it is “appropriate to require foreign residents to bear a reasonable share of the costs” for refugee recognition procedures and countermeasures against illegal residents.

The JCP legislator criticized the revision bill for imposing exorbitant fees solely on foreigners to secure funding for Japan’s immigration measures, calling it discriminatory and “extremely distorted.”

Past related article:
> Bill that leads to forcing foreigners out of Japan should be scrapped [April 26, 2026]