Japan raises residence permit procedure fees | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan raised fees for residence permit procedures for foreign nationals on Thursday.

Renewing or changing of residence status formerly cost 6,000 yen, or about 38 dollars, over the counter, and 5,500 yen, or about 35 dollars, online.

Effective Thursday, the costs vary depending on the period.

For an extension of stay or a change of residence status valid for up to three months, the fee has been hiked to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, for both over the counter and online applications.

For a one-year extension of stay, the fee has risen to 33,000 yen, or about 210 dollars over the counter, and 27,000 yen, or about 170 dollars, online.

The fee for an extension of stay of five years or longer has been raised to 75,000 yen, or about 476 dollars, over the counter, and 65,000 yen, or about 413 dollars, online.

The fee for permanent residence permission has gone up to 200,000 yen or about 1,270 dollars, from 10,000 yen. That is only available over the counter.

The fees for some people are discounted. They include those who are designated as refugees and in difficult financial straits.

The screening guidelines on permanent residency for foreigners have also been revised. In considering whether to grant that status, authorities will look at whether an applicant's annual household income has consistently exceeded the average income of a Japanese household of the same size.