Japan stay extension fees rise and permanent residence hits 200,000 yen

From 1 October 2026, Japan changed what you pay to extend a stay. The old counter fee was a flat 6,000 yen. The new fee depends on how long you ask to stay.

This note is about the long-stay sightseeing visa for people with large savings. It is not legal advice.

The fee that moved

• Extensions are no longer one price. The BBC said the old fee was 6,000 yen. From 1 October it starts at 10,000 yen for three months or less. It can reach 75,000 yen for five years or more.
• Permanent residence jumped. That application rose from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. This sightseeing visa still does not lead there by itself.
• Income rules got tighter for permanent residence. You now need income at or above the average Japanese household. July figures put the 2024 average at 5.75 million yen.
• More tests come in April 2027. Basic Japanese and a pension check start then. They are not the rule for today's extension.
• Some people pay less. Hardship cases and people designated as refugees can get a discount.

Rules that stayed the same

• You still need more than 30 million yen in cash you can use.
• The stay is still about six months, with one extension toward about one year.
• You still cannot take paid work in Japan on this visa.
• You still need strong travel medical insurance.

If you plan the one-year extension

• People already in Japan on this stay. Budget the new extension fee before the first six months end. A one-year ask is not the five-year price.
• People comparing a work visa. Permanent residence is a different filing. It now costs 200,000 yen, and the income test is higher.

Check these three things

1. Open our Japan long-stay sightseeing page.
2. Check the fee for the exact length you will request at the immigration office.
3. Compare Japan vs South Korea if you are still choosing a country.

News summary only, not legal advice. Check MOFA and the Immigration Services Agency before you file.