Holiday Ayo - The Japanese government will significantly increase visa processing fees starting next fiscal year.

This policy is being implemented to bring them into line with fees in Europe and the United States in the following fiscal year.

The government plans to submit a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to parliament next year.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on Monday (November 24), revenue from this fee increase will finance policy initiatives related to foreign nationals, including improving conditions for the rapidly increasing foreign resident population and deporting illegal foreigners.

The government is considering including the following statement in its upcoming economic package: "In fiscal 2026, we will review and increase fees related to foreign residents and visa fees, taking into account the levels of fees in major countries."

In April of this year, residence permit fees increased by 2,000 yen (equivalent to IDR 213,000) to 6,000 yen (equivalent to Rp 639,000) for changes of residence status and extensions of residence permits, and by 10,000 yen (equivalent to IDR 1 million) for those applying for permanent residency (PR). This reflects rising prices and labor costs.

The government is considering plans to increase the fees for changes of residence status and extensions of residence permits for one year or more to between 30,000 and 40,000 yen (equivalent to IDR 3 million and Rp 4.2 million).

The government also plans to increase the fees for permanent residency permits to 100,000 yen (equivalent to IDR 10.6 million) or more.

The bill is necessary because the current law sets the maximum fee at 10,000 yen. This would be the first bill to increase the fee since 1981.

Fees in Western countries are higher than in Japan. In the US, for example, the cost to change or extend a work permit is USD 420 to USD 470 (equivalent to IDR 7 million to IDR 7.8 million).

In the UK, the cost is £827 (equivalent to IDR 18 million), and the cost to change or extend a residence permit in Germany is €93 to €98 (equivalent to IDR 1.7 million to IDR 1.8 million).

The foreign resident population in Japan reached a record high of 3.96 million in June, according to data from the Immigration Services Agency.

The government aims to use the revenue from the higher fees to improve conditions for foreign residents, for example by speeding up immigration checks and improving Japanese language education.

Measures to address at least 70,000 illegal residents will also be strengthened.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to raise visa fees to levels comparable to those in Europe and the US in the next fiscal year.

If implemented, this would be the first fee increase since 1978. The government is expected to allocate the revenue, among other things, to address overtourism.

A single-entry visa costs 3,000 yen (equivalent to Rp 319,000) and a multiple-entry visa costs 6,000 yen (equivalent to Rp 639,000).

For comparison, a short-stay visa in the US costs 185 USD (equivalent to IDR 3 million) and 127 euros (equivalent to IDR 2.4 million) in the UK.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will use these figures to determine the fee increase.