Complete Guide to Japanese Status of Residence Application Fees and Costs for New Applications, Renewals, and Changes

When obtaining a new status of residence in Japan, or renewing or changing your existing one, official government fees and agent service costs may apply. This article provides a clear overview of costs for each procedure.

1. Official Immigration Bureau Fees (Paid to the Government)

These fees are paid directly to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁). After the permit is granted, you purchase revenue stamps (収入印紙) to pay the fee.

Procedure	Online	Counter (Offline)	Description
Extension of Period of Stay (在留期間更新許可申請)	Approx. ¥5,500	¥6,000	Required when extending your stay (e.g., students, work visa holders)
Change of Status of Residence (在留資格変更許可申請)	Approx. ¥5,500	¥6,000	When changing visa type (e.g., student to work)
Permanent Residence Application (永住許可申請)	—	¥10,000	Paid when applying for permanent residence (online application not available)
Re-entry Permit (Single)	Approx. ¥3,500	¥4,000	Single re-entry permit
Re-entry Permit (Multiple)	Approx. ¥6,500	¥7,000	Multiple re-entry permit
Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書)	¥1,600	¥2,000	Fee for employment qualification certificate
Permission for Activities Other Than Status	—	Free	For permission to engage in part-time work, etc., such as student part-time jobs

Important: The revised fees took effect on April 1, 2025. Applications submitted before that date are subject to the previous fee schedule.

How to Pay Fees

Fees are paid via revenue stamps (収入印紙). Revenue stamps can be purchased at the following locations:

Shops within the Immigration Bureau: Available for purchase inside the building
Post offices (郵便局): Available for purchase anywhere in Japan
Convenience stores: Often only carry stamps up to 200 yen denomination, so post offices are recommended for higher amounts
Shops within Legal Affairs Bureau: Also available inside Legal Affairs Bureau buildings

Important notes:

Revenue stamps are paid at the time of approval, not at the time of application. If denied, no fee is charged
Once a revenue stamp has been stamped, it cannot be refunded, so prepare the exact amount
For online applications, online payment (Pay-easy, internet banking, etc.) is available

Fee Discounts for Online Applications

Applying through the “Residence Application Online System” launched in March 2023 provides fee discounts. This is a government policy to encourage online applications.

Procedure	Counter Fee	Online Fee	Discount
Extension of Period of Stay	¥6,000	¥5,500	¥500
Change of Status of Residence	¥6,000	¥5,500	¥500
Re-entry Permit (Single)	¥4,000	¥3,500	¥500
Re-entry Permit (Multiple)	¥7,000	¥6,500	¥500

For details on the online application process, see Status of Residence Application Process Guide.

2. New Status of Residence Application (Certificate of Eligibility + Visa)

To newly obtain a status of residence in Japan, you generally need to first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Item	Cost	Notes
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Government Fee	Free	No government fee for the COE itself
COE Administrative Scrivener Fee	Approx. ¥80,000 - ¥200,000	Agent fee when using an administrative scrivener (optional)
Visa Issuance Fee	Varies by country	Fees apply according to the regulations of the Japanese embassy/consulate in each country

For those applying from Korea, the visa issuance fee at the Embassy of Japan in Korea is approximately ¥3,000 equivalent for a single-entry visa and approximately ¥6,000 equivalent for a multiple-entry visa (subject to exchange rate fluctuations).

For details on the COE issuance process, see COE (Certificate of Eligibility) Issuance Process.

3. Administrative Scrivener and Agent Service Costs (Support/Agent Fees)

In addition to official government fees, additional costs apply when entrusting your application to an administrative scrivener (行政書士) or visa support agency. If you apply by yourself, these costs do not apply.

Service	Typical Cost (Example)	Notes
New visa application agent	¥44,000 - ¥220,000+	Varies greatly by visa type/case
Change of status agent	¥80,000 - ¥187,000+	Varies by occupation/reason
Extension of period of stay agent	¥40,000 - ¥99,000+	Differs between simple renewal vs. including job change
Permanent residence application agent	¥143,000+	Additional cost for spouse/family members
Employment certificate issuance agent	¥80,000+	Administrative scrivener fee

When to Consider Using an Administrative Scrivener

Consider professional help from an administrative scrivener in the following cases:

Complex document preparation: Business Manager visa, permanent residence applications, etc.
Previous denial history: Specialized knowledge is needed for drafting a statement of reasons for reapplication
Limited Japanese proficiency: Support with document preparation and immigration office communication
Limited time: Full service from document collection to application submission

On the other hand, for simple renewals or cases with straightforward documents, you can save money by applying yourself.

4. Other Cost Factors

Document Preparation Costs

Various preparation costs may arise in addition to official fees for status of residence applications.

Item	Estimated Cost	Notes
ID photo	¥700 - ¥1,500	Photo booth or photo studio. See ID Photo Requirements Guide for specifications
Document translation fee	¥3,000 - ¥10,000/page	Translation of foreign language documents such as graduation certificates and career certificates
Notarization fee	¥5,000 - ¥20,000	When notarization of documents issued overseas is required
Certificate of registered matters / resident record	¥300 - ¥600/copy	Issued at the municipal office or Legal Affairs Bureau
Tax payment / tax assessment certificate	¥300 - ¥400/copy	Issued at the municipal office (required for permanent residence applications)
Postage / registered mail	¥400 - ¥600	Return envelope postage (for COE applications)

Current and Future Fee Trends

The current fee schedule has been in effect since the April 1, 2025 revision
There are reports that the government is discussing significant fee increases from fiscal year 2026 onwards (e.g., renewal ¥30,000+, permanent residence ¥100,000+ possible) — however, these have not yet been finalized into law
Online application discounts are expected to continue for the time being as part of the digital government initiative

Tips to Save on Costs

Use online applications: ¥500 discount compared to counter visits + savings on transportation and waiting time
Apply by yourself: Save ¥40,000-¥200,000 on administrative scrivener fees
Take your own ID photo: Instead of a photo booth (¥700+), take a photo with your smartphone + print at a convenience store (¥30-¥200)
Pre-check your documents: Prevent costs from return visits or re-mailing due to incomplete documents