TOKYO, May 29 — Japan's National Diet has passed an immigration control law revision today to raise the maximum fee for residence status applications by foreigners and introduce an online pre-entry travel authorisation system for overseas arrivals.
Kyodo News reported that once the fee changes are implemented later this fiscal year, the upper limit will be set at ¥100,000 (RM2,490.72) for visa renewals and ¥300,000 (RM7,472.17)for permanent residency applications, marking a sharp increase from the existing threshold of ¥10,000 (RM249.07).
The fees are currently ¥6,000 (RM149.44) for changing residence status or extending the period of stay and ¥10,000 for permanent residency.
The new fees will be formally set by a Cabinet order after soliciting public comments.
The government, which has cited rising costs for the revision, has said it will ease the payment burden on humanitarian grounds and for those facing financial difficulties, but lawmakers have pointed out during Parliamentary deliberations that the criteria for such considerations remain unclear.
The Immigration Services Agency plans to formulate guidelines setting forth specific requirements and other details.
The latest revision also includes the establishment of the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, with an eye on implementation in fiscal 2028.
The system, aimed at preventing terrorism and illegal employment, targets 74 countries and regions whose citizens qualify for visa-free entry for short stays.
Travellers will be required to provide information online, such as their name, purpose of visit, and destination, several days prior to departure, and this information will be cross-checked against criminal records and other databases.
If there is a suspicion of illegal overstaying, travellers will be denied boarding on planes or ships.
The number of foreign residents in Japan at the end of 2025 stood at approximately 4.13 million, a record high.
