Japan Tightens Immigration Screening and Raises Residence Fees for Foreign Residents

01The Story新闻事实

Japan is simultaneously tightening immigration screening and upgrading certain pathways for foreign workers. New Business Manager criteria took effect in October 2025, permanent residency screening becomes more specific from April 2027, and residence-status fees rise sharply from October 2026. The government cites public concerns and rising administrative costs.日本在收紧移民审查的同时，也在升级部分外籍劳工通道。经营管理签证新标准已于2025年10月生效，永住权审查自2027年4月起更加具体，而在留资格费用自2026年10月起大幅上调。政府援引公众担忧和行政成本上升作为理由。

New Business Manager status criteria took effect on October 16, 2025, raising the capital requirement from ¥5 million to ¥30 million and requiring Japanese B2-level proficiency.经营管理签证新标准于2025年10月16日生效，资本金要求从500万日元提高至3000万日元，并要求日语B2级水平。
In January 2026 the government adopted a comprehensive policy package outlining stricter admission standards and finalized operational guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development Program replacing the Technical Intern Training system in April 2027.2026年1月，政府通过一项综合政策方案，明确更严格的接收标准，并为2027年4月取代技能实习制度的育成就劳计划敲定操作指南。
From October 1, 2026, the flat ¥6,000 fee for in-person residence-status filings will be replaced by a tiered schedule of up to ¥75,000 for a five-year permit, and the permanent residency fee rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.自2026年10月1日起，在留资格变更和更新的窗口申请费用将从统一的6000日元改为阶梯收费，五年许可最高为7.5万日元，永住权费用从1万日元涨至20万日元。
In August 2026, the Immigration Services Agency published draft guidelines with more specific criteria for permanent residency screening, adding checks on income, pension outlook, Japanese language skills, and understanding of Japanese systems.2026年8月，出入国在留管理厅公布新指导方针草案，为永住权审查列出更具体的标准，新增对收入、养老金前景、日语能力及对日本制度和规则理解的审查。
Specified Skilled Workers who advance from Category 1 to Category 2 will face no limit on extensions, be able to bring family members, and have their stay count toward permanent residency.从1号升级到2号的特定技能劳动者将不设更新次数上限，可携带家属，其在留期间还可计入永住权申请条件。

Japan is pursuing a dual-track policy: preserving and upgrading labor pathways in industries dependent on foreign workers while making post-entry oversight, screening, and costs stricter and more selective.日本正推行双轨政策：一方面保留并升级依赖外籍劳工产业的接收通道，另一方面强化入境后监管，使审查更严格、更具选择性，并提高费用。

024 Dimensions维度分析

Cause因果关系

Tighter Business Manager Requirements经营管理签证要求收紧

The October 2025 overhaul of the Business Manager status raised capital, staffing, language, and review requirements, substantially raising the entry bar for entrepreneurial visa holders.2025年10月对经营管理签证的全面修订提高了资本金、雇员、语言和专家审查要求，大幅抬高了创业类签证的门槛。

Required capital (corporations)注册资本要求（法人）

After Oct 20252025年10月后30M yen

After Oct 20252025年10月后2 B2 level (upper intermediate)

Applicants must now have three-plus years of management experience or a relevant master's, doctoral, or professional degree, and employ at least one full-time employee.申请人现在须具备三年以上管理经验或相关硕士、博士或专门职学位，并雇用至少一名全职员工。
Transitional measures apply for renewals until October 16, 2028.更新申请适用过渡措施至2028年10月16日。

Consequence影响推演

Fee Increases Reflect Beneficiary-Pays Principle费用上涨体现受益者负担原则

Revisions to the Immigration Control Act raise residence-status fees sharply from October 1, 2026, with the permanent residency fee rising twentyfold, which then-Justice Minister Hiraguchi linked to growing administrative costs and the principle of payment by beneficiaries.入管法修正案使在留资格费用自2026年10月1日起大幅上涨，永住权费用涨至原来的20倍。时任法务大臣平口称这与行政成本增加及受益者负担原则有关。

Permanent residency fee永住权申请费

200,000 yen20万日元

From Oct 1, 20262026年10月1日起

From Oct 1, 20262026年10月1日起200,000 yen

Before此前10,000 yen

Max fee for five-year permit五年在留许可最高费用

75,000 yen7.5万日元

From Oct 1, 20262026年10月1日起

From Oct 1, 20262026年10月1日起75,000 yen

Former flat rate此前统一费用6,000 yen

Discounts will be available for online applications and for those qualifying under both hardship and humanitarian criteria.网上申请以及同时符合经济困难和人道主义标准者可享受费用减免。

Historical context历史脉络

Permanent Residency Screening Made More Specific永住权审查标准更加具体

Draft guidelines published in August 2026 add income, pension outlook, Japanese language, and system-understanding checks to permanent residency screening, making outcomes more predictable while leaving overall assessment discretion unchanged.2026年8月公布的新指导方针草案在永住权审查中新增收入、养老金前景、日语能力和制度理解等项目，使结果更可预测，但综合评估的裁量空间不变。

Permanent residency has traditionally been granted through case-by-case assessments under broad requirements covering time in Japan, good conduct, financial independence, and payment of taxes and social insurance.永住权传统上通过个案综合评估授予，宽泛要件包括在日年限、品行、独立生计以及纳税和缴纳社会保险。
At an August 4, 2026 press conference, then Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi said the revision aims to more reliably ensure permanent residents do not become a burden on public finances.在2026年8月4日的记者会上，时任法务大臣平口浩史表示，修订旨在更可靠地确保永住者不成为公共财政的负担。

Contradiction矛盾之处

Parallel Upgrading of Worker Pathways劳工通道同步升级

While screening tightens, the Employment for Skill Development Program starting April 2027 and reforms to the Specified Skilled Worker framework improve mobility and long-term prospects for foreign workers in labor-dependent industries.在收紧审查的同时，2027年4月启动的育成就劳计划以及对特定技能制度的改革，改善了依赖外籍劳工产业中外籍劳动者的流动性和长期前景。

Under the new program, workers meeting certain conditions will be able to change employers within the same occupational field.在新制度下，符合一定条件的劳动者可在同一职业领域内更换雇主。
In March 2026, the government introduced a system for investigating workplaces receiving dispatch workers under the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status to prevent nonspecialized assignments.2026年3月，政府针对接收以技术·人文知识·国际业务资格派遣劳动者的职场引入调查制度，以防止被安排从事非专业性工作。

03Timeline时间线

2025-10 New Business Manager status criteria take effect on October 16, 2025.经营管理签证新标准于2025年10月16日生效。
2026-01 Government adopts comprehensive policy package on foreign national admission and finalizes guidelines for the Employment for Skill Development Program on January 23, 2026.政府于2026年1月23日通过外国人接收综合政策方案，并敲定育成就劳计划的操作指南。
2026-03 System introduced to investigate workplaces receiving dispatch workers under the Gijinkoku status.针对接收技术·人文知识·国际业务资格派遣劳动者的职场引入调查制度。
2026-05 May 2026 revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act revise fees starting October 1.2026年5月出入国管理及难民认定法修正案修订费用，自10月1日起施行。
2026-06 Immigration Services Agency updated guidelines note that data such as tax payment records may be used in residence status assessments.出入国在留管理厅更新指导方针，指出纳税记录等信息可能用于在留资格审查。
2026-08 Agency publishes draft new permanent residency guidelines; Justice Minister Hiraguchi speaks on August 4, 2026.出入国在留管理厅公布永住权新指导方针草案；法务大臣平口于2026年8月4日发表谈话。

Key takeaway核心结论

Japan is making long-term residence more demanding through stricter screening, higher fees, and more explicit criteria, while keeping and upgrading admission channels for sectors that rely on foreign labor.日本通过更严格的审查、更高的费用和更明确的标准提高长期在留门槛，同时保留并升级依赖外籍劳工产业的接收通道。

04What to Watch后续关注

How the final version of the permanent residency guidelines, drafted in August 2026, will be applied from April 2027.2026年8月起草的永住权指导方针最终版将如何自2027年4月起适用。
The rollout of the Employment for Skill Development Program in April 2027, replacing the Technical Intern Training system.2027年4月取代技能实习制度的育成就劳计划的落地情况。
Whether transitional measures for Business Manager renewals, running until October 16, 2028, result in significant non-renewals.经营管理签证更新过渡措施（至2028年10月16日）结束后是否导致大量不予更新。

05Uncertainties不确定因素

Decisions on permanent residency remain overall assessments, and the underlying standards and logic behind them are no more transparent than before, despite more specific published criteria.永住权审查仍为综合评估，尽管公布的标准更具体，其背后的标准和逻辑并不比以前更透明。
The source text ends mid-discussion of international fee comparisons, so full international benchmark figures are incomplete.原文在国际费用比较的论述中被截断，完整的国际基准数据不明。

06Sources信息来源

Foreign Residents in Japan Facing Tighter Immigration Screening, Selective Acceptance | Nippon.comForeign Residents in Japan Facing Tighter Immigration Screening, Selective Acceptance | Nippon.com Nippon.com · 2026-10-01

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