Life in Japan - Immigration Lawyer -

09/09/2026

入管庁、「不法就労」摘発強化へ他省庁と合同で立ち入り調査…１０月にも国交省と解体業者対象に実施へ

出入国在留管理庁は、外国人の不法就労の摘発を強化するため、今秋から他省庁と合同で立ち入り調査を行う方針を固めた。現在は通報などで不法就労の疑いが判明した場合のみ調査を実施しているが、所管する省庁によ

03/09/2026

Good evening, everyone.

The Immigration Services Agency will revise its visa-related fees from October 1, 2026.

Until now, many people have aimed for longer periods of stay, such as three or five years. However, under the new fee structure, there will be a significant difference in fees depending on the period of stay granted.

For example, for an extension or change of status, the fees for an application made at an Immigration office will be:

1 year: JPY 33,000
3 years or more but less than 5 years: JPY 64,000
5 years or more: JPY 75,000

For online applications:

1 year: JPY 27,330
3 years or more but less than 5 years: JPY 56,550
5 years or more: JPY 65,550

Of course, a longer period of stay is still more economical on a yearly basis. However, for families applying together, the total amount can become very significant.

For example, if a family of five is granted a period of stay of five years or more, the total Immigration fees alone would be JPY 375,000 for applications made at an Immigration office, or JPY 327,750 for online applications.

If all five family members receive a one-year period of stay, the total would be JPY 165,000 at an Immigration office or JPY 136,650 online.

The biggest change, however, concerns Permanent Residence applications.

The fee has previously been JPY 10,000, but for applications submitted from October 1, it will increase to JPY 200,000 — twenty times the current amount.

There is one very important point to understand.

The new fees do not apply simply because the result is issued on or after October 1.

If you submit your application by September 30, 2026, the current fee structure will still apply even if the application is approved after October 1.

Therefore, if you are already eligible to submit your extension application in September, I recommend considering submitting it before the end of this month.

This is particularly important for Permanent Residence applications because the fee will increase from JPY 10,000 to JPY 200,000.

Of course, I do not recommend rushing to submit an incomplete application simply to avoid the higher fee. However, if you already meet the requirements and can prepare all the necessary documents, there is a very significant financial advantage to submitting your application by September 30.

20/05/2026

News has emerged that a large number of visa brokers holding permanent residency have been arrested, and their permanent resident status has been revoked.

In response, immigration authorities in Japan are strengthening enforcement against illegal employment arrangements and visa brokers, particularly those operating on social media. In addition to traditional manual monitoring, AI-based analysis is now being utilized, making the detection of illegal activities more proactive and effective.

Going forward, enforcement is expected to focus not only on apprehending overstayers but also on those who provide employment opportunities to them, with stricter penalties being applied.

08/05/2026

Maintaining a Business Manager Visa has become extremely difficult in the current environment.

At first, we predicted that the number of applications would decrease by around 90%. However, the actual decrease now appears to be as high as 96%.

These numbers clearly show that many people have given up on obtaining a new Business Manager Visa, while many existing business owners have chosen to stop operating their businesses and switch to other visa categories.

Why are so many making this decision?
Because in many cases, if the application is denied, they may be forced to leave Japan within 30 days. The risk is extremely high.

However, the law is not rejecting all business owners.
With proper preparation and the right strategy, it is still entirely possible to obtain and maintain a Business Manager Visa.

If you are concerned about your Business Manager Visa status, please feel free to consult with us.

06/04/2026

3,175 Permanent Residents Arrested Last Year

As a new development regarding crime among permanent residents in Japan, the police have, for the first time, publicly announced the number of arrests involving permanent residents. According to this data, 3,175 permanent residents were arrested or charged with crimes last year.

The cases include activities such as allowing overstayers to work illegally and involvement in criminal infrastructures, including so-called visa broker operations. Based on this, there is a growing view that, for certain nationalities, a notable number of permanent residents may be involved in illegal activities.

In addition, there are a certain number of cases where individuals obtain permanent residency through sham marriages. In such cases, revocation of permanent resident status is possible. As enforcement becomes stricter, it is expected that the number of permanent residents may decrease in the future.

Furthermore, past illegal activities are increasingly being uncovered over time. In Japan, information sharing among authorities has advanced, meaning that even past actions can later have serious consequences.

The fact that the police have now publicly disclosed arrest figures for permanent residents is highly symbolic and reflects a significant shift in Japan’s immigration and public security policies.

https://www.sankei.com/article/20260402-6YE65VMHNZMMRCIXQ2RTRWET3U/

05/04/2026

Latest update regarding Japan’s work visa.

The requirements for the status of residence “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” are becoming stricter. While Japanese language ability was not previously a formal requirement, it is now expected that a level equivalent to JLPT N2 or higher will be required in practice.

It is strongly recommended to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) as soon as possible and pass it in advance.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/992157b137cee0bd8989bb36ff5e68e10cf0ea0e

政府関係者によると、改定指針では、語学力の国際標準規格「CEFR（セファール）」で「B2」レベルの日本語能力を証明する書類の提出を求める。日本語能力試験では「N2」が相当する。

　専門的な知識を生かした職業向けの在留資格「技術・人文知識・国際業務」（技人国）の取得要件について、政府が、日本語を使う業務に就く場合は原則として日本語能力の証明を求める方針を固めたことが3日、政府