Japan has introduced stricter rules for permanent residency, including a twenty-fold increase in the application fee. The changes took effect on October 1 under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s immigration tightening.

The application fee for most applicants rises from 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen. New criteria require incomes above the national average, Japanese language ability equivalent to the JLPT N3 level, and pension contributions worth 30 years from April 2027. The family stay for spouses rises from four years to eight, according to reports.

The overhaul comes as Japan’s foreign population hits a record 4.12 million. The government says it wants skilled workers but also seeks to address public anxiety about immigration. A task force led by Takaichi approved the plan, and about 947,000 permanent residents are expected to be affected by the tighter checks.

Queues at immigration bureaus in Tokyo reportedly stretched five to seven hours before the deadline, with applicants rushing to file under the old rules. Legal residents say the new income threshold, set above the average household income of 5.75 million yen, will be hard for many to meet.

Critics call the changes punitive, while supporters say they protect social services. Japan has historically kept immigration tight even as its shrinking workforce creates labour shortages.