Starting October 1, the fees for residence permit procedures for foreigners in Japan will be hiked officially as a result of the approval by the Cabinet yesterday, according to an NHK World news article. This new development is part of the revision of the immigration control act of Japan and was set in motion over a month ago.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article NHK World. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s government has decided on a series of fee increases for residence permit procedures for foreign nationals.
The move was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will go into effect on October 1 in line with a revision to the immigration control act.
The fee to obtain a permanent residence permit will be raised from the current 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, to 200,000 yen, or more than 1,250 dollars. The procedure can be carried out only in person.
The current fee when renewing or changing residence status is set at 6,000 yen, or about 38 dollars, at an official counter and 5,500 yen, or about 35 dollars, online.
For a stay of up to three months, the charge at both counters and online will be raised to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars.
For a one-year stay, the fee will be raised to 33,000 yen, or over 205 dollars, at a counter, and 27,000 yen, or about 170 dollars, online.
The fee for a stay of five years or longer will be raised to 75,000 yen, or about 470 dollars, at a counter, and 65,000 yen, or more than 400 dollars, online.
The government says it will reduce the fees for applicants facing financial difficulties, including those designated as refugees.
Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi told reporters that the fee hikes are necessary to ensure that the policy is implemented to promote an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that there will be no stopping the hike of the mentioned fees from taking effect on October 1? Do you think the increased fees are insufficient from a financial viewpoint? Do you think this latest immigration control move by the current government can effectively alter the direction of permanent residency in Japan? Do you think people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and other Muslim-majority nations will be discouraged from going to Japan for work and residency?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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