Japan COE & Visa Fees 2026 — Immigration Cost Breakdown
Every cost in one place — Immigration fees, scrivener fees and other expenses, including the new residence-procedure fees in force from October 1, 2026.
✓ Overseas COE application — free at Immigration
The initial Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) application filed inside Japan by your proxy carries ZERO government fee at the Immigration Services Agency. You only pay incidental costs — photographs, translations, postage — and the separate visa fee at the Japanese Embassy.
Visa Fees →1.Immigration Bureau fees (入管局)
If you're already in Japan and change your status or extend your stay, Immigration charges a fee when the permit is granted. From October 1, 2026 the fee is tiered by the period of stay granted.
In force from 2026-10-01New fees (applications accepted from October 1, 2026)
A cabinet decision on August 25, 2026 amended the Immigration Control Act enforcement order: change-of-status and extension fees move from a flat ¥6,000 to tiers by the period of stay granted, and the permanent-residence fee rises from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. Online applications cost less than filing at a counter, but can only be paid by convenience-store or bank payment (no revenue stamps), plus a separate payment fee.
| Period of stay granted | At a counter | Online |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months or less | ¥10,000 | ¥10,000 |
| Over 3 months, up to 6 months | ¥18,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Over 6 months, under 1 year | ¥25,000 | ¥21,000 |
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 |
| Over 1 year, under 3 years | ¥48,000 | ¥42,000 |
| 3 years to under 5 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 |
| 5 years or more | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 |
| Permanent residence | ¥200,000 | — |
Applications accepted by September 30, 2026 pay the old fee even if the permit is granted on or after October 1. Source: Immigration Services Agency notice on the residence-procedure fee revision (September 2026).
Previous fees (applications accepted by September 30, 2026)
Paid in revenue stamps when the permit is granted.
| Application type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Change of status | ¥6,000 | ¥5,500 if filed online |
| Extension of stay | ¥6,000 | ¥5,500 if filed online |
| Permanent residence | ¥10,000 | From April 2025 (previously ¥8,000) |
2.Administrative scrivener / lawyer fees (行政書士・弁護士)
Most applicants use a licensed Gyōseishoshi (行政書士) or immigration lawyer. Fees are set per provider and not regulated by government. The ranges below reflect typical market rates as of 2026.
| Service | Typical fee range (JPY) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Simple visa (Student, Dependent) | ¥80,000 – ¥150,000 JPY | Basic document checking, application preparation, filing at Immigration |
| Engineer / Humanities / International Services | ¥100,000 – ¥150,000 JPY | Job description analysis, company category check, full application package |
| Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) | ¥100,000 – ¥200,000 JPY | Sector-specific documents, employer onboarding support |
| Business Manager (company formation) | ¥300,000 – ¥600,000 JPY | Business plan, company registration, tax/pension setup, visa application |
| Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | ¥150,000 – ¥300,000 JPY | Points calculation, extensive supporting evidence, multi-visa path planning |
| Spouse / Family (complex) | ¥100,000 – ¥200,000 JPY | Relationship evidence, Q&A statement drafting, counter submission |
| Permanent Residence | ¥150,000 – ¥300,000 JPY | 10-year residency review, tax records, income stability analysis |
| Refusal case (re-application) | ¥200,000 – ¥500,000 JPY | Root-cause analysis, remedy strategy, interview support |
Prices generally exclude consumption tax (10%) and may include separate charges for document procurement, translation, and travel to regional offices. Always request a written estimate (見積書) before engagement.
Realistic total-cost examples
Adding everything up, here is what applicants typically spend end-to-end as of 2026:
Scrivener + official documents + translations + visa fee
The Immigration fee depends on the period granted — ¥33,000 at a counter for 1 year (¥27,000 online); scrivener ¥80,000–¥150,000 on top
Full scrivener + company formation + tax setup + ¥30,000,000 capital (separate)
¥200,000 Immigration fee (from 2026-10-01; previously ¥10,000) + scrivener ¥150,000–¥300,000
Tips to minimize cost
- ✓Use a scrivener for Business Manager, HSP, spouse (especially refusal-prone cases), and PR applications where the stakes justify the fee.
- ✓Bundle family applications together with the main applicant to share scrivener overhead.
- ✓Complete translations in bulk — per-page rates drop at volume.
- ✓Filing online costs less than at a counter: for a 1-year permit, ¥27,000 online vs ¥33,000 at a counter.