2025-09-22

A Permanent Residence Visa is a status of residence that allows you to live permanently in Japan. Applying for this visa requires fees and compensation. Here, we explain the specific amounts involved.

What is a Permanent Residence Visa?

A Permanent Residence Visa is, literally, a visa (status of residence) that allows you to live permanently in Japan. Unlike other work-related visas, this visa fundamentally has no restrictions on employment.

To obtain a Permanent Resident Visa, individuals falling under the following categories must prepare an application form and required documents, then submit them to the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) office with jurisdiction over their place of residence. If the application passes the screening and is approved, the Permanent Resident Visa will be granted.

・Foreign nationals who are spouses of Japanese nationals (those married to a Japanese citizen)
・Foreign nationals who are spouses of permanent residents (those married to someone who already holds a Permanent Resident Visa)
・Foreign nationals who are spouses of special permanent residents
　*Special permanent residents are individuals from the Korean Peninsula or Taiwan who came to live in Japan due to the effects of World War II, and their descendants.
・Foreign nationals who are biological children of Japanese nationals (including those adopted through special adoption)
・Foreign nationals who are biological children of permanent residents or special permanent residents

Note that obtaining a permanent residence visa does not grant Japanese nationality. The applicant retains their original nationality; the visa merely grants the right to reside permanently in Japan.

Required Fees

Applying for a permanent visa incurs costs.

First, the application fee is “¥8,000”. This is paid via revenue stamps when your application form and required documents are checked by an Immigration Services Agency officer and your application is formally accepted.

Additionally, obtaining many official documents and certificates is necessary for the required paperwork. The main required official documents and their fees are as follows: Please note that these are general fees and may vary by municipality, so confirm the exact amounts when applying.

　・Certificate of Residence: 300 yen per copy
　・Family Register Extract: 450 yen per copy
　・Certificate of Municipal/Prefectural Tax (Non-Taxable): 300 yen per copy/per fiscal year
　・Tax Payment Certificate: 300 yen per copy per fiscal year
　・National Health Insurance Premium Payment Certificate: 300 yen per copy per fiscal year
　・Birth Registration Acceptance Certificate: 350 yen per copy
　・Marriage Registration Acceptance Certificate: 350 yen per copy
　・Tax Payment Certificate (Form 3) for Withholding Income Tax and Special Reconstruction Income Tax, Declared Income Tax and Special Reconstruction Income Tax, Consumption Tax and Local Consumption Tax, Inheritance Tax, Gift Tax… 400 yen per copy

Fees for Administrative Scriveners

Beyond the above, another potential expense is the fee for an administrative scrivener.

Since the permanent residence visa allows permanent residency in Japan, its requirements are stricter than other visas. Additionally, the large volume of required documents demands significant time and effort. Therefore, it is common to engage an administrative scrivener—a professional specializing in visa applications—to handle the application process.

The easiest way to find an administrative scrivener is to search online using terms like “○○ (region name), administrative scrivener, residence status (permanent visa)” to locate one nearby. Furthermore, each prefecture has an “Administrative Scrivener Association” where all administrative scriveners are registered. You can also access their website and search through the directory of administrative scriveners.

Regarding the actual fee paid to an administrative scrivener for their services, it generally ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 yen. Of course, some offices may charge less or more than this.

An important point to note regarding the fee is the scope of work the administrative scrivener undertakes. For example, even for the same ¥150,000 fee, the work involved differs significantly depending on whether the applicant gathers all necessary documents themselves or the administrative scrivener handles obtaining all required documents. Therefore, besides the fee amount, you should also consider the specific work the administrative scrivener will perform when making your decision.

Summary

To apply for a permanent residence visa, you need the application fee of ¥8,000 plus fees for official documents. Additionally, you will need to pay an administrative scrivener handling the visa application a fee of approximately ¥120,000 to ¥150,000.