Japan has increased the application fees for foreigners to reside locally, with the permanent residence application fee significantly increased by 20 times to 200,000 yen ($1,270; £955).
Permanent residence applicants must now also meet new income, annuity and Japanese language proficiency requirements.
Earlier this week, a large number of applicants rushed to the Immigration and Residency Offices in various places to submit their applications before the fee increased. Long queues formed at many places. The waiting time at the Tokyo office once exceeded seven hours.
Ms. Wang, a Chinese national in Japan who is going through the residence procedures, told BBC Chinese: "This suddenly came out in the middle of the process. I also have a headache."
She revealed that she had learned through local news at the beginning of the year that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's government was "inclined" to promulgate this new regulation, so she expedited the application process for residence.
"Unexpectedly, I still haven't exceeded the policy. I don't know if Takaichi Sanae's policy towards foreigners this term has an end."
The fee increase is part of the Gao city government's tightening of immigration policies to manage the rapidly growing foreign population.
In July this year, Japan implemented a five-fold increase in visa fees for all foreigners, the first time the country had raised visa fees in 50 years. The authorities said the move was intended to "reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations."
While immigration remains a politically sensitive issue in Japan and its policies are relatively strict, Japan increasingly relies on foreign workers to fill labor shortages due to its aging population.
As of the end of 2025, Japan's foreign resident population exceeded 4.12 million, an increase of 9.5% from the previous year, setting a record high. However, this has also triggered growing concerns about immigration and social changes.
Since taking office in October last year, Takaichi Sanae has listed immigration management as one of his policy priorities.
A few days before the increase in residence permit fees took effect, Takaichi posted on the X platform that the government understands that as the population of foreign residents in Japan increases, "some people may feel worried or think it is unfair."
"In response to these concerns, (the government) is working hard to ensure that its policies for foreigners are implemented in an orderly manner and that both Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live safely and securely," she wrote.
Before the fee increase, non-permanent residents of Japan were required to pay 6,000 yen each time they applied to change their status of residence or extend their period of stay.
From October 1, fees will be based on the period of stay applied for, ranging from 10,000 yen for three months or less to 75,000 yen for five years or more. Only applicants with financial difficulties or who are recognized as refugees will receive fee reductions.
Applicants must now also have a stable income that is at or above the Japanese average. The latest data released in July shows that the average income of Japanese households in 2024 will be 5.75 million yen.
Micaiah Michaela-Spence, 37, has lived and worked in Tokyo for 10 years but failed to prepare the necessary documents to apply for permanent residence before the fee increase.
He still plans to apply but questions the new measures for foreign residents.
He told the BBC: "My first reaction is that foreigners are being used too conveniently as policy tools. We are required to earn more than the average Japanese and pay significantly higher fees to work and pay taxes in Japan."
"There are already significant language and cultural barriers that prevent some talents from coming to Japan. These measures do not appear to be a long-term planned policy."
