社会｜外国人在留手続きの手数料値上げへ / Society | Increase in fees for foreign resident visa procedures

Summary

The Japanese government has decided to raise the fees for residency procedures for foreigners to levels comparable to those in Europe and the United States starting next fiscal year.

Specifically, the fee for residency renewal is expected to increase from 30,000 yen to around 40,000 yen. The additional revenue generated from this increase will be used to improve the infrastructure for accommodating the growing number of foreign residents and to facilitate the deportation of illegal overstayers. This bill is scheduled to be submitted to the regular session of the National Diet next year and will be an important part of foreigner policy. The fee increase is a measure aimed at aligning with international standards.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Log: Chako, did you hear that the fees for foreign resident procedures are going up soon? It sounds like they’ll be quite high.
Chako: Really? Is it going to be that expensive? Why?
Log: The government says they need the money to improve the environment for accommodating the increasing number of foreign residents.
Navi: Raising the fees is also seen as an important measure for securing funding for foreigner policies.
Chako: But that’s going to be tough for the foreign residents…
Log: Yeah, it’s definitely going to increase their burden. But it might be a necessary step to align with international standards.

Admin’s Note

The recent increase in fees for foreign resident procedures is seen as part of a policy aimed at enhancing international competitiveness. However, it is also important to consider the impact that these fee hikes will have on foreigners. In particular, there are concerns about the increased financial burden on foreign residents as they strive to maintain their lives in Japan. The government is urged to implement policies that take foreigners into account, alongside improving the overall acceptance environment.