🇯🇵 Work & skilled workers

From 1 October 2026, a person may receive a reduction if they are recognised as being in financial difficulty comparable to that of a person eligible for protection under Japan's Public Assistance Act and there is a need for humanitarian consideration. Both conditions must be satisfied. The Immigration Services Agency's guideline identifies four financial-hardship categories and 12 humanitarian categories that can form the basis for eligibility. For eligible applicants, the reduced fee is ¥10,000 for a change of status of residence and ¥10,000 for renewal of a period of stay. For an eligible permanent-residence application, the fee can be reduced to ¥20,000. Where a person receives a specified residence card at the same time, an additional applicable card fee may still be payable. The reduction cannot currently be requested through Japan's online residence application system. Applicants seeking the reduction must submit their residence application at an immigration counter and provide the supporting evidence required for the reduction. The Immigration Services Agency states that details of the required evidence will be announced separately. Full fee exemptions apply to four categories. These include people changing to the Diplomat or Official status of residence; people already holding Official status who renew their period of stay; people changing to Designated Activities status for specified activities involving employees or family members of the Japan-Taiwan Relations Association office in Japan or the Palestine General Delegation in Japan; and people already holding those specified Designated Activities statuses who renew their period of stay.

Japan has expanded the countries and regions from which eligible residents can use JAPAN eVISA. As of 15 May 2026, direct online applications are available to eligible residents of: Australia Brazil Cambodia Canada Saudi Arabia South Africa Taiwan United Kingdom United States Additional applicants can apply through accredited agencies or according to procedures set by the Japanese overseas mission responsible for their place of residence, including eligible residents of China, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea, Singapore and the UAE.

-Japan has established additional SSW sectors and occupational categories under the January 2026 expansion. -The new sectors are being added to the SSW framework through sector-specific rules. -The government has set a new overall acceptance framework of about 805,700 SSW workers through March 2029 across the expanded programme. -The exact requirements remain sector-specific. -Applicants still need the relevant skills and language qualifications and must have an eligible employment contract. -The expansion does not remove the SSW programme's sector restrictions.