Japan’s visa fees are set to jump. Will it worsen foreign labour shortages?

The additional revenue will be used to “improve conditions for the rapidly growing foreign resident population” and enhance efforts to deport illegal immigrants, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Thursday, citing government sources.

A bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law will be submitted to the Diet next year.

The proposal, which comes amid growing concern in Japan over rising numbers of immigrants and overtourism, is likely to win broad support from lawmakers and locals.

But the new fees could add more pressure on Japan’s labour-starved firms and unsettle prospective international students, according to the country’s foreign community.

Under the impending immigration overhaul, a permanent residency visa would soar from 10,000 yen (US$63) to 100,000 yen (US$639), while applicants need to pay 40,000 yen from the current 6,000 yen to renew a residence card.