1. The Japanese government is considering raising fees for foreign residents who wish to renew or change their residency visas, potentially increasing the cost up to 5 times the current price.
2. If approved, these new fees could reach as high as 100,000 yen for permanent residency applications, and would need to be paid annually for one-year visa holders.
3. The proposed increase in fees is expected to boost government revenue but may cause financial hardship for some foreign residents, with the potential justification that Japan's fees are currently lower than many Western countries. Some of the additional funds may be used to improve services for foreign residents, while others could go towards strengthening immigration control programs for finding and deporting illegal immigrants in Japan.