Changes that touch every mid- to long-term resident: fees, cards, renewals, and payment records.
What to do now on this route What to keep, what to check each year and which deadlines to watch.From 1 October 2026, renewing or changing your status of residence online costs ¥27,000 for a 1-year permit and ¥65,000 for 5 years, plus a small payment fee. Applying at the counter costs more.
Since 14 June 2026, you can get a 特定在留カード: a residence card with My Number card functions built in. It's optional.
The government plans to give ISA electronic access to foreign residents' health insurance and pension payment records. Health insurance data is due from June 2027, on every status of residence. What happens if you've missed payments hasn't been published.
A short briefing each week until the 2027 changes are in, and a separate alert on the day something changes for the situations you tick. It's free, and every email has an unsubscribe link.