Japan's Immigration Services Agency proposed to sharply increase fees for foreign residents renewing their period of stay, changing their status of residence or applying for permanent residency.

The fee for extending a period of stay or changing a residence status is currently 6,000 yen for in-person applications at the counter.

Under the revision proposal, the amount would be raised to anywhere from 10,000 yen to 75,000 yen, depending on the length of the residency period granted.

For permanent residency status, which allows foreign nationals to stay in Japan indefinitely, the permission fee would be increased from the current 10,000 yen to 200,000 yen, a 20-fold jump.

Reduced fees would be available for people who require humanitarian consideration and are recognized as facing financial hardship.

The Immigration Services Agency intends to implement the revised fees as early as October 1 of this year.

Officials said the agency will begin accepting public comments on the matter from July 3 to gather feedback.