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“This is the Immigration Services Agency. Please pay the fee.” — If you receive such an email, would you be able to tell if it’s legitimate? For applications submitted through the online Status of Residence application system on or after October 1, 2026, the fee for receiving permission will be paid via convenience store payment or bank transfer, not revenue stamps. When payment methods change, scams often arise to take advantage of the situation.
On September 24, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency published a page titled “About Scams Impersonating the Immigration Services Agency,” which specifically outlines how to identify legitimate emails. This article organizes the key verification points that foreign nationals and corporate HR professionals should be aware of, based on this page, the fee payment method guide, and warnings about suspicious calls and emails impersonating immigration authorities.
Permission fees for changes of Status of Residence, extensions of Period of Stay, etc., will be revised for applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026. Concurrently, the Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act have been amended, and for applications accepted through the online Status of Residence application system, fees will be paid through a method entrusted to a business operator designated by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency.
According to the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance, the payment flow for online applications is as follows:
The Agency has established a page on how to identify scams, as it is concerned about scams impersonating the Immigration Services Agency due to the change in payment methods.
The actual amount paid for online applications is the “total payment amount,” which is the revised fee plus the payment processing fee for the designated payment agency. The email with the payment link will state the fee amount to be paid. Below are some common examples to help you compare the amount in the email you receive.
| Content of Permission (Online applications accepted on or after October 1, 2026) | Fee | Payment Processing Fee | Total Payment Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change of Status of Residence / Extension of Period of Stay (Permission Period 1 year) | 27,000 yen | 330 yen | 27,330 yen |
| Change of Status of Residence / Extension of Period of Stay (Over 1 year, less than 3 years) | 42,000 yen | 330 yen | 42,330 yen |
| Change of Status of Residence / Extension of Period of Stay (3 years or more, less than 5 years) | 56,000 yen | 550 yen | 56,550 yen |
| Change of Status of Residence / Extension of Period of Stay (5 years or more) | 65,000 yen | 550 yen | 65,550 yen |
| Re-entry Permit (Single) | 3,500 yen | 220 yen | 3,720 yen |
| Issuance of Certificate of Authorization for Employment | 1,600 yen | 220 yen | 1,820 yen |
The overall fee amounts for each Period of Stay and the fees for counter applications are explained in detail in the article “October 1st Revision of Residence Fees.”
The Immigration Services Agency states that official emails from them will always contain the following items, and urges recipients to confirm them carefully.
| Item to Check | Characteristics of Genuine Emails | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| Sender | Domain is @service-dgft.com (for sending emails with payment links) or @veritrans.jp (for emails sent when selecting payment method or after payment completion). Any other domain is a scam. | Look at the part after the “@” symbol, not before. |
| Recipient | Authentication ID + User Name (the authentication ID and name of the user of the online Status of Residence application system). Long names may be truncated. | Check if it matches your (or your company’s) authentication ID and name. |
| Order ID | Composed of your Residence Card number or passport number and application acceptance number, etc. | Check if it matches your Residence Card and application acceptance number. |
The Immigration Services Agency warns that suspicious calls and emails impersonating the Immigration Services Agency may sometimes spoof existing phone numbers or email addresses. Even if the sender appears correct, please verify the recipient and order ID before deciding whether to open any links.
If you feel even slightly suspicious, do not open any links in the email. It is safer to confirm through “alternative channels,” such as logging into the online Status of Residence application system via your own bookmark to check the application status, or contacting the company or Administrative Scrivener you entrusted with the application. Regarding fake websites, the Immigration Services Agency urges users to always check the URL’s domain name by hovering the pointer over the link or carefully examining the address bar.
Based on information from the Immigration Services Agency, here’s a summary of what the Immigration Services Agency does not do regarding online application fees.
💡 Key Point: The payment fee for online applications is the same whether you choose convenience store payment or bank transfer. Enticements such as “credit card payment is cheaper” or “pay now with QR code for faster approval” do not exist in the official system.
Based on the system’s mechanisms, emails requesting “payment of fees” received under the following circumstances require particular caution.
| Situation | Official Mechanism | Possible Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Received a payment email despite applying at the counter | Counter applications after October 1, 2026, are paid with Revenue Stamps (cashless payment is not possible). | This is not an application for which a payment guidance email would be sent. |
| Received a payment email despite the online application being accepted before September 30, 2026 | Applications accepted by September 30 will be paid with Revenue Stamps, even if approval is granted after October 1. | This is not an application for which a payment guidance email would be sent. |
| Received a payment email despite not having received an application completion email | A separate email with a payment link is sent after the application completion email. | The order is incorrect. |
| Received an email at a different email address not registered for user login | Emails with payment links are not sent to email addresses other than the registered one. | The recipient is incorrect. |
| Received an email at the applicant’s personal address despite entrusting the application to a company or Administrative Scrivener | Payment guidance is sent to the email address registered for the online application user. | Confirm with the registered party (company, Administrative Scrivener, etc.). |
The application acceptance date can be confirmed in the notification email for the “Temporary Application Acceptance Number” or “Application Acceptance Number.” This helps determine whether the application was accepted before September 30 or on/after October 1.
The Immigration Services Agency has publicized consultation cases regarding suspicious calls, emails, and documents impersonating immigration authorities (last updated: September 19, Reiwa 7). The main points are summarized as follows:
The last example, in particular, is a tactic that targets companies employing foreign nationals. Even if it claims to be due to an Immigration Law Amendment or stricter screening, please confirm whether it is a legitimate procedure by contacting the official contact information of the regional Immigration Services Agency office directly.
The Immigration Services Agency advises consulting the police or consumer affairs center if damage is suspected.
Please note that contact information for inquiries regarding online application fees is scheduled to be posted upon the start of operations. It is important to use the contact information you find yourself on the official website, rather than phone numbers or links written in emails.
Q1. I received an email from @veritrans.jp. Is this a scam?
A. The Immigration Services Agency indicates that @veritrans.jp is the domain for emails sent when selecting a payment method and upon completion of payment. Do not judge solely by the domain; also check the recipient (authentication ID + user name) and order ID. If you have no recollection of such a transaction, it is safer not to open any links in the email and to log in to the online Status of Residence application system yourself to check the situation.
Q2. I applied in September 2026, and the permission was granted in October. Will I receive payment instructions by email?
A. According to the Immigration Services Agency’s Q&A, for applications accepted on or before September 30, 2026, the fee should be paid with a Revenue Stamp, even if the permission or issuance occurs on or after October 1. The acceptance date can be confirmed in the email notifying you of the temporary application acceptance number or application acceptance number.
Q3. Can I pay cashless if I apply at the counter?
A. No, you cannot. For counter applications, payment is still made with Revenue Stamps as before. Be especially careful if you applied at the counter and then received an email requesting payment.
Q4. I received a notice stating that I can pay by credit card.
A. Fees for online applications are paid via convenience store payment or bank transfer. The Immigration Services Agency states that it never requests payment of fees via credit card or QR code payment. Do not open the link or make any payments.
Q5. My company is applying. I heard that the payment email was sent to the applicant’s smartphone.
A. Emails with payment links are reportedly only sent to the email address registered with the user ID of the online Status of Residence application system. If a company representative has registered as a user and is submitting the application, first check if the notice has arrived at the registered address, and tell the applicant not to open any links in emails they received.
Q6. I already opened the link and entered my personal information.
A. The Immigration Services Agency advises consulting the police (#9110) or the Consumer Affairs Center (188) if you suspect you have been a victim. If the information you entered involves a credit card or bank account, contact your card company or financial institution as soon as possible.
For online applications on or after October 1, 2026, fees will be paid via convenience store payment or bank transfer, not Revenue Stamps. Precisely because payment instructions will be sent by email, it is essential to develop the habit of distinguishing between genuine and fake emails.
For information on the online application system itself, please refer to “How to Use the Online Status of Residence Application System,” and for details on the fee revision, see “Revision of Immigration Services Fee on October 1.”
💴 Cost Estimate: Support fees for Application for Extension of Period of Stay and Application for Change of Status of Residence (including online applications by Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications) are listed in our “Fee” (initial consultation is free for up to 60 minutes online).
As an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, our office assists with online Status of Residence procedures.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service.
📞 To book a phone consultation: 0985-68-0851
Before you submit, let us take a look.
Free Immigration Pre-Submission Check ›
For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
・Online (Google Meet): once per application. Replies via LINE: available for the same application until you submit it.
・Our guideline for replies via LINE is, in principle, within 2 business days (we are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; replies may take longer when we are busy).
・Please send copies of your documents by LINE or email. For your residence card, send the front side only; please do not send the side showing your My Number.
・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
・We only point out missing documents and points to watch. We do not prepare or rewrite your application documents for you or draft text for them, and we do not tell you whether your application is likely to be approved (if you would like to engage us, we will introduce the Self-Prep Course, the Light Plan and the Standard Plan).
・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article is written based on publicly available information as of September 2026. The procedures for online application fee payment and contact information may change based on additional information to be published by the Immigration Services Agency. Our office cannot definitively determine whether individual emails or documents are authentic. If you suspect you are a victim, please consult the police (#9110) or the Consumer Affairs Center (188). For actual applications and payments, please confirm with the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
