Japan Visa Fees Rise in July
Japan is raising visa fees for foreign nationals in its first full revision of the charges since 1978. The new rates will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 July 2026, following a Cabinet decision on 19 June. The change will mainly affect tourists and business visitors from countries that still need a visa for short stays.
What Changes for Applicants
- Start date: 1 July 2026
- Applies to: applications submitted on or after that date
- Single-entry visa: ¥15,000, up from ¥3,000
- Multiple-entry visa: ¥30,000, up from ¥6,000
- First revision: since 1978
- Also changing: higher legal caps for some residence procedures
- Future system: JESTA online travel authorisation expected in fiscal 2028
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the review reflects inflation and exchange-rate changes over nearly five decades. Japanese officials argue that the new charges remain broadly comparable with immigration fees in several Western countries. Tokyo does not expect the increase to sharply slow inbound travel, which has been helped by a weaker yen and strong demand for trips to Japan.
The visa rise sits alongside wider immigration changes. Japan has approved higher legal ceilings for fees linked to residence-status changes, renewals and permanent residency applications. The exact fees for those residence procedures have not been fixed yet. Japan is expected to set them later through Cabinet orders and consultation, with the changes planned before the end of the current fiscal year.
The immediate travel impact is limited to visitors who need a visa before arrival. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido and Okinawa will remain straightforward for visa-exempt travellers, while applicants from non-waiver countries should budget more before booking flights. The planned JESTA system will later affect visa-free visitors too, adding a pre-travel screening step before departure.
The change makes Japan more expensive at the application stage, especially for travellers who need single-entry or multiple-entry visas. It will not affect visa-exempt visitors immediately, but that group is also heading towards pre-travel screening under JESTA. Japan is keeping tourism open, while making entry checks and immigration paperwork more costly and more formal.
