Japan has announced a significant increase in visa fees for foreign nationals, marking the first revision to its visa pricing structure in nearly five decades.
The new fees, which will take effect from July 1, 2026, will see the cost of both single-entry and multiple-entry visas rise by as much as five times, adding to the cost burden for tourists and visitors planning trips to the Asian nation, according to travel biz.
The fee adjustment was approved during a Cabinet meeting on Friday and represents Japan’s first visa fee review since 1978.
Authorities say the move is necessary to reflect inflationary pressures, rising administrative costs, and changes in currency values over the past 48 years.
What they are saying
Under the revised fee structure, applicants seeking a single-entry visa will now pay ¥15,000($92.99), up from the current ¥3,000($18.60), about a 400% increase. Meanwhile, the fee for a multiple-entry visa will increase from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000($187.97).
- The new charges will apply to all visa applications submitted on or after July 1, regardless of the applicant’s country of origin.
- The visa fee increase comes as Japan experiences a surge in foreign arrivals and a growing foreign resident population.
- According to Japanese government data, the number of foreign residents reached a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025, prompting authorities to review funding requirements for immigration administration and related services.
Japanese officials noted that the additional revenue generated from the higher fees will support immigration management systems, Japanese language education programmes, and measures aimed at addressing visa overstays and other compliance issues.
More insight
Beyond visa applications, Japan is also considering substantial increases in other immigration and residency-related fees following the passage of new legislation.
Among the proposals currently under review are increases in fees for residency status changes, visa extensions, and permanent residency applications.
Once approved, the cost of changing residency status or extending a stay could rise from the current range of ¥5,500–¥6,000 to as much as ¥70,000. Permanent residency application fees could also jump from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 before March 2027.
What you should know
The Japanese government has already raised the statutory limits on certain immigration-related charges, paving the way for future adjustments.
- Several countries have introduced or announced higher immigration charges in recent years. The United Kingdom increased fees for visitor, student and work visas in 2026, while Australia more than doubled student visa application charges.
- New Zealand also raised fees for visitor, work and residency applications in 2026, and the United States is considering additional integrity and processing fees across several visa categories.
