Japan Raises Visa Fees Five-Fold, First Increase Since 1978
Japan has enacted a substantial five-fold increase in visa fees for all foreign nationals, marking the first adjustment to these charges in nearly five decades. From 1 July, the cost of a single-entry visa will rise from JPY#3,000 to JPY#15,000. Similarly, multi-entry visas are now priced at JPY#30,000, an increase from the previous JPY#6,000.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the revisions were implemented to “reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.” He added that the ministry does not “anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism.” The Japanese yen has experienced a continuous weakening against other major currencies since 2021, currently hovering near 40-year lows. This has coincided with a significant rebound in post-pandemic tourism, with Japan receiving a record 42.7 million international tourists last year.
These changes follow a May legislative action by Japan's Upper House, which also saw increases to other fees pertinent to foreign residents. The statutory upper limit for permanent residency applications has been raised to JPY#300,000, a thirty-fold increase from the previous JPY#10,000 cap. Altering residency status or extending a stay will now cost up to JPY#100,000, up from JPY#10,000. Authorities advocating for these fee hikes argue that Japan’s visa and residency-related charges need to be brought into closer alignment with those of other G7 economies. For comparison, non-immigrant visa application fees in the United States range from $185 to $315, and a standard short-term visa for the UK, allowing a maximum six-month stay, costs £135.
