Japan to raise visa fees fivefold starting July 1, 2026

The fee revision, approved on June 19, is the first adjustment in nearly 50 years and affects travellers from more than 100 countries

Japan is about to increase its visa fees by fivefold, with new rates taking effect on July 1, 2026. A single-entry visa will cost 15,000 yen (roughly $93), up from the current 3,000 yen ($18), while a multiple-entry visa will jump to 30,000 yen ($186) from 6,000 yen ($37), according to a press release on the Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed the change during a press conference after the Japanese government approved the revised fee ordinance on Friday, June 19, 2026. The new prices apply to all applications submitted from July 1 onward.

Why now, after nearly 50 years

The scale of the increase reflects just how long these fees have been frozen. Japan last adjusted its visa pricing in 1978, meaning the current rates have been in place for almost half a century. A preparatory document released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this spring explained that the revision is meant to catch up with decades of inflation and exchange rate shifts that have made the old figures outdated.

Embassies and consulates around the world may collect the fees in local currency based on the rules in each country, but the official reference amounts remain denominated in yen.

Who pays and who doesn't

The higher fees will hit travelers from more than 100 countries that require a visa to enter Japan, including China, India, and Vietnam, three of the country's biggest sources of visitors last year, according to The New York Times, which also reported on the increase.

Citizens of the United States and roughly 70 other countries that benefit from visa exemption agreements will not be affected by the fee hike. Those travelers can currently enter Japan at no cost.

Where the money goes

Part of the revenue generated by the higher visa fees will be used to bring down the cost of passports for Japanese nationals. According to The New York Times, citizens will pay roughly $43 less in passport fees under the new arrangement, a move backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's governing Liberal Democratic Party.

Will this put off tourists?

When asked whether the steep increase could dampen Japan's tourism industry, Motegi said the government does not expect a meaningful effect on visitor numbers, arguing that Japan remains a highly attractive international destination. That said, arrivals have already shown signs of cooling. In May 2026, visitor numbers fell 3.6% compared to the same month last year, with Chinese tourists accounting for the largest drop.

Part of a wider immigration tightening

The fee revision is one piece of a broader push by the Takaichi government to tighten controls on foreign nationals entering and residing in Japan. Separately, the cabinet proposed in March to raise permanent residence permit fees to as much as 300,000 yen (over $1,800), up from around $60 currently. That proposal drew criticism from the Tokyo and Osaka bar associations, which called it an excessive burden on foreign nationals.

Japan's digital entry push continues

The fee hike lands at a time when Japan is steadily moving its entry processes online. The Japan eVISA system already lets certain travelers from eligible nationalities apply for a short-term tourist visa digitally, provided their country of residence and travel purpose qualify.

There has been no separate confirmation yet on whether the new fees will apply specifically to online applications, but since the eVISA is a digital channel for obtaining a standard visa rather than a distinct visa type, the higher rates are logically expected to carry over.

Looking further ahead, Japan is also building JESTA, an electronic travel authorization system aimed at visitors who currently enter the country without a visa for short stays. JESTA is expected to launch during fiscal year 2028 and will require travelers to submit certain information before departure, adding a layer of pre-arrival screening to the entry process. The fee for JESTA has not yet been announced.