Amid record foreign visitors and plans to curb overtuorism, the Government of Japan plans to hike visa issuance costs starting 2026. The plan is to align the fee with Western counterparts. Japan hasn’t raised since 1978.
The scale of the increase will be determined through consultations with relevant ministries, referencing the levels set by other G7 and OECD member countries. The change will also cover and long-term residence visas.
Many countries have gradually raised visa fees in response to factors such as inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and tighter border control policies.
Japan is also considering changing the timing of fee collection. Currently, the fee is collected when the visa is issued, but some proposals suggest switching to common Western practice of charging at the time of application. The goal is to discourage casual or unnecessary applications and reduce the administrative workload.
Compared with other G7 countries, Japan’s visa fees are relatively low. A single-entry visa, required for each visit, costs about JPY 3,000 (about USD 19.7), while a multiple-entry visa, valid for repeated visits within a certain period, costs about JPY6,000 (about USD 39.3).