Japan to Fivefold Visa Fees for Foreign Visitors

Japan is preparing its biggest visa fee increase in nearly half a century, making tourist visas five times more expensive for most foreign visitors entering the country.

The decision was approved at a government cabinet meeting on 19 June 2026 and will take effect on 1 July 2026. It is the first revision of Japan's visa fees since 1978.

The most immediate impact will be felt by tourists and business travellers from countries that require a visa to enter Japan. Under the new pricing structure, the fee for a single-entry visas will rise from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000. A multiple-entry visa, which allows travellers to visit Japan several times during a specified period, will increase from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. The amounts are equivalent to roughly €87 and €175 respectively.

Japanese officials say the increase reflects nearly five decades of inflation and major changes in exchange rates. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the government reviewed the charges because the existing system no longer reflected the true administrative cost of issuing visas and managing immigration procedures.

On a par with the West?

The government argues that even after the increase, Japan's immigration fees remain broadly comparable to those charged by several Western countries. Officials have pointed to visa and immigration fees in countries such as the United States and Germany as examples of systems that charge significantly more than Japan historically has.

Despite the sharp increase, Tokyo says it does not expect a major impact on inbound tourism. Japan has experienced record growth in international visitors in recent years, helped by a weak yen and strong global demand for travel to destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Officials believe demand will remain strong even with higher visa costs.

The visa hike is only one part of a much larger immigration reform package. On 29 May, Japan's upper house approved revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. The legislation gives the government authority to substantially increase a range of immigration-related fees beyond tourist visas.

The law raises the legal ceiling for residence-status changes and visa renewals from ¥10,000 (€58) to ¥100,000 (€583). It also increases the maximum allowable fee for permanent residency applications from ¥10,000 (€58) to ¥300,000 (€1,750). The actual fees will be set later through Cabinet orders and public consultation procedures.

Government proposals show that long-term residents could eventually pay between ¥10,000 (€58) and ¥70,000 (€408), depending on the length of their status renewal.

Permanent residency applicants could face a fee of ¥200,000 (€1,167), a dramatic increase from the current ¥10,000 (€58) charge. These changes are expected to be implemented before the end of the 2026 fiscal year on 31 March 2027.

Grwing number of foreign residents

Japanese authorities say the additional revenue will help fund the administration of the country's growing foreign population: the number of foreign residents reached a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025. Immigration services need more staffing, technology and infrastructure to manage rising demand.

Part of the new funding is expected to support Japanese-language education programmes for foreign residents. The government also plans to strengthen measures against illegal overstaying and improve systems used to track immigration status and process applications.

The legislation also creates a new online travel authorisation programme known as the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA. Similar to systems already used in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, it will require travellers from visa-exempt countries to submit information before departure. The system is expected to launch in fiscal 2028.

Under JESTA, travellers from 74 visa-waiver countries and territories will provide details such as their identity, travel purpose and destination before boarding. Japanese authorities will screen the information against immigration and criminal databases. Travellers considered at high risk of overstaying could be denied permission to board aircraft or ships bound for Japan.