China increases visa fees for Japanese nationals 7 times... Responding to Japan's Visa Increase

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cho Seong-mi = Amid speculation that Japan's sharp increase in visa fees was aimed at Chinese tourists, China also responded by significantly raising visa fees for Japanese people.

According to local media on the 12th, the Chinese Embassy in Japan announced that visa issuance fees for Japanese nationals will be increased starting from the 14th.

The single-entry visa fee will increase from 2,250 yen (about 19,700 won) to 16,750 yen (about 146,300 won), and the multiple-entry visa fee will increase by about seven times from 7,500 yen (about 65,500 won) to 50,250 yen (about 439,000 won).

Separately, a fee of 5,000 yen (about 43,700 won) must be paid to the Chinese visa application center.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maoning explained at a regular briefing held the previous day that it was a "response based on reciprocity."

This is a response to the Japanese government's five-fold increase in the entry visa fee from 3,000 yen (about 26,200 won) to 15,000 yen (about 131,000 won) and the multiple entry visa fee from 6,000 yen (about 52,400 won) to 30,000 yen (about 262,100 won) since last July.

Countries such as Korea, Taiwan, and the United States can stay in Japan without a visa for up to 90 days according to the mutual visa exemption, so it was interpreted that Japan's visa fee increase was ultimately a measure aimed at Chinese tourists who require a visa to visit Japan.

The Chinese government is currently implementing an exemption measure that allows Japanese nationals to enter the country without a visa for short-term stays of up to 30 days.

However, if the exemption period expires on December 31 this year and is not extended, the impact of the increase in Japanese visa fees is expected to increase.