Japan has approved a sharp increase in visa fees for foreign nationals, marking the first overhaul of its visa pricing system in almost 50 years.
The revised fees, which will come into effect on July 1, 2026, were approved at a Cabinet meeting on Friday. Japanese authorities said the changes are aimed at addressing rising administrative costs, inflation and shifts in exchange rates since the last review in 1978.
Under the new structure, the cost of a single-entry visa will rise from ¥3,000 ($18.60) to ¥15,000 ($92.99), representing a 400 per cent increase. The fee for a multiple-entry visa will also jump from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000 ($187.97).
The new charges will apply to all visa applications submitted from July 1, irrespective of the applicant’s nationality.
The fee increase comes amid a rise in the number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan. Government figures show that the country had a record 4.13 million foreign residents at the end of 2025, prompting a review of funding needs for immigration administration and related services.
Officials said revenue generated from the higher fees would be used to strengthen immigration management systems, support Japanese language education programmes and tackle visa overstays and other compliance challenges.
Japan is also considering raising several other immigration-related charges following the passage of new legislation. Proposed changes under review include higher fees for residency status changes, visa extensions and permanent residency applications.
If approved, the cost of changing residency status or extending a stay could increase from between ¥5,500 and ¥6,000 to as much as ¥70,000. Fees for permanent residency applications could also rise from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 before March 2027.
Japan joins a growing list of countries that have raised immigration-related charges in recent years. The United Kingdom increased fees for visitor, student and work visas in 2026, while Australia more than doubled charges for student visa applications.
New Zealand also raised fees for visitor, work and residency applications, while the United States is weighing additional processing and integrity fees across several visa categories.
