Japan will raise visa fees for the first time in nearly 50 years, Ettravelworld

Japan is set to revise its visa application fees for the first time since 1978, bringing them more closely in line with charges imposed by other major economies. The move faces increased administrative costs associated with inbound tourism and visa processing.

According to Nikkei AsiaThe new payment framework will bring prices up against those in the Group of Seven (G7) and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations. Although the exact scale of the increase has yet to be determined, the amendment came into effect in the next financial year following the public consultation period.

Currently, a single entry visa to Japan costs ¥3,000 (about US$20 and US$1,670) and a multiple entry visa costs ¥6,000 (US$40 and US$3,340). These are among the lowest visa fees worldwide. In comparison, between the United States, Germany, and Schengen countries such as Germany and Italy, the US dollar is 177 US dollars (about 14,700) and 90 euros (about 105 or 8,740 US dollars) and about 90 € (105 or 8,740).

The authorities revised higher operating costs as tourist arrivals increased. In the first half of 2025, 21.5 million visitors to Japan hit an all-time high, surpassing 20 million for the first time. Officials believe a modest toll increase won’t discourage travelers, but could contribute to erosion in heavily visited destinations.

The government is also considering collecting visa fees up front in an implementation similar to systems in the US and Europe, a measure expected to reduce processing and light submissions.

It is a set of measures aimed at attracting 10 million foreign tourists this year, a goal that will boost private spending and revive the economy amid an economic slowdown, the ministry said. The number of foreign visitors to South Korea reached a record 17.5 million U.S. dollars in 2019, within 20.7 billion U.S. dollars, according to data compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization.

Japan currently requires visas from more than 120 countries, including China, the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2024, Chinese travelers accounted for 5.24 million visas, or about 70% of Japan’s total emissions, 570,000 for the Philippines and 320,000 for Vietnam. Travelers from 74 countries, including the US, South Korea and Australia, remain eligible for the short-stay visa exemption. The planned visa fee changes are part of a broader policy debate aimed at sustainably managing Japan’s booming tourism sector. Lawmakers are considering increasing other travel-related charges, such as departure taxes, while reassessing tax breaks for foreign traders. Between April 2024 and April 2025, Japan’s international tourist tax generated a record 48.1 billion yen (approx. 2,680 crore).

If approved, the revised visa structure would mark the country’s first two-year regulation in nearly five decades, a transition to a payment model that reflects Japan’s growing global tourism footprint.

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