TOKYO — Japan will increase visa fees for foreign visitors fivefold from 1 July, marking the country’s first revision of visa charges in nearly five decades as authorities seek to account for inflation, exchange-rate changes and rising administrative costs.
Under the revised fee structure, the cost of a single-entry visa will rise from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen (about 3,400 baht), while a multiple-entry visa will increase from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen.
The revised fees apply only to travellers who require visas to enter Japan. Visitors from countries covered by Japan’s visa-waiver programme, including Thailand, Canada and many European nations, can continue to enter for short-term tourism without paying visa application fees.
The changes were approved by Japan’s Cabinet on 19 June and will apply to visa applications submitted on or after 1 July.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters on Friday that the revision was intended to reflect inflation and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. He said the government does not expect the higher fees to have an immediate impact on inbound tourism.
The increase represents the first adjustment to Japan’s visa fees since 1978.
The move comes as Japan continues to experience a tourism boom fuelled by a weak yen and strong post-pandemic demand. The country welcomed a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, according to Japanese government tourism data.
The visa fee increase is part of a broader overhaul of immigration-related charges approved by Japan’s parliament earlier this year.
In May, Japan’s Upper House passed legislation allowing authorities to significantly raise fees for a range of immigration services. The statutory ceiling for permanent residency applications will increase from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen, while fees for changes of residency status and extensions of stay may rise to as much as 100,000 yen.
The Japanese government has argued that the increases are necessary to help cover the costs of administering a growing foreign population, which exceeded four million residents for the first time in 2025. Officials have also said the fees will bring Japan more in line with other Group of Seven economies.
According to government proposals cited during parliamentary deliberations, revenue generated by the higher fees will help fund immigration processing, Japanese-language support programmes and measures aimed at reducing visa overstays.
Despite concerns that the sharp increases could discourage some applicants, Japanese authorities have maintained that the changes are unlikely to significantly affect tourism demand.
Japan remains one of the world’s most popular travel destinations, aided by a yen that has remained near multi-decade lows against major currencies in recent years.
