Japan will raise single-entry visa fees from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen and multiple-entry visa fees from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen, effective July 1, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. It is the first visa fee increase since 1978, introduced to address inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since that time [1, 2, 3, 9, 6, 7, 8]. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, "The current visa fee was set in 1978, and we have recently revised it to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since then" [6].

The statutory upper limits for permanent residency application fees will also rise, from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen, while fees for residency status changes or stay extensions will increase from 10,000 yen to as high as 100,000 yen [1, 2, 6]. The government said the fee hikes bring Japan’s visa and residency costs closer in line with those of G7 countries like the US and UK [1, 2, 3, 6, 8].

Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million international tourists in 2025, reflecting a strong post-pandemic rebound in tourism [1, 2, 9]. Foreign Minister Motegi said, "We do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism" [1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8]. The Japanese yen has weakened continually since 2021, reaching near 40-year lows, which officials cited as a factor driving the fee increases [1, 2, 9, 6].

Among Japan’s top five tourist origin countries, only Chinese travelers require visas. The fee hikes are expected to affect Chinese tourists most, fueling some complaints on Chinese social media that the increase unfairly targets their passport holders [4, 10]. However, other Chinese travelers said the cost increase is balanced by favorable yen exchange rates, which lower overall trip expenses [10, 11].

Japan’s foreign resident population hit a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025. The government plans to use additional fee revenues to cover administrative costs and support programs for foreign residents [9, 6]. At the same time, Japan will raise its international tourist departure tax from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen starting July 1. Most of this revenue will fund local infrastructure and efforts to manage overtourism [12].

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has cited issues with foreigners abusing tourist visas to stay in Japan indefinitely. She said, "Foreigners abuse tourist visas to stay indefinitely in Japan" and described some illegal and rule-breaking behavior by foreigners as a cause of public anxiety and unfairness [9].

The new visa fee schedule and the increased departure tax will take effect on July 1, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 12, 6, 7, 8].