Japan Raises Visa Fees for the First Time in 48 Years; Costs Jump 5x From July 1

Planning a trip to Japan? Apply before July 1 if possible. Japan will raise visa fees for foreign nationals from July 1, with single-entry and multiple-entry visa charges set to increase fivefold. Approved at a Cabinet meeting on Friday, the move marks Japan’s first visa fee revision in 48 years, with fees unchanged since 1978.

For all international travellers, including Indians, the change means higher upfront costs for tourism, business travel, and family visits to one of Asia’s most popular destinations.

Japan Visa Fees: Current vs New Charges

The revised fees will apply to all applications submitted on or after July 1.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry says the current fee structure has remained unchanged since 1978 and no longer reflects inflation or currency movements.

Visa Type	Current Fee	New Fee (From July 1)
Single-Entry Visa	¥3,000	¥15,000
Multiple-Entry Visa	¥6,000	¥30,000

More Immigration Fee Hikes on the Way

The visa fee increase is only the beginning. Japan recently passed legislation allowing immigration and residency-related charges to rise substantially. Under proposals being considered, fees for changing residency status, extending stays, and applying for permanent residence could increase sharply before March 2027.

Some proposed changes include:

• Residency status changes and stay extensions: ¥5,500-¥6,000 to as much as ¥70,000
• Permanent residency applications: ¥10,000 to ¥200,000

The government has also raised the legal cap for certain immigration services, creating room for future increases.

Why Japan Is Raising Fees

Tokyo says the additional revenue will help manage its foreign-resident population, which reached a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025.

The funds are expected to support immigration administration, Japanese language education programmes, and enforcement measures targeting visa overstays.

Here’s the bigger picture: countries that once kept visa fees low to attract visitors are increasingly shifting costs to travellers as immigration systems face growing pressure. Japan’s move fits that broader trend.

Should Travellers Rush Their Applications?

Anyone planning a trip to Japan later this year may want to submit their visa application before July 1 if eligible. The difference between the old and new fees is substantial, especially for families and frequent travellers who rely on multiple-entry visas.

Visa Fees Are Rising Worldwide

Japan joins a growing list of countries increasing visa and immigration charges as governments seek to offset higher processing and administration costs.

Recent or upcoming fee hikes include:

For travellers, the trend is clear: international travel paperwork is becoming more expensive, even before airfare and accommodation are factored in.

What This Means for Indian Travellers

The fee increase comes at a time when Japan is attracting record numbers of international visitors, including a growing number of Indians travelling for tourism, business, higher education, and work.

While airfare from Indian hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai remains competitive thanks to direct and one-stop connections, the visa cost will now become a much larger part of the overall trip budget.

A family of four applying for single-entry visas, for example, could pay an additional ¥48,000 compared to current rates.

Travelobiz Take

We see this as a practical but expensive shift. Japan remains a top destination for Indian travellers, but a fivefold visa fee increase will make trip planning costlier and encourage earlier applications.