Japan has significantly increased the fees it charges travelers who need a visa to enter the country, with the new pricing taking effect from July 1, 2026. It is the first change to Japan's visa fee structure since 1978, ending nearly five decades of unchanged pricing for foreign applicants.
Under the new fee schedule, a single-entry visa now costs JPY 15,000, up from the previous JPY 3,000, a fivefold increase. Multiple-entry visas have risen from JPY 6,000 to JPY 30,000, also a fivefold jump. Travelers applying through Japanese embassies and consulates abroad will pay these new amounts regardless of whether their application is ultimately approved.
Japanese authorities have cited rising administrative costs and ongoing exchange-rate fluctuations as the primary drivers behind the increase. The adjustment comes as Japan continues to experience a sustained tourism boom, putting pressure on consular and immigration processing capacity across its diplomatic network.
It is worth noting that this fee increase applies specifically to travelers whose nationality requires a visa to enter Japan; it does not affect visa-free travelers from countries with existing visa exemption arrangements. For visa-required travelers, however, the change represents a substantial jump in the upfront cost of planning a trip, particularly for those applying for multiple-entry visas for repeat business or family travel.
Japan's tourism sector has been under considerable strain in recent years as visitor numbers have climbed steadily, and this fee restructuring appears to be one of several administrative responses aimed at funding the infrastructure needed to process a growing volume of applications. The move also brings Japan's visa fees more in line with those charged by other major destinations that have adjusted pricing more frequently over the decades.
What this means for you
If you hold a passport that requires a visa to enter Japan, you should budget for significantly higher fees than in previous years when planning your trip, particularly if you are applying for a multiple-entry visa. Because the fee is charged at the time of application and is non-refundable regardless of outcome, it is worth double-checking your documentation and eligibility carefully before submitting your application to avoid paying the higher fee more than once.
Business travelers and frequent visitors who rely on multiple-entry visas should factor the new JPY 30,000 cost into their travel budgeting, since this is now a much larger expense than the JPY 6,000 previously charged. Apply well in advance of your trip, as fee increases do not necessarily come with faster processing times.
This is the kind of change that can catch return visitors off guard if they are basing their expectations on fees from a previous trip, so anyone planning visa-required travel to Japan this year should verify the current cost directly with the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate before applying.