Japan quintuples visa fees in first price hike since 1978
The Japanese government has announced an increase in the short-term visitor visa fee from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen — the first rise since 1978. Authorities said the new tariff is « not expected to have an immediate impact on inbound tourism. »
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced in a notice published Tuesday that new visa fees will take effect on 1 October 2026. The single-entry tourist visa will cost 15,000 yen (about $100), while the multiple-entry visa will be priced at 30,000 yen. The current fees had not changed since 1978.
Ministry spokesperson Toshihiro Kitamura told a briefing that « the fee structure needed to be updated to cover the cost of maintaining infrastructure and service quality. » Japan welcomed a record 41 million visitors in 2025; the government aims to reach 60 million by 2030. Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino nationals make up the largest visa applicant groups.
Japan Tourism Authority chief Naoko Saiki said the increase could affect roughly 4% of Chinese visitors. Hotel and airline shares came under modest pressure on the Tokyo exchange: ANA Holdings lost 1.2%, Japan Airlines 0.9%. The new fee structure will be reviewed again in 2027.
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