Japan will raise visa issuance fees for foreign nationals from July 1, 2026, a change that directly affects travelers who need a visa before visiting Japan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on June 19 that the government had approved a revision to the Cabinet order setting visa fees. From applications submitted on or after July 1, the fee for a single-entry visa will rise from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000. The fee for a multiple-entry visa will rise from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000.
Who is affected?
The change matters most for travelers from countries and regions that are not covered by Japan’s short-term visa exemption arrangements, or for travelers whose nationality, passport type, residence location, or purpose of visit means they still need a visa.
Visitors from visa-exempt countries and regions generally do not pay a visa issuance fee for ordinary short-term tourism, because they do not apply for a visa in the first place. However, Japan’s visa exemption rules include passport and stay-length conditions for some nationalities, so travelers should still check the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs list before booking.
New visa fees from July 1, 2026
- Single-entry visa: ¥15,000, up from ¥3,000.
- Multiple-entry visa: ¥30,000, up from ¥6,000.
- Effective date: applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
MOFA says visa fees are normally collected in the local currency of the country or region where the Japanese embassy or consulate is located. Depending on nationality and purpose of visit, the amount may differ or a fee may not be required. If a visa is not issued, MOFA’s general guidance says the visa fee is not required. Travelers applying through an approved agency may also have to pay an additional agency processing fee.
What travelers should do now
If you need a Japanese visa for travel after July 1, budget for the higher fee and check the website of the Japanese embassy, consulate, visa application center, or JAPAN eVISA portal that handles applications from your place of residence.
Do not assume that every application can be moved online. Japan’s official eVISA portal is currently limited to eligible applicants applying for a single-entry short-term tourism visa, and eligibility depends on residence country, nationality, purpose of travel, passport type, and route of entry. The eVISA portal also states that payment is by credit card only, and that the electronic visa issuance notice must be displayed on a device at check-in; screenshots or PDFs are not accepted.
Travelers with fixed departure dates should also allow enough time for processing. MOFA’s general visa guidance says processing usually takes about one week if all requirements are met, but additional documents or consultation with Tokyo can take longer.
Why Japan is raising the fee
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the current visa fee level was set in 1978 and that the revision reflects inflation and exchange-rate changes since then. He also said the government does not expect an immediate impact on inbound tourism.
For individual travelers, the practical point is simpler: if a visa is required, Japan will become more expensive to enter from July 1, 2026, and the extra cost should be included in trip planning.
Not the same as residency fees or JESTA
This update concerns visa issuance fees for entering Japan. It is related to broader changes in Japan’s immigration-fee system, but it is not the same as status-of-residence renewal fees for people already living in Japan, and it is separate from Japan’s planned future electronic travel authorization system, often referred to as JESTA.
Because fee tables and local-currency amounts may be updated by individual Japanese missions, travelers should treat the embassy, consulate, visa center, or eVISA portal for their place of residence as the final source before applying.
Primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
The higher fees apply to visa applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
For travelers who need a visa, the single-entry visa fee rises from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000. Multiple-entry visa fees rise from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. Local-currency amounts and exemptions can vary by country, nationality, and purpose of visit.
Normally no. If your nationality and passport qualify for Japan’s short-term visa exemption, you do not apply for a visa for ordinary short-term tourism and therefore do not pay a visa issuance fee. Always check the official MOFA exemption list because conditions differ by nationality and passport type.
Only if you meet the official eVISA eligibility rules. The system is currently for eligible applicants applying for a single-entry short-term tourism visa and has restrictions based on residence country, nationality, purpose of visit, passport type, and travel route.
