Overview
- The government implemented the changes on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, increasing single-entry visa fees to ¥15,000 and multiple-entry fees to ¥30,000 for applicants from visa-required countries.
- Japan also raised its international departure tax from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for all outgoing passengers, with the charge automatically added to airline and cruise tickets and bookings made before July 1 exempted.
- Short-term visitors from visa-exempt countries are not affected by the new visa charges, and Japanese consular guidance says Indian passport holders currently remain exempt from the fee increase.
- Officials say the revenue will pay for digitalizing visa processing, strengthening border controls, airport upkeep, and restoring historic sites, and experts argue the hikes are unlikely to sharply cut visitor numbers given record arrivals in 2024 and 2025.
- The visa fee revision is the first since 1978 and follows other recent policy shifts on residency fees, signaling a broader move to raise revenue and manage the strain on local services and popular destinations while shifting costs onto travelers.