Japan raises visa fees by 400%, the first increase since 1978.
High Japan visa fees news: For the first time since 1978, Japan has decided to increase visa fees for all foreigners effective July 1. Since the fee increase comes nearly 50 years later, the increase is staggering – an almost five-fold increase.
From July 1, single-entry visa fees will be raised from 3,000 yen ($18.69) currently to 15,000 yen ($92.83), while multiple-entry visas will now cost 30,000 yen ($185.66), up from 6,000 yen ($37.13).Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said that the increase in visa fees came to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. The Japanese government does not expect any immediate impact on tourism due to the higher fees.According to reports, the Japanese yen which has been constantly weakening since 2021 is the main reason behind the increase in visa fees. The yen is now hovering near its historic 40-year low. This, coupled with the post-pandemic travel recovery, has led to an increase in the number of tourists to Japan. The country welcomed a record 42.7 million international tourists last year.In May, the Japanese Senate passed a bill to raise other fees related to foreigners.
Under this amendment, the legal maximum for permanent residency applications will rise to 300,000 yen, 30 times the current maximum of 10,000 yen. It will also cost up to 100,000 yen to change residency status or extend residency, up from the current 10,000 yen.
List of affected countries
A New York Times report said the fees would apply to travelers from more than 100 countries, including China, India and Vietnam, which were among the largest sources of visitors to Japan last year.
They will go from paying about $18 to $93 for a single entry visa, and from $37 to $186 for multiple entry. Tourists from the United States and about 70 other countries will not have to pay the new fees due to visa exemptions. Currently, these travelers can enter for free.
In 2028, Japan plans to roll out an electronic system for visa-exempt travelers known as GESTA, the fees for which have not yet been determined.The revenue will subsidize the cost of passports for Japanese citizens, who will have to pay a lower fee of about $43, according to Takaishi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.Of the top five markets for inbound tourism to Japan so far this year, mainland China is the only one whose travelers are required to obtain an entry visa. China will be one of the countries most affected by the new proposal.
