Japan raises visa fees for the first time in 48 years

Japan just made visa paperwork more expensive. At a Cabinet meeting on June 20, 2026, the government approved higher fees for foreign nationals. This is the first visa fee revision since 1978, according to The Japan Times.

The near-term hit is on new visa applications. Bigger jumps for residence status changes and permanent residence are still on the calendar for later in fiscal 2027.

Tourist and short-stay visa fees (from July 1, 2026)

These amounts apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026:

• Single-entry visa: ¥3,000 → ¥15,000 (five times higher).
• Multiple-entry visa: ¥6,000 → ¥30,000 (five times higher).

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters the old prices dated to 1978 and that the update reflects inflation and exchange-rate shifts since then. He also said the government does not expect an immediate drop in inbound tourism from the tourist visa change alone.

If you already paid an agent or booked embassy paperwork for a summer trip, check whether your file was submitted before July 1. That date is the line officials drew in press briefings.

Residency and permanent residence fees (later)

Parliament already passed a broader fee bill last month. It raised legal ceilings for immigration charges. Cabinet orders then set the actual prices people pay.

Statutory caps moving up include:

• Change of residency status or extension of stay: cap from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000.
• Permanent residence applications: cap from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.

The government has proposed concrete fees within those limits:

• Residency status changes and stay extensions: from about ¥5,500–¥6,000 today toward ¥10,000–¥70,000, depending on the case.
• Permanent residence: from ¥10,000 toward ¥200,000.

Officials aim to put those residency fee changes in place before the end of fiscal 2027 (by March 31, 2027). They are not live on the July 1 tourist visa date.

Tokyo says the extra revenue should help process Japan's growing foreign resident population, which hit a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025, fund more Japanese-language programs, and fund stronger action on illegal overstays. Press summaries also note comparisons with Western pricing, such as roughly $420–$470 for some U.S. visa renewals and about €93–€98 in Germany.

Who should care

• Tourists and short visitors who still need a consular visa before travel (not every nationality does).
• Workers, students, and family-route applicants who change status or renew inside Japan once the residency fee order lands.
• Long-term planners weighing Japan against hubs like South Korea or Singapore, where permit costs and employer rules differ.

This headline does not rewrite eligibility for Japan's digital nomad visa, work visas, or the long-stay sightseeing route for wealthy visitors. It changes what you pay at the counter. For route context, see our Japan digital nomad residence page and the Japan country page.

News summary only, not legal advice. Fee tables can shift when implementing orders publish. Confirm amounts and submission timing on MOFA and Immigration Services Agency pages before you file or budget.