Japan to raise visa fees for foreign nationals
4 hours ago
- #policy-change
- #visa-fees
- #immigration
- The Japanese government revised a Cabinet order to increase visa fees for foreign nationals, the first such revision in 48 years since 1978.
- Single-entry visa fees will rise from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, and multiple-entry visa fees from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000, effective for applications submitted on or after July 1.
- The fee hike aims to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, with the government stating it does not expect an immediate impact on inbound tourism.
- A bill enacted last month allows visa-related fee increases of up to 30 times current levels, raising revenue to cover administrative costs for Japan's growing foreign population.
- Statutory fee caps for residency status changes or stay extensions increased from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000, and for permanent residency applications from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.
- Actual fees under the revised framework are set by Cabinet orders within these new limits, with proposed increases ranging from ¥10,000 to ¥70,000 for status changes and ¥200,000 for permanent residency, to be implemented by March 31, 2027.
- Additional revenue will support processing foreign residents, expanding Japanese-language programs, and strengthening measures against illegal overstayers, as Japan's foreign resident population hit a record 4.13 million by end of 2025.
- The government justifies the hikes by aligning fees with Western countries, citing examples like U.S. renewal fees of $420-$470 and German fees of €93-€98, to build a more robust immigration system.