Japan increases entry visa charges

Japan has increased visa fees fivefold for all foreign nationals, marking the first such price hike in nearly 50 years, according to the BBC.

Starting July 1, the fee for a single-entry visa will rise from 3,000 yen (€18–20) to 15,000 yen (€90–100), while multiple-entry visas will increase from 6,000 yen (€36–40) to 30,000 yen (€180–200), CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Japanese authorities said the fee revision — the first since 1978 — was introduced to reflect inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations, according to Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

“We do not expect this to have an immediate impact on inbound tourism,” he said.

The Japanese yen has been in steady decline since 2021 and is currently near its lowest level in four decades.

Combined with the recovery of international travel after the pandemic, the weaker currency has contributed to a significant rise in tourism. Last year, Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million international visitors.

In May, the upper house of Japan’s parliament approved legislation increasing several other fees affecting foreign nationals.

Under the new rules, the maximum fee for permanent residency applications will rise to 300,000 yen, 30 times higher than the current cap of 10,000 yen.

In addition, changing residency status or extending a residence permit will cost up to 100,000 yen (€600–640), compared with the previous fee of 10,000 yen (€60–65).

Officials supporting the increase argue that Japan should align its visa and residency fees with those charged by other G7 countries.

In the United States, for example, non-immigrant visa fees range from $185 to $315, while in the United Kingdom a standard short-term visa valid for up to six months costs £135.

Photo: Pexels (Free Stock Photos)