japan visa fee increase news: For the first time since 1978, Japan is increasing entry visa fees for all foreigners from July 1. Since fee increases have occurred over approximately 50 years, this increase is staggering – almost a fivefold increase. From July 1, single-entry visa fees will increase to 15,000 yen ($92.83) from the current 3,000 yen ($18.69), while the cost of a multiple-entry visa will now rise to 30,000 yen ($185.66) from 6,000 yen ($37.13).Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the visa fee increase was made to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. The Japanese government does not expect any immediate impact on tourism due to the fee increase.According to reports, the Japanese Yen, which has been continuously weakening since 2021, is the main reason behind the visa fee hike. The yen is now hovering near historic 40-year lows. Along with this, the number of tourists in Japan has increased due to the increase in travel after the pandemic. The country welcomed a record 42.7 million international tourists last year.In May, Japan’s Upper House passed a bill to raise other fees related to foreigners. Under that amendment, the statutory upper limit for permanent residence applications will increase to 300,000 yen, 30 times higher than the current limit of 10,000 yen. Changing one’s state of residence or extending one’s period of stay will cost from the current 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen.
List of countries affected
A NYT report said the fee would apply to travelers from more than 100 countries, including China, India and Vietnam, which were among the biggest sources of visitors to Japan last year. They will have to pay around $18 to $93 for a single-entry visa, and $37 to $186 for multiple entries. Tourists from the United States and about 70 other countries will not have to pay the new fees because of the visa exemptions. For now, those travelers can enter for free. In 2028, Japan plans to introduce an electronic system for visa-free travelers called Jesta, the fee for which has not yet been determined.The revenue will subsidize the cost of passports for Japanese citizens, who will pay about $43 less in fees, according to Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.Of Japan’s top five inbound tourism markets so far this year, mainland China is the only market requiring travelers to obtain a visa. And China will be one of the countries most affected by the new proposal.