If Japan has been on your travel bucket list, now might be the time to pay attention. Starting July 1, 2026, Japan has raised its tourist visa fees significantly. The single-entry visa has jumped from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, and the multiple-entry visa has gone from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. That's a fivefold increase, and it's already got travelers talking.
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed the change and explained that visa fees had not been updated since 1978 and that the fee increase reflects decades of inflation and changes in exchange rates. In simple terms, the fees were long overdue for an update, and the government finally took this decision.
The fee hike affects travelers from over 100 countries who require a visa to enter Japan. However, around 70 visa-exempt nations, including the US, UK, and Australia, are not affected for short-term tourist stays. So, if you're from one of those countries, you can breathe easy... at least for now.
According to Japanese government officials, the extra income will be used to manage the nation’s growing number of foreigners, who are projected to reach a record high of 4.13 million by the end of 2026. Some of the areas that will benefit from this extra cash include recruitment of staff, enhanced technology, and development of immigration infrastructure. There will also be an online travel authorization system known as JESTA.
The issue is, will this discourage people from visiting Japan? This will not happen, according to the Japanese authorities. They expect demand to be high despite increased visa costs since Japan will still have a good reputation among people. However, visitor arrivals for the month of May 2026 had decreased by 3.6%, mostly due to Chinese tourists.
For now, Japan is still considered to be one of the most attractive tourist destinations. But if you're planning a trip and you need a visa to get in, it's worth paying the higher cost before you book.