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Japan's visa issuance fee rises sharply on July 1, 2026 — the first change since 1978.
Japan's visa issuance fee rises sharply on July 1, 2026 — the first change since 1978. The increase is real and confirmed, but it changes cost, not access, for most travelers.
In short
Japan's visa issuance fee rises on July 1, 2026, the first change since 1978. The single-entry fee goes from JPY 3,000 to JPY 15,000, and the multiple-entry fee goes from JPY 6,000 to JPY 30,000. It applies only to travelers whose passport requires a Japan visa; visa-exempt short-stay tourists are unaffected. Treat this as a cost change, not a routing or eligibility change.
What changed
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is raising visa issuance fees for the first time since 1978, effective July 1, 2026. The fee for a single-entry visa rises from JPY 3,000 to JPY 15,000. The fee for a multiple-entry visa rises from JPY 6,000 to JPY 30,000, roughly a fivefold increase in both cases. The new fees apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026 and are payable when the visa is issued at a Japanese embassy or consulate.
Key facts
Japan visa fee increase, effective July 1, 2026
- Single-entry visa
- JPY 3,000 -> JPY 15,000
- Multiple-entry visa
- JPY 6,000 -> JPY 30,000
- Effective date
- July 1, 2026 (applications submitted on or after this date)
- Context
- First fee revision since 1978
- Who is unaffected
- Travelers from visa-exempt countries for short tourist stays — this fee applies only to travelers who require a visa to enter Japan
Who it affects
This affects travelers whose passport requires a visa for Japan. The increase does not apply to visa-exempt nationalities making short tourist visits, which covers many of VIAIVE's premium markets. It matters most for visa-required travelers, multi-entry business or repeat-visit travelers, and anyone applying on or after July 1, 2026. At roughly USD 93 for a single-entry visa and USD 186 for a multiple-entry visa, the added cost is real but modest against the cost of a premium Japan itinerary. This is a cost change, not an access or eligibility change.
The VIAIVE call
Verify whether the traveler's passport requires a Japan visa at all before treating this as relevant. Most of VIAIVE's core markets are visa-exempt for short tourist stays, and this increase does not touch them. For visa-required travelers, book normally: this is a fee increase, not a new restriction, and it does not change routing, timing, or eligibility. Confirm the current fee directly with the relevant Japanese embassy or consulate before a visa-required traveler applies, since fee schedules can be adjusted again.
Frequently asked
Does the Japan visa fee increase affect visa-exempt travelers?
No. It applies only to travelers whose passport requires a Japan visa. Many premium travel markets are visa-exempt for short tourist stays and are unaffected.
How much is the new Japan visa fee?
Effective July 1, 2026: single-entry visa rises from JPY 3,000 to JPY 15,000; multiple-entry visa rises from JPY 6,000 to JPY 30,000.
Should travelers change their Japan plans because of this fee increase?
No, for most travelers. This is a cost change for visa-required applicants, not a change to routing, timing, or eligibility. Confirm the current fee with the relevant embassy or consulate before a visa-required traveler applies.