Japan Raises Its Visa Charges for the First Time Since 1978

Japan has increased the charges for its visas, the first revision in almost five decades. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the new schedule in June, and it applies to applications accepted on or after 1 July 2026.

What changed
Both single-entry and multiple-entry visas now cost more. The increase is substantial rather than incremental, which is unsurprising for a schedule that had not moved since 1978.

The date that matters is acceptance, not travel
The new charges apply according to when an application is accepted, not when the traveller flies. An application lodged and accepted before 1 July was charged at the old rate, even for travel later in the year. Anything accepted since then is on the new schedule.

Travellers working from a price quoted to them earlier in the year, or from an older article, should assume the figure is out of date.

Why the amount you pay is not one number
Visa charges for Japan are paid in local currency where the application is made, so the converted amount differs between countries and moves with exchange rates.

Where applications go through an authorised agency, a separate handling charge applies on top of the visa charge itself. Travellers who budget only for the headline amount are caught by this.

Who this affects most
Frequent travellers who use multiple-entry visas, because that category carries the larger increase.

Families and groups, because the increase applies per person.

Travellers who had planned to apply late and assumed nothing had changed since their last trip.

What to do
Do not rely on a price you saw before July. Check the current all-inclusive price for your nationality and visa type before you apply, and if you are choosing between single-entry and multiple-entry, compare them on the new schedule rather than the old one.

Verified against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan notice on the revision of visa fees, checked 1 October 2026.