Japan Sharply Increases Visa Fees for the First Time in a Decade: What Changes for Tourists from July 1

Japan is increasing consular fees for the issuance of visas for foreigners starting July 1, 2026: according to reports from Japanese and international media, a single-entry visa will increase from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, and a multiple-entry visa from 6,000 to 30,000 yen. For some tourists, this will become a noticeable additional expense even before purchasing flight tickets, but the change does not mean that all travelers now must apply for a Japanese visa. The key rule remains the same: first, you must check if your passport is eligible for visa-free short-term entry, and only then calculate the budget for the application.

The news is important not only because of the size of the increase. Japan is entering a period where the country is trying to simultaneously maintain high tourist demand, curb the overcrowding of popular destinations and update its migration and consular infrastructure. For tourists, this means a simple practical thing: planning a trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido or Fukuoka is becoming slightly more formalized, and mistakes in a visa application can cost more than before.

What Exactly Changes from July 1

According to several publications from June 20-22, the Japanese government approved the new fee amounts at a meeting on June 19, 2026. It is reported that the basic fee for a single-entry visa will increase from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, and for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa from 6,000 to 30,000 yen. This is the first revision of such rates in nearly half a century: Japanese media reports refer to the first revision in 48 years.

The official English-language page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan regarding current visa fees still explains the old basic model: about 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa, 6,000 yen for a double-entry or multiple-entry visa, and 700 yen for a transit visa. On the same MOFA page, it is emphasized that the actual amount may depend on the purpose of the trip, the applicant's citizenship, the place of submission, and the local currency in which the consulate or embassy accepts payment. That is why tourists should not rely solely on general news: before applying, it is necessary to check the website of the Japanese diplomatic mission responsible for the applicant's country of residence.

Another important nuance: the visa fee is usually paid for the issuance of the visa, not for the fact of consideration in each case. At the same time, the MOFA of Japan warns that when applying through an accredited agency, there may be additional service payments. For a family trip or a group tour, this can increase the total budget more noticeably than it seems at first glance.

Who Will Be Most Affected by the Increase

The change most affects travelers whose citizenship or current place of residence does not grant the right to a visa-free short-term trip to Japan. These may be tourists applying for a regular short-term visa, applicants for an electronic tourist visa, as well as those applying for a multiple-entry visa for repeated trips to Japan.

For Ukrainian readers, the practical conclusion is this: do not automatically transfer the rules for citizens of the USA, Canada or EU countries to your own situation. The Japanese visa regime depends on the passport, residence status, and the country from which the application is submitted. If a tourist lives abroad, the application may be submitted through the Japanese consulate at the place of residence, not at the place of citizenship. In such cases, it is especially important to check the specific diplomatic mission to which the applicant belongs.

The increase may also affect travelers planning combined routes through Asia. For example, if Japan is only one of several countries in the trip, the additional visa fee may change the comparison with South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore. For budget tourists, this will not necessarily stop the trip, but will force them to more carefully calculate the total cost of the route: flight tickets, accommodation, local transport, insurance, luggage, transfers, and consular payments.

Who the Change Should Not Directly Affect

The increase in visa fees does not mean the cancellation of the visa-free regime for everyone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan separately maintains a list of countries and regions with which agreements on short-term visa-free stay are in effect. On the official MOFA page, 74 countries and regions are listed for which such exceptions are provided. The list includes, among others, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, many European countries, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and other jurisdictions, but the conditions are not the same everywhere.

In most cases, short-term visa-free entry grants the right to stay up to 90 days, but there are exceptions. For example, for some countries, shorter terms or special conditions regarding the type of passport are specified. The MOFA of Japan explicitly states that for some citizens, the visa-free regime applies only if they have an electronic passport or a machine-readable passport that meets international standards. Therefore, even travelers from visa-free countries should check not only the name of their country, but also the notes associated with it.

For tourists from visa-free countries, the news is more of a signal of a general change in Japan's approach to tourist flow than a direct new expense. They, as before, should pay attention to the length of stay, purpose of entry, return ticket, financial support, insurance, and airline rules. But they usually do not need to pay the new visa fee if the trip meets the conditions for visa-free short-term entry.

How Japan eVISA Works and Why It Is Important

A separate practical block concerns the electronic visa Japan eVISA. On the official MOFA page of Japan, it is stated that foreigners traveling to Japan for tourist purposes for a short term, in a number of cases, can apply online and receive an electronic visa. As of May 2026, the system is available, in particular, for applicants residing in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the USA, if they are not exempt from a visa.

The MOFA also describes separate rules for applicants residing in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea, Singapore and the UAE. In some cases, the application must be submitted through accredited agencies or under special tourist schemes. This is important because eVISA is not a universal button for all tourists in the world. It simplifies the process only for certain categories of applicants and does not cancel the requirement for documents.

The MOFA of Japan also warns about fraudulent sites similar to the official portal and emphasizes that an application with incomplete or incorrect data may be canceled without consideration. After the fee increase, such a mistake becomes even more unpleasant: a tourist risks not only losing time, but also ruining hotel bookings, internal train tickets, or connections with international flights.

Why Japan is Increasing Fees Now

In publications about the government's decision, several reasons are mentioned: inflation, the change in the yen exchange rate, and the desire to bring consular payments closer to the level of other major economies. Against the backdrop of a weaker yen, Japan has become particularly attractive to foreign tourists, as for many visitors, accommodation, dining, and shopping have become relatively more affordable than a few years ago. At the same time, for the state system, this means a larger flow of applications, more pressure on consulates, and more complex work in verifying documents.

According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, published by JTB Tourism Research & Consulting, approximately 3.69 million foreign travelers visited Japan in April 2026, and over 14.37 million from January to April. Even despite a decrease in April compared to last year, the volume of the incoming flow remains very high. The largest markets in April included South Korea, Taiwan, China, the USA, Hong Kong, Thailand and Australia.

The tourist boom has two sides. On one hand, Japan receives strong demand for flight tickets, hotels, restaurants, railway routes, museums, natural locations, and regional trips. On the other hand, popular areas of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fuji, Nara, Hokkaido and Okinawa face transport overcrowding, queues, and a shortage of service staff and local dissatisfaction due to the excessive flow of tourists. The increase in visa fees is not a direct tourist tax, but it fits into a broader trend: countries with high demand more frequently review the cost of entry, consular, and tourist procedures.

What This Means for Trip Planning

For the tourist, the main change is not only in the amount of the fee, but in the need to make decisions earlier. If a trip is planned for July, August, or the autumn season, it is worth checking visa requirements before purchasing non-refundable tickets. This is especially true for flights with long layovers, complex routes with several countries, and trips tied to the dates of festivals, exhibitions, sports events, or school holidays.

The first step is to check if your passport is on the list of visa-free countries and what notes apply. The second is to determine exactly where to apply: online via Japan eVISA, through an embassy or consulate, or through an accredited agency. The third is to clarify the actual amount of the fee in local currency, as consulates may accept payment not in yen, but according to their own conversion. The fourth is to allow time for consideration, a possible interview, correction of documents, and peak load before summer and autumn dates.

For those who are already building a route through Tokyo, it is useful to check not only the tickets, but also the arrival airport. International flights may arrive at either Tokyo Narita (NRT) or Tokyo Haneda (HND), and the logistics between the airport, hotel, and railway stations differ significantly. If the arrival is late or the departure is early, hotels near Narita or hotels near Haneda may be needed. For Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama, the key international hub remains Kansai Airport (KIX), where it is also worth planning the transfer from Kansai Airport in advance.

Who Should Act Now

First and foremost, those who definitely need a Japanese visa and plan to travel after July 1, 2026, should hurry with checking their documents. If the application has not yet been submitted, it should be assumed that the new fees may apply to the nearest applications or issuances after this date. If documents have already been submitted, but the visa has not yet been issued, one should clarify the procedure at the specific consulate or agency, as transitional rules may differ depending on the place of issuance.

The second group is tourists considering a multiple-entry visa. After the increase, it will become significantly more expensive, but for frequent trips, it may still make practical sense. For example, a multiple-entry visa may be convenient for business travelers, exhibition participants, passengers who often combine Japan with other Asian countries, or tourists who want to return to Japan several times during the visa's validity period. The decision should be made not on the principle of "cheaper now," but on a real plan of trips.

The third group is families. If a visa is required for each member of the trip, a five-fold increase in the fee quickly becomes a significant budget item. This is added to the costs of translations, photos, courier delivery, agency service, trips to the visa center or consulate, and potential losses from changing dates. Therefore, a family route to Japan should now be calculated not only by the price of flight tickets and hotels, but with the full cost of the documentary stage.

Conclusion

The increase in visa fees in Japan from July 1, 2026, is not a ban on tourism and not a change in rules for all travelers simultaneously. But it is a significant signal: a trip to Japan is becoming less spontaneous for those who need a visa, and checking official requirements should be the first item of planning. Visa-free tourists will most likely not feel a direct new expense, but they should also carefully monitor entry conditions, lengths of stay, and passport requirements.

For the tourism market, the change is unlikely to stop interest in Japan. The country remains one of the strongest destinations in Asia thanks to its cities, culture, gastronomy, nature, railway network, and the weaker yen. However, for some tourists, the new fee will become another argument to plan the trip earlier, submit documents more carefully, and not leave the visa issue for the last few weeks before departure.