Japan to raise visa fees for foreign tourists for first time in over 40 years

Japan’s government is preparing to raise visa application fees for foreign tourists from fiscal 2026, Japanese media reported on Nov. 10, citing anonymous sources. (Xinhua)

Japan’s government is preparing to raise visa application fees for foreign tourists from fiscal 2026, Japanese media reported on Nov. 10, citing anonymous sources. This will be the first increase in visa fees since Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs began keeping records in 1978.

According to sources, Japan intends to benchmark the visa fee hike against the levels seen in Europe and the US. Currently, Japan charges ¥3,000 (approximately RMB 139) for single-entry visas and ¥6,000 (approximately RMB 277) for multiple-entry visas—noticeably lower than those in Western nations. Revenue from the increase will partly be allocated to tackle “overtourism,” a growing issue in the country.

In addition to visa fees, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is also considering raising the departure tax. The proposed increase would triple the current tax from ¥1,000 (about RMB 46) to ¥3,000 (about RMB 139) per person.

Meanwhile, some local governments in Japan have already introduced or are planning to introduce accommodation taxes for hotels and traditional inns. Kyoto, for instance, will implement a significant hike in its accommodation tax starting March 2026. The tax rates will vary depending on the type of accommodation, with a maximum charge of ¥10,000 (around RMB 462) per person per night.

(Source: Wen Wei Po)