Japan raised its visa application fees for the first time since 1978, with the new rates taking effect for applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026. The increase — roughly five times the previous amount for the most common categories — was confirmed by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and widely reported by immigration-law firms tracking the change, including Fragomen and Newland Chase, with MOFA’s own visa fee page at mofa.go.jp as the underlying government source.
What changed on July 1, 2026
| Visa category | Fee before July 2026 | Fee from July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry visa | ¥3,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Multiple-entry visa | ¥6,000 | ¥30,000 |
| Transit visa | Previously minimal/waived in many cases | Subject to the revised schedule — confirm with your nearest mission |
Japan’s Foreign Minister framed the increase as a long-overdue inflation and exchange-rate adjustment, noting the fee had not moved in nearly 50 years. For applicants from countries where fees are set in local currency (for example, several missions quote in local currency equivalents such as INR), the yen-denominated fee is converted at the prevailing rate on the date of payment, so the local-currency amount can shift slightly even though the yen fee itself is fixed.
What this means for applicants
- Budget roughly 5x what older guides or forum posts quote. A lot of pre-2026 content online still cites the ¥3,000/¥6,000 rates — those are now out of date for any application filed from July 2026 onward.
- The fee is separate from any visa service/agency charge. Many applicants apply through an approved travel agency or visa application center, which adds its own service fee on top of the MOFA-set visa fee.
- Fee waivers under bilateral agreements still apply where they existed before. If your nationality benefited from a fee exemption or reduced rate under a reciprocal arrangement, check with the specific Japanese embassy or consulate-general handling your application, since these carve-outs sit on top of the new base schedule rather than being eliminated by it.
- Fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application, so confirm your supporting documents are complete before submitting.
Where this fits into your total Japan visa budget
The visa fee itself is usually the smallest line item for work and study visas, most of which also require:
- A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) obtained in Japan by your sponsor/employer/school before you apply for the visa itself — the COE application has no government fee, but processing can take 1–3 months.
- Document translation and, in some cases, notarization.
- Health checks or proof-of-funds documentation depending on visa category.
If you’re applying for a skilled work route, see our Japan Highly Skilled Professional visa guide or the Engineer/Humanities/International Services guide for the COE process and sponsor requirements. Prospective students should check the Japan student visa guide for the parallel process run through your school.
Fee schedules can be revised again; always verify the current rate directly with the Japanese embassy or consulate-general where you’ll apply before paying, and treat this article as preparation guidance rather than legal or immigration advice.
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