Japan raises visa fees fivefold amid tourism boom

From 1 July, Japan increased the cost of visas up to five times. The fee for a single‑entry visa rose from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 (about $93), while a multiple‑entry visa went from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. Authorities said the hike is needed to cover rising operational costs and currency‑exchange fluctuations as the country experiences a tourism surge that is straining infrastructure and public services.

Officials noted the prolonged depreciation of the yen makes the old fee structure unsustainable. Zilmia Kemball, senior lecturer in hospitality and tourism at James Cook University, said, “Maintaining the previous fee levels may no longer be financially viable given the yen’s continued weakening.” The move comes as Japan recorded a historic 36.8 million visitors in 2024 and an estimated 42.6 million in 2025, with the tourism sector becoming a significant driver of GDP, according to Mastercard.