Japan raises visa fees fivefold, first increase in 48 years

Japan announced that, starting 1 July, visa fees for foreign visitors will be increased five‑fold, the first rise in nearly half a century. A single‑entry visa will cost 15,000 yen (about 4,300 TL), up from 3,000 yen, while a multiple‑entry visa will rise to 30,000 yen (about 8,600 TL) from 6,000 yen. The ceiling for permanent‑residence application fees is being lifted to 300,000 yen and fees for status changes or extensions may reach 100,000 yen.

Foreign‑affairs minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the adjustment reflects “inflation and exchange‑rate fluctuations” and that the government does not expect an immediate impact on tourist numbers. Japan recorded a record 42.7 million foreign visitors last year, helped by a weakened yen that made the country more attractive to travelers. The fee changes are also intended to bring Japan’s charges closer to those of other G7 members. Turkish citizens remain exempt under a 1958 visa‑waiver agreement.

The move signals a broader effort to modernise immigration costs while balancing revenue needs with tourism promotion.