Japan Plans to Quintuple Visa Fees for Foreigners to Curb Overtourism
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Tourists visit Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 17, 2025, local time. Photo: Visual China Group
Japan plans to raise visa fees for foreign visitors by as much as five times starting in fiscal 2026, a move aimed at generating revenue and managing the influx of tourists.
The cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi included the proposal in the preliminary annual budget approved Dec. 26, 2025. If implemented, the fee hike — the first since records began in 1978 — is expected to generate approximately 120 billion yen ($800 million) in additional revenue starting April 1, 2026.
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- Japan plans to raise visa fees for foreign visitors by up to five times starting April 2026, aiming to generate about 120 billion yen ($800 million) annually.
- Single-entry visa fees would increase from 3,000 yen to around 15,000 yen; multiple-entry from 6,000 yen to about 30,000 yen.
- The move intends to align fees with U.S. and European rates, manage overtourism, and reduce fraudulent applications.
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What Happened When
- As of 2025：
- The International Tourist Tax (departure tax) is set at 1,000 yen and is included in airfare prices.
- In 2025：
- Demand for Japanese visas from China dipped due to strained China-Japan relations.
- In 2025：
- The government plans to reduce the fee for a 10-year Japanese passport by 7,000 yen, bringing the cost down to approximately 9,000 yen.
- Dec. 26, 2025：
- The cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi included the proposal to raise visa fees in the preliminary annual budget, which was approved on this date.
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