Japan Is Raising Visa and Travel Fees in 2026: Here’s How Much You’ll Be Paying

Last updated: Jun 22, 2026

Japan is raising visa fees, residence permit costs, and departure taxes across the board in 2026 — the biggest overhaul of its immigration fee structure in over four decades.

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Visa Issuance Fees (From April 2026)

Under the new fee schedule published by Japanese consulates, fees have increased roughly five times:

Single-entry visa: ¥15,000 (~US$100), up from ¥3,000
Multiple-entry visa: ¥30,000 (~US$200), up from ¥6,000
Transit visa: now around US$5, up from ¥700 — confirm the exact local amount with your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate

These fees took effect on 1 April 2026 at Japanese embassies and consulates worldwide, the first revision since 1978.

Exact amounts in local currency may vary by consulate, so confirm with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country before applying.

Many nationalities don’t need a visa for short tourist visits. If you’re visa-exempt, these fee changes don’t affect you. For a country-by-country breakdown of who needs a visa and who doesn’t, see our Japan Travel 2026 guide for GCC tourists.

Departure Tax (From July 2026)

Japan’s international departure tax — the International Tourist Tax — increases from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 (~US$20) on 1 July 2026.

This affects everyone flying out of Japan, regardless of nationality or visa status.

The tax is automatically included in your airline or ferry ticket price when departing Japan. Children under two and eligible transit passengers are generally exempt.

If you’ve already booked flights departing Japan before 1 July 2026, you’ll still pay the current ¥1,000 rate. Flights departing from July onward include the higher tax.

Residence Permit Fees (Approved May 2026)

On 10 March 2026, Japan’s cabinet approved a bill to raise the legal cap on residence-related fees by up to 30 times — the first revision to these ceilings since 1982.

The revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was enacted on 29 May 2026, when the House of Councillors passed it by 186 votes to 58. It had already cleared the House of Representatives in April.

The higher fees are scheduled to take effect during fiscal 2026, once the government finalises the exact amounts and exemption rules by ordinance.

Here’s what the law sets as new statutory ceilings:

Status change or extension of stay: statutory cap raised from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000
Permanent residency applications: statutory cap raised from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000

These are upper limits, not the fees you’ll actually pay. Based on figures the Immigration Services Agency outlined during Diet deliberations, fees are expected to be:

Three months or fewer: ~¥10,000
One year: ~¥30,000
Five years: ~¥70,000
Permanent residency: ~¥200,000

These figures come from government explanations during deliberations and are not yet the final legally payable amounts. The exact fees will be confirmed when the implementing ordinance is issued. Check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website for updates.

Planning a trip to Japan? Compare flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, or Fukuoka on Wego. Check out hotels in Tokyo, hotels in Osaka, and hotels in Kyoto for your stay.

Also worth reading: What Is JESTA? A Guide to Japan’s Planned Electronic Travel Authorization — Japan’s upcoming pre-travel screening system for visa-exempt visitors, expected in fiscal 2028.

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Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.