For the first time since 1978, Japan will significantly increase visa fees as part of broader immigration reforms aimed at covering the rising costs of managing its growing foreign population.
New Tourist Visa Fees (Effective July 1, 2026)
| Visa Type | Current Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry visa | ¥3,000 | ¥15,000 |
| Multiple-entry visa | ¥6,000 | ¥30,000 |
The increase affects travelers from countries that require a visa to enter Japan. Citizens of visa-exempt countries will not be immediately affected by these fees.
Why is Japan raising fees?
According to Japanese officials, the increase reflects:
- Nearly 50 years of inflation.
- Changes in exchange rates.
- Rising administrative costs of immigration services.
- Record numbers of foreign residents (4.13 million at the end of 2025).
- The need for more staffing, technology, language programs, and enforcement against overstays.
Additional Immigration Changes
Japan has also approved legislation allowing much higher fees for other immigration services:
- Residence status changes and renewals: maximum fee ceiling raised from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000.
- Permanent residence applications: maximum fee ceiling raised from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.
The actual amounts will be finalized later, but permanent residency applications could eventually cost around ¥200,000.
New Electronic Travel Authorization (JESTA)
Japan plans to introduce a Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) in fiscal 2028, similar to:
- U.S. ESTA
- U.K. ETA
Travelers from 74 visa-exempt countries and territories will need to submit information online before departure. Authorities will screen travelers against immigration and criminal databases, and high-risk individuals could be denied boarding.
Impact on Canadians
Canada is one of Japan’s visa-waiver countries, so Canadian tourists currently do not need a visa for short stays, and the July 1 visa fee increase does not affect most Canadian travelers. However, Canadians are expected to become subject to the future JESTA system when it launches around 2028.
Japanese authorities believe tourism demand will remain strong despite the higher fees, citing record visitor numbers driven by the weak yen and continued popularity of destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
These changes represent one of the most significant overhauls of Japan’s immigration fee structure in nearly half a century.