Japan to Increase Visa Fees Fivefold Starting July 1, 2026
Japan will raise visa fees for foreign nationals by five times beginning July 1, 2026. This change marks the first revision of visa issuance charges since 1978. The decision, approved at a government cabinet meeting on June 19, 2026, affects travelers from countries requiring a visa to enter Japan, including tourists and business visitors.
Under the new fee structure, the cost for a single-entry visa will rise from 3,000 yen (about $18.60) to 15,000 yen (about $93). The charge for a multiple-entry visa will increase from 6,000 yen (around $37.20) to 30,000 yen (approximately $186). This adjustment brings Japan’s visa fees closer to those of other G7 and European nations.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi explained that the fee review responds to factors such as rising prices, inflation, and currency fluctuations. He pointed out that the current fees remained unchanged for nearly 50 years and no longer reflect economic conditions. Motegi also stated that the government does not expect the increase to cause an immediate drop in inbound tourism.
Japan has seen strong demand for international travel in recent years, helped by a weak yen and recovery from the global pandemic. The visa fee hike is part of broader immigration reforms. On May 29, 2026, Japan’s Upper House approved revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. These revisions give the government authority to raise administrative fees related to foreign residents.
Under the new rules, the legal maximum fee for changing residence status or renewing a visa will increase from 10,000 yen (about $62) to 100,000 yen (around $620). The fee ceiling for permanent residency applications will rise from 10,000 yen (about $62) to 300,000 yen (around $1,860). Actual fees will be determined later through Cabinet orders and public consultations. Proposals suggest long-term residents may pay fees between 10,000 yen ($62) and 70,000 yen ($434), depending on the renewal period. Permanent residency applicants might face charges near 200,000 yen ($1,240), compared to the current 10,000 yen fee.
Authorities say the additional revenue will help manage costs of the immigration system. At the end of 2025, Japan had a record 4.13 million foreign residents. This increase has put pressure on staffing, technology, and administrative infrastructure. Part of the new funds will support Japanese-language education for foreign residents, strengthen measures against illegal overstaying, and improve visa processing systems.
For Moroccan applicants, the Embassy of Japan in Morocco website states that Moroccan nationals and others requiring a visa must obtain entry visas through the embassy’s consular services. Updated on June 2, 2026, the site requests that short-stay applicants start the procedures at least two weeks before travel. The current visa fee is set at 190 Moroccan dirhams, applied since April 1, 2026, and valid through March 31, 2027. Applicants must submit original documents including a passport, a copy of the passport’s personal-data pages, a national identity card or residence card, a signed visa application form, one recent photo, and a return flight ticket or reservation. Additional materials are required depending on the travel purpose, such as tourism, business, family visits, work, or long stays.
Japan’s visa fee increase reflects a shift toward updating fees after decades of stability. The government aims to balance the need for revenue with maintaining strong international travel demand as it continues to welcome visitors.
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