Japan is preparing to implement its first visa fee overhaul in nearly half a century, introducing a sharp rise in costs that will affect travellers from markets where visas are required.
From 1 July, the price of a single‑entry visa will increase from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, while multi‑entry visas will rise from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000 — a five‑fold jump across the board .
Converted into sterling, the new fees equate to approximately £75 for single‑entry and £150 for multi‑entry visas, depending on exchange rates. For frequent business travellers, the multi‑entry cost may become a notable line item in annual travel budgets, particularly for companies managing high‑frequency regional travel programmes.
The increase applies to travellers from countries that require a visa to enter Japan, including major business markets across Asia and the Middle East . Japan’s foreign ministry has attributed the change to decades of inflation and currency shifts, noting that the previous fee structure had remained untouched since 1978 and no longer reflected the administrative cost of processing visas or managing immigration systems .
The timing aligns with a broader modernisation of Japan’s immigration infrastructure. The country’s foreign resident population reached 4.13 million at the end of 2025, prompting increased investment in staffing, technology and processing capacity to support rising demand . Officials have also pointed to international benchmarks, where visa processing fees in some markets sit significantly higher than Japan’s previous rates .
For business travellers, the impact will vary. At ¥30,000 (around £150), the multi‑entry visa remains modest relative to the overall cost of a corporate trip to Tokyo or Osaka, but it may influence travel planning for organisations with large regional teams or frequent cross‑border operations .
Travellers from visa‑exempt countries including the UK will not be affected by the fee increase. However, they should be aware of Japan’s upcoming Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), which will require pre‑departure approval for visa‑free travellers from 2028–2029. A fee of ¥2,000–¥3,000 (approximately £10–£15) has been discussed, though not finalised .
Japan does not expect the visa fee increase to dampen inbound travel. The country welcomed 42.7 million visitors in 2025, surpassing pre‑pandemic levels by more than ten million, a sign that demand for both leisure and business travel remains strong.
For now, business travellers should simply factor the new costs into upcoming itineraries and ensure teams are aware of the changes ahead of July’s implementation.
