Tengrinews.kz — The Japanese government has approved an increase in visa fees for foreign nationals. The new rates will apply to applications submitted starting July 1. This marks the first adjustment to Japanese visa costs since 1978, citing the The Independent.
Tengrinews.kz — The Japanese government has approved an increase in visa fees for foreign nationals. The new rates will apply to applications submitted starting July 1. This marks the first adjustment to Japanese visa costs since 1978, citing the The Independent.
According to the cabinet decision, the cost of a single-entry visa will quintuple, rising from 3,000 to 15,000 yen. The price for a multiple-entry visa will also see a fivefold increase, from 6,000 to 30,000 yen.
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the current rates had remained unchanged for nearly half a century.
"The current visa fee was established in 1978, and we have recently revised it to account for inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since then," he told a press conference.
The Foreign Minister noted that various factors were taken into account when making the decision.
"We reached this decision after careful consideration of various factors and do not expect it to have an immediate impact on inbound tourism," Motegi added.
Why the fees are changing
The hike in visa fees is part of a broader migration system reform. Last month, the Japanese parliament approved legislative changes allowing the government to revise a wide range of fees associated with immigration procedures.
The move is driven by the need to address the rising costs of servicing the country's growing foreign population. The additional funds are slated to be used for processing migration applications, expanding Japanese language programs, and strengthening measures against visa violations, including overstays.
According to official data, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record 4.13 million by the end of 2025.
Changes extend beyond visas
The fee hikes will not stop there. As part of the reform, the government also intends to significantly increase the maximum fees for residence extensions and changes of status.
It is proposed to set these fees in a range between 10,000 and 70,000 yen, depending on the type of application.
The cost of applying for permanent residency could also rise substantially. Currently, the fee stands at 10,000 yen, but authorities are proposing to raise it to 200,000 yen. These changes are planned for implementation before the end of the fiscal year in March 2027.
The government also noted that the revised rates will bring Japanese visa and immigration fees closer to those of other developed nations. According to the ministry, the cost of processing visas and migration documents in many countries is already significantly higher than in Japan.
The tariff increase is expected to partially offset the rising operational costs of the immigration system without requiring additional budgetary measures.
What this means for citizens of Kazakhstan
For citizens of Kazakhstan, entry procedures for Japan remain unchanged. Kazakhstani nationals are still required to obtain a Japanese visa regardless of the purpose of travel or the intended length of stay.
Notably, the processing of Japanese entry visas for citizens of Kazakhstan and other CIS countries through the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Kazakhstan remains free of charge.
As a reminder, a tourist visa does not grant the right to work in Japan. Provided there are no issues with the documentation, application processing typically takes five business days after a complete set of documents is submitted, though timelines may be extended in certain cases.
