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From July 1st, 2026, Japan officially increased the single-entry visa fee from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen, marking the first adjustment in nearly 50 years and posing a new cost challenge for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese tourists, students, and workers in the country.
The announcement was made by the Japanese government on June 19th, just 12 days before the regulation takes effect. Accordingly, the fee for a single-entry visa will increase from 3,000 yen (approximately 490,000 VND) to 15,000 yen (approximately 2.5 million VND), a fivefold increase. The fee for a multiple-entry visa will increase similarly, from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen (approximately 4.9 million VND). This is the first adjustment since 1978, when the fee was established and remained unchanged for nearly half a century despite the yen's continuous fluctuations and accumulated inflation over decades.
What makes this policy more impactful than usual is that its scope extends beyond short-term tourist visas. According to the law recently passed by the Japanese Senate, the legal ceiling for fees to change residency status or extend stay has increased from 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen – approximately 16 million VND. The fee for applying for permanent residency, also known as permanent residence, has increased from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen, or approximately 49 million VND.
The new law allows for increases in visa and residency-related fees up to 30 times the current level, and this adjustment is just the first step in that process.
Analysis from Nikkei Asia shows that this entire policy is part of a plan to generate approximately 350 billion yen in revenue annually, with 60% allocated to addressing tourism overcrowding, upgrading the consular system, and improving immigration infrastructure, while the remainder compensates for the state budget, which is already under pressure from fuel tax cuts.
Starting July 1st, the Japanese government will officially implement new visa and residency fees.
Why is Japan doing this right now?
Three factors converged simultaneously, making further delay impossible for the Japanese government. First, the yen is near its lowest level in 40 years, leading to a sharp increase in immigration agency operating costs in local currency, while visa fees remain fixed since 1978. Second, the record number of international visitors to Japan, projected at 42.7 million in 2025, is putting pressure on infrastructure, processing staff, and popular destinations like Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka, exceeding their usual capacity.
Thirdly, Japan's 3,000 yen fee is significantly lower than that of G7 countries: the US charges $420-$470 for visa renewals, and the Schengen Area (Germany, France, Italy) charges €90 for short-term visas. This adjustment brings Japan closer to international practice, which should have been implemented many years ago.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi affirmed that the government "does not anticipate an immediate impact on the wave of international tourism," but market observers are more cautious, especially when looking at visitors from middle-income countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, or India.
In 2025, approximately 678,500 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan, an increase of over 9% compared to the previous year, placing Vietnam among Japan's important international tourist markets. However, it is noteworthy that, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Vietnam has a large proportion of visitors entering Japan for purposes other than purely tourism.
This means that the impact of this fee increase on Vietnamese people is not limited to single-entry tourist visas, but directly affects the pockets of hundreds of thousands of trainees, students, and workers living here, who have to periodically renew or change their residency status.
For typical tourists, the story is simpler in terms of money. Experts believe the increase in total tour costs is insignificant and has almost no impact on customer demand, while also suggesting that the factors Vietnamese tourists care more about are visa approval rates and whether the procedures are smooth. However, this assessment is for short-term tourist visa fees – it does not reflect the whole picture for those needing to extend their stay for longer periods, where the increase can be tenfold.
Japan's increase in visa fees is expected to impact the costs for hundreds of thousands of international students, workers, and tourists.
What should tourists do right now?
For those preparing their Japanese visa applications, the timing of submission is crucial. Applications processed before July 1, 2026, will still be charged the old fee of 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa and 6,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa. This represents a significant saving for those planning to travel to Japan this year or early next year.
For international students and trainees who are in the process of renewing their visas, careful planning of application timing is necessary to avoid falling under the new fee structure. For those planning to apply for permanent residency in the next few years, the 300,000 yen fee should be included in your financial plan now, not just considered at the time of application.
The key takeaway is that this policy isn't simply a technical adjustment to offset inflation. Japan is clearly shifting towards a high-quality tourism model, with fewer visitors but higher spending and stricter management. Kyoto has already increased its accommodation tax, potentially costing tourists up to 10,000 yen more per night, and the exit tax is also being considered for adjustment in the near future.
