Japan foreigner entry visa fees changed sharply on July 1, 2026. A standard single-entry visa now costs ¥15,000. Meanwhile, a double or multiple-entry visa costs ¥30,000, and a transit visa costs ¥700. However, your actual payment depends on passport nationality, residence status, application location and any separate agency fee.
This was Japan’s first general visa issuance fee increase since 1978. The new charges mainly affect travelers who need a visa. By contrast, citizens of visa-exempt countries can still enter Japan for eligible short stays without paying a visa issuance fee.
- Single-entry visa: ¥15,000, roughly US$93–$101 depending on the local exchange rate.
- Double or multiple-entry visa: ¥30,000, roughly US$186–$201.
- Transit visa: ¥700.
- Indian passport holders applying in the United States: US$6 for single, double or multiple-entry visas.
- Philippine passport holders applying for eligible temporary visitor visas: no embassy visa fee, although a VFS service fee may apply.
Exchange rates and local collection rules can change. Therefore, before submitting documents, check the current instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japanese embassy or consulate handling your application.
What are the Japan foreigner entry visa fees in 2026?
Japan foreigner entry visa fees are ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa, ¥30,000 for a double or multiple-entry visa and ¥700 for a transit visa. These rates apply under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Normally, the responsible Japanese embassy or consulate collects the payment in local currency.
The increase is significant. Previously, the single-entry charge was ¥3,000. It is now ¥15,000. Similarly, the multiple-entry fee rose from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. As a result, both categories became five times more expensive for nationalities without a preferential or reciprocal fee arrangement.
| Visa category | 2026 fee | Approximate US dollar value | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry | ¥15,000 | About $93–$101 | One visit to Japan |
| Double or multiple-entry | ¥30,000 | About $186–$201 | Two visits or repeated travel |
| Transit | ¥700 | Local equivalent | Passing through Japan under transit rules |
The US dollar figures are reference amounts rather than fixed universal prices. Each mission collects the fee in local currency and may use its own published exchange-rate calculation. Consequently, the amount shown at a consulate can differ slightly from a simple yen-to-dollar conversion.
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Why did Japan raise visa fees fivefold?
Japan raised visa issuance fees to bring administrative charges closer to those used in other developed immigration systems. Officials have also linked the change to application-processing costs and the management of a record-high foreign resident population.
The timing matters for applicants. For example, someone who paid ¥3,000 before July 1, 2026 may now face a ¥15,000 charge for the same single-entry category. Nevertheless, the increase does not automatically affect every nationality. Visa exemptions and bilateral arrangements remain separate from the general fee schedule.
For a busy traveler, the main planning lesson is simple: confirm the fee by nationality before buying non-refundable flights. A Philippine passport holder may pay no embassy visa fee but still pay a processing-center charge. On the other hand, an Indian passport holder in the United States may pay only $6 despite the wider increase.
How much is the Japan visa fee for Indian passport holders in the USA?
Indian passport holders applying through a Japanese embassy or consulate in the United States generally pay US$6 for a single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visa. This preferential rate remains separate from the general fivefold increase described in the 2026 fee schedule.
The Japan visa fee for Indian in USA applications is determined by the applicant’s Indian nationality rather than the fact that the application is filed in America. Usually, consular offices request cash or a money order. However, exact payment instructions vary by jurisdiction.
What documents should Indian applicants in the USA prepare?
Applicants should follow the checklist of the specific Japanese consular office. In many cases, the file may include an Indian passport, proof of lawful US status, a detailed flight itinerary, accommodation information, financial evidence and a completed visa application.
US immigration documents can be especially important. Depending on the applicant’s situation, the consulate may request evidence such as an H-1B or F-1 visa stamp, an I-20 or another document proving lawful stay. Since requirements vary by visa type and location, online discussions should not replace consular instructions.
What do US Green Card holders pay for a Japan visa?
Japan visa fees for US Green Card holders depend on the passport country that issued the traveler’s citizenship document. A US permanent resident card does not itself create visa-free access to Japan.
A Green Card holder whose passport belongs to a visa-required nationality may face the standard fee of about $101 for single entry or about $201 for double or multiple entry. Indian passport holders may qualify for the $6 rate. Meanwhile, a traveler with a passport from Japan’s visa-exempt list may pay $0 because no short-stay visa is required.
| Applicant profile | Likely short-stay visa position | Potential fee |
|---|---|---|
| US Green Card holder with a visa-required passport | Visa required | About $101 or $201 |
| US Green Card holder with an Indian passport | Visa required under applicable rules | $6 |
| US Green Card holder with a visa-exempt passport | No visa for eligible short stays | $0 |
The common mistake is treating US residence as equivalent to US citizenship. It is not. Instead, passport nationality controls the visa requirement unless a specific Japanese rule says otherwise.
How much is the Japan visa fee for Philippine passport holders?
Eligible Philippine passport holders applying for a temporary visitor visa for tourism or another qualifying short stay generally pay no Japanese embassy visa issuance fee. However, the application may involve a VFS Global handling fee of around PHP 800. Optional services such as photocopying or courier return can cost extra.
Therefore, the total application cost is not always zero. The embassy fee can be free while the application center charges for processing. Fees for photographs, document copies and passport delivery may vary. Applicants should review the current VFS Japan instructions in the Philippines.
Applications are processed through designated Japan Visa Application Centers rather than relying on the older accredited-agency model. For a traveler with limited time, budgeting for both the possible service fee and document-preparation time is sensible.
What is the Japan Visa Fee San Francisco schedule?
The Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco lists standard single-entry visas at about $101. Double or multiple-entry visas are about $201. Indian passport holders are listed at $6 for the applicable entry categories. Additionally, US citizens traveling for eligible short-term tourism or business generally pay $0 because they do not need a visa.
San Francisco applicants should check the consulate’s payment rules before visiting. Commonly accepted options include cash, a cashier’s check or a money order payable to the Consulate General of Japan. Personal checks are not accepted. Credit card payment may be available only for eligible online eVISA applications.
The consulate charges the issuance fee only when the visa is issued. If the application is refused, the visa issuance fee is not collected. Nevertheless, separate agency or courier charges can follow different refund rules.
What do Vietnamese applicants pay after the 2026 increase?
Vietnamese applicants may see a local equivalent of about VND 2,590,000 for a single-entry visa based on the ¥15,000 schedule. A double or multiple-entry visa may cost roughly VND 5,180,000 to VND 6,000,000. Local figures can change with exchange-rate calculations.
A transit visa is listed at approximately VND 700,000 in the supplied fee information. In addition, authorized agencies may charge a service fee ranging from about VND 500,000 to VND 2,000,000. Those agency charges are separate from Japan’s visa issuance fee and may not be refundable.
Vietnamese applicants generally pay in Vietnamese dong when the visa is issued. If the application is denied, no Japanese visa issuance fee is collected. However, an agency’s handling charge can follow its own terms.
Do visa renewal fees also increase in 2026?
Japan’s tourist visa issuance increase and its proposed domestic renewal fee changes are separate matters. The July 1, 2026 change concerns visas issued for entry from outside Japan. By contrast, proposed domestic fees concern status extensions, changes of status and permanent residence applications filed inside Japan.
Under the draft structure described in the supplied information, the planned domestic charges include ¥10,000 for a stay of up to three months, ¥33,000 for up to one year or ¥27,000 online and ¥75,000 for five years or longer or ¥65,000 online. Permanent residence was proposed at ¥200,000 instead of ¥10,000.
The proposed implementation date is October 1, 2026. The relevant amount would be determined by the date immigration formally accepts the application. Therefore, applications accepted on or before September 30, 2026 would retain the old pricing under the described transition rule.
These figures should be treated as proposed until the Immigration Services Agency of Japan publishes final rules. In addition, humanitarian cases and refugees facing extreme financial hardship may receive exemptions or reductions under the proposed framework.
What should applicants check before paying?
A fee table is useful, but it does not answer every practical question. Instead, the safest approach is to confirm nationality, visa category, application location and payment method in that order.
- First, check whether your passport is on Japan’s visa-exemption list for eligible stays of up to 90 days.
- Next, identify the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your residence area.
- Then, confirm whether your nationality has a reciprocal or preferential fee.
- Also, separate the embassy fee from VFS, courier or agency service charges.
- Prepare the required payment method, such as exact cash or an approved money order.
- Verify whether the fee is payable only after approval or issuance.
- Finally, recheck the official instructions if your travel date or application category changes.
Common mistakes that create unnecessary cost
- Assuming a US Green Card guarantees visa-free entry.
- Using a generic internet fee table instead of the responsible consulate’s current notice.
- Budgeting only for the embassy fee and forgetting an application-center charge.
- Confusing a visa issuance fee with a domestic residence renewal fee.
- Converting yen into dollars without checking the mission’s local-currency rate.
For broader relocation research unrelated to Japanese visa charges, readers may also review Malaysia Foreign Ownership Limits. However, it covers a different country and legal system, so it should not replace Japanese immigration guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Did Japan increase tourist visa fees in 2026?
Yes. The general increase took effect on July 1, 2026. As a result, single-entry fees rose to ¥15,000, while double or multiple-entry fees rose to ¥30,000 for affected nationalities.
How much does a Japan visa cost for US citizens?
US citizens generally pay $0 for eligible temporary visits of up to 90 days because they are covered by Japan’s short-stay visa exemption. Different rules can apply to work or long-term stays.
Is the Japan visa fee for Indian citizens in the USA still $6?
The supplied 2026 information states that Indian passport holders continue to pay $6 for single, double or multiple-entry visas through the relevant Japanese mission in the United States.
Do Philippine citizens pay a Japan tourist visa fee?
Eligible Philippine applicants generally pay no embassy visa issuance fee for temporary visitor applications. However, VFS Global handling costs and optional services can still increase the total expense.
Does a US Green Card remove the Japan visa requirement?
No. Japan normally assesses passport nationality rather than US permanent resident status. Therefore, Green Card holders should check whether their passport country is visa-exempt.
Are Japan visa fees refundable after refusal?
The issuance fee is paid only when the visa is issued, so it is not collected after a refusal. Agency, courier or application-center charges may have separate policies.
When could Japan’s visa renewal fee increase apply?
A domestic renewal and permanent residence fee increase was proposed for October 1, 2026. Final implementation details should be confirmed with Japan’s Immigration Services Agency.
Conclusion
The most reliable way to calculate Japan foreigner entry visa fees is to start with passport nationality. Standard 2026 charges are ¥15,000 for single entry, ¥30,000 for double or multiple entry and ¥700 for transit. Nevertheless, Indian applicants in the United States may pay $6, while eligible Philippine applicants may pay no embassy fee.
Visa-exempt travelers pay no issuance fee for qualifying short stays. Everyone else should check the responsible Japanese mission’s latest instructions, local-currency amount and payment method before submitting an application. If your plan involves renewing residence status inside Japan, treat that process as separate from the July entry-visa increase. Finally, verify any proposed October changes through official channels.
