Japan raises visa fees for first time in 48 years — but not for South Korea

Japan's government has decided to sharply raise visa application fees for tourists from some countries starting in July, a move that aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's policy of tightening controls on foreign arrivals.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the plan at a regular briefing on June 19, saying the fee increase — the first in 48 years — was unavoidable due to inflation and exchange rate fluctuations, according to The New York Times on Tuesday (local time).

Under the new schedule, single-entry visa fees will rise from about $18 to $93, while multiple-entry fees will increase from about $37 to $186. The changes apply to roughly 100 countries that sent large numbers of tourists to Japan last year, including China, India and Vietnam. South Korea is exempt from the increases.

Citizens of about 70 visa-waiver countries, including the United States, will continue to enter Japan without paying a fee. Japan is also preparing to introduce an electronic travel authorization system called Jesta by 2028, though the associated fees have yet to be determined.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party said the additional revenue generated by the fee hike would be used to lower passport issuance costs for Japanese citizens — specifically, to subsidize a reduction of about $43 in passport fees.

Takaichi won strong support during a snap general election last February by taking a hard line on immigration and China's growing economic and military influence. Within the LDP, concerns have persisted for years over the misuse of tourist visas, with members pointing to rising numbers of international students and foreign workers.

Yoichi Kinoshita, an adviser to a visa support organization and a former official at the Immigration Services Agency, said the Takaichi government had shifted its focus from reducing undocumented immigrants to regulating "legal foreign residents," adding that "this harsh attitude toward foreigners is winning strong support among conservatives." Some small restaurants run by foreigners have reportedly closed after struggling financially following recent changes to the visa system.

Against this backdrop, the Takaichi cabinet submitted an immigration law amendment in March centered on raising residence permit fees. If passed, the cost of applying for permanent residency — currently around $60 — would rise to as much as 300,000 yen ($1,860).

The Immigration Services Agency said the revenue raised would be used to expand Japanese-language education and support services for foreign residents. Immigrant rights groups and bar associations in Tokyo and Osaka have pushed back, however, calling the measures an excessive burden. The Tokyo Bar Association said in a statement that government policies toward foreigners were "becoming increasingly strict," citing relaxed grounds for revoking permanent residency, and called the fee increases "a sudden and disproportionate burden on foreign nationals."

The Japanese government has cited both overtourism and illegal overstays in justifying the tighter regulations. A surge in visitors since the pandemic has fueled growing complaints from local residents over littering, illegal parking on private property and overcrowding at tourist sites.

Takaichi said tourism was "very important to Japan's economy" but that "the misconduct of some foreigners is causing public unease," adding that the government would "draw a clear line against xenophobia while responding firmly to illegal behavior."

Even so, tourist arrivals have shown signs of slowing. The Japan National Tourism Organization said the number of foreign visitors fell 3.6 percent in May compared with the same month last year, with a particularly sharp drop in Chinese tourists amid rising diplomatic tensions.

Industry observers say the visa fee increases could dampen tourism demand in the short term, but expect the restrictions to remain in place for now as the Japanese government prioritizes easing overtourism and strengthening residency management.

rainbow@heraldcorp.com