In a cabinet order approved on 19 June and widely reported in Chinese media on 20 June, Japan confirmed that from 1 July 2026 the standard single-entry visa fee for foreign nationals will rise from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 (≈ ¥674 RMB), while multiple-entry visas jump from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. It is the first major adjustment since 1978 and brings costs broadly in line with the Schengen area.
![Japan to quintuple visa fees on 1 July, dealing cost shock to Chinese travellers]()
Amid these changes, travelers and corporate travel managers may find it helpful to engage a specialist facilitator. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport service platform, can streamline the application process for Japan and other destinations by providing up-to-date requirements, document checklists, and submission support; Mainland China residents can start their Japan visa process or explore alternative travel documentation options at https://www.visahq.com/china/
For Chinese mainland passport holders—who accounted for 5.24 million of Japan’s 7.2 million short-term visas last year—the hike is dramatic. Travel-agency data show a 40 % surge in applications this week as tourists rush to beat the deadline; some consulates have cut off submission windows as early as 26 June because of processing backlogs. Students, budget travellers and family groups will be hardest hit: a family of three will see visa fees rise from roughly ¥400 RMB to more than ¥2,000 RMB, excluding agency service charges. Frequent business travellers who rely on three-year or five-year multiple-entry visas face an even steeper bill, potentially eroding the cost advantage Japan has long enjoyed over Europe for short notice client visits and sourcing trips. Tokyo says the objective is to recoup administrative costs and to “optimise” inbound traffic by discouraging ultra-low-budget mass tourism. Because nationals of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and most ASEAN countries already enjoy visa-free access, analysts view the move as a de-facto price filter aimed mainly at the China market. Corporate travel managers should prepare for higher trip budgets and advise staff with travel plans after 1 July to secure appointments quickly. Companies rotating technicians to Japanese branches on short-stay cultural-activities (C-4) visas should also revisit assignment lengths; in some cases a longer business manager (E) visa could be more economical despite higher document requirements.
Amid these changes, travelers and corporate travel managers may find it helpful to engage a specialist facilitator. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport service platform, can streamline the application process for Japan and other destinations by providing up-to-date requirements, document checklists, and submission support; Mainland China residents can start their Japan visa process or explore alternative travel documentation options at https://www.visahq.com/china/
For Chinese mainland passport holders—who accounted for 5.24 million of Japan’s 7.2 million short-term visas last year—the hike is dramatic. Travel-agency data show a 40 % surge in applications this week as tourists rush to beat the deadline; some consulates have cut off submission windows as early as 26 June because of processing backlogs. Students, budget travellers and family groups will be hardest hit: a family of three will see visa fees rise from roughly ¥400 RMB to more than ¥2,000 RMB, excluding agency service charges. Frequent business travellers who rely on three-year or five-year multiple-entry visas face an even steeper bill, potentially eroding the cost advantage Japan has long enjoyed over Europe for short notice client visits and sourcing trips. Tokyo says the objective is to recoup administrative costs and to “optimise” inbound traffic by discouraging ultra-low-budget mass tourism. Because nationals of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and most ASEAN countries already enjoy visa-free access, analysts view the move as a de-facto price filter aimed mainly at the China market. Corporate travel managers should prepare for higher trip budgets and advise staff with travel plans after 1 July to secure appointments quickly. Companies rotating technicians to Japanese branches on short-stay cultural-activities (C-4) visas should also revisit assignment lengths; in some cases a longer business manager (E) visa could be more economical despite higher document requirements.
