Japan will raise its visa fees on 1 July 2026 for the first time since 1978, with single-entry charges jumping from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 and multi-entry visas from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. The move, approved by Cabinet on 19 June and published on 25 June, applies to all nationals who require a visa—including Indian citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the higher fees reflect inflation-adjusted processing costs and will fund digitisation ahead of the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (JESTA) slated for 2028. While the absolute increase (roughly ₹8,600 for a single-entry visa at current exchange rates) is small relative to an average Tokyo business trip, it will affect firms that rotate engineers on short-term assignments.
![Japan’s Five-Fold Visa Fee Hike Adds New Cost Pressure for Indian Business Travellers]()
For Indian travellers and companies navigating these changes, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers a convenient online portal that streamlines Japan visa applications, provides up-to-date fee calculators, and issues deadline reminders—making it easier to secure visas before the hike or budget accurately for trips after 1 July 2026.
According to VFS Global’s Mumbai centre, India filed 124,000 Japan visa applications in 2025—70 percent for business. Travel-management company CWT estimates the fee hike will add 0.6 percent to the typical India-Japan trip budget, but notes that some corporates reimburse visa costs quarterly, potentially amplifying cash-flow impacts for frequent travellers. Companies are advised to submit applications before 28 June to lock in current rates. An MEA official confirmed that reciprocal fee increases on Japanese nationals visiting India are “not under consideration,” indicating the change is unilateral. The announcement comes just days after VFS briefly posted—and then retracted—a notice claiming that Japan’s transit visa would be abolished for Indian passengers. Officials clarified that only the fee structure is changing; visa categories remain intact pending final policy review.
For Indian travellers and companies navigating these changes, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers a convenient online portal that streamlines Japan visa applications, provides up-to-date fee calculators, and issues deadline reminders—making it easier to secure visas before the hike or budget accurately for trips after 1 July 2026.
According to VFS Global’s Mumbai centre, India filed 124,000 Japan visa applications in 2025—70 percent for business. Travel-management company CWT estimates the fee hike will add 0.6 percent to the typical India-Japan trip budget, but notes that some corporates reimburse visa costs quarterly, potentially amplifying cash-flow impacts for frequent travellers. Companies are advised to submit applications before 28 June to lock in current rates. An MEA official confirmed that reciprocal fee increases on Japanese nationals visiting India are “not under consideration,” indicating the change is unilateral. The announcement comes just days after VFS briefly posted—and then retracted—a notice claiming that Japan’s transit visa would be abolished for Indian passengers. Officials clarified that only the fee structure is changing; visa categories remain intact pending final policy review.
