Japan has carried out its first visa-fee revision since 1978, raising single-entry fees from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 for most nationalities as of 1 July. Yet Indian passport holders remain exempt, continuing to pay just ₹500 (about ¥870) for both single- and multiple-entry visas, according to circulars from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. The exemption stems from a bilateral agreement dating back to 1974 that caps Indian fees. While South-East Asian neighbours will now shell out the equivalent of ₹8,700 for a single-entry visa, Indians retain one of the world’s cheapest access routes to a G7 country. Travel agents in Mumbai report a 40 % spike in Japan tour enquiries since the news broke; corporate travel managers see the destination becoming more attractive for incentive trips and client meetings. However, VFS Global’s service fee of ₹800 still applies, bringing the payable total to ₹1,300. Indian business travellers should note that Japan has simultaneously scrapped transit visas; passengers on through-tickets must stay airside or buy a full visitor visa. The fee reprieve does not extend to work or residency permits, which follow the new global tariff. The Japanese government says additional revenue will fund language-training programmes and bolster overstay enforcement, but India’s locked-in rate highlights how legacy agreements can shield travellers from global cost inflation.
Source: Outlook Traveller
