Planning a trip to Japan? You might want to send in your visa application before the end of June. Japan has decided to raise its visa fees by a large margin, and this is the first change in 48 years.
The decision came from Japan’s Cabinet on Friday, June 19, 2026. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed the new rates at a press conference held the same day, following a ministerial meeting on the topic.
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What Exactly Is Changing
Under the new rule, the single-entry visa fee jumps from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen. The multiple-entry visa fee rises from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen. Both categories are seeing roughly a five-time increase.
A single-entry visa lets you enter Japan only once during your trip. A multiple-entry visa lets you go in and out of Japan several times while it stays valid, which works well for people who travel for business often.
The new fees apply only to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026. If your application goes in before that date, you still pay the old, lower amount.
How Much Is This in Nepali Rupees?
Using the exchange rate from mid-June 2026, where 1 Japanese yen equals about NPR 0.94, here is what the change looks like for Nepali applicants:
| Visa Type | Old Fee (Yen) | New Fee (Yen) | Old Fee (NPR, approx.) | New Fee (NPR, approx.) |
| Single-entry | 3,000 | 15,000 | ~2,800 | ~14,100 |
| Multiple-entry | 6,000 | 30,000 | ~5,600 | ~28,200 |
These are rough figures based on the exchange rate at the time of writing. The exact amount may shift slightly depending on the rate on your application day and how the Japanese embassy in Kathmandu collects payment, since visa fees are usually charged in local currency.
Why Japan Is Doing This Now
Motegi explained that the old fees were fixed back in 1978 and never touched since. Over nearly five decades, inflation and currency values changed a lot, so the government adjusted the fees to match present-day costs. He also said officials do not expect the hike to cause an immediate drop in tourist arrivals.
The increase is also meant to bring Japan’s visa charges closer to what other major economies already charge, since Japan’s rates have stayed unusually low compared to other developed nations for a long time.
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Residency and Long-Term Visa Fees Are Going Up Too
The changes are not limited to short visit visas. Japan’s parliament also passed a separate law affecting people who already live in the country. The lower house cleared this bill in April 2026, and the upper house passed it in May 2026.
Before this law, the legal cap for fees tied to changing residence status, extending a stay, or applying for permanent residency stood at 10,000 yen. The new law raises that ceiling to 100,000 yen for status changes and stay extensions, and to 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications.
These are upper limits, not the actual charges yet. Based on current government projections, the real fee for status changes or extensions is expected to fall somewhere between 10,000 and 70,000 yen, depending on the visa type. Permanent residency application fees are expected to land near 200,000 yen. Japan plans to finalize and apply these residency fee changes before the fiscal year ends on March 31, 2027.
Where the Extra Money Will Go
By the end of 2025, the number of foreign residents living in Japan crossed 4.13 million for the first time, the highest figure on record. The government says the extra revenue from these fee hikes will help cover the rising cost of managing this growing population.
Part of the money is also expected to fund the expansion of Japanese language programs for foreign residents. The remaining share will go toward stronger action against people who overstay their visas.
How Japan’s Fees Compare Globally
Even after this increase, Japan’s new charges are not unusually high by international standards. A UK visit visa currently costs around £127, and a Schengen visa for travel across most of Europe costs €90. Japan’s new single-entry fee of 15,000 yen works out to roughly the same range once converted.
What This Means for Nepali Travelers and Students
A large number of Nepalis travel to Japan each year for tourism, work, and study. Anyone planning to apply for a Japan visa should expect a noticeably higher cost starting July 2026.
If your documents are ready, applying before June 30, 2026 could save you a meaningful amount, since the older and cheaper fee still applies until then. For Nepalis already living in Japan who may need to extend their stay or apply for permanent residency soon, it is worth keeping an eye on the final fee announcement expected before March 2027.
