Explera DMC Japan plans group travel from markets whose citizens need a visa for Japan, and the cost of that visa rose on 1 July 2026. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a single-entry visa now costs about 15,000 yen and a multiple-entry visa about 30,000 yen, paid in local currency. Visa-exempt visitors pay nothing.
The change comes from an amendment to the Cabinet Order on fees collected by consular officers, which took effect on 1 July 2026. Before it, the fees were 3,000 yen for a single-entry visa and 6,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, so both rose fivefold.
Who pays the new fee?
- Visa-required travellers only. Citizens of Japan's visa-exempt countries and regions do not apply for a visa for a short tourist stay, so the fee does not touch them. Our Japan visa guide explains who needs one.
- By application date. The new fee applies to applications accepted from 1 July 2026. Applications accepted by 30 June were charged the old fee.
- In local currency. Each embassy and consulate collects the fee in its own currency, at the amount it publishes.
- Exceptions exist. The ministry notes that the fee can differ or not apply, depending on nationality and purpose of travel, and that no fee is charged if a visa is not issued.
Japanese missions issued 7,862,060 visas in 2025, and China, the Philippines and Vietnam accounted for 84% of them, as reported by Travel Voice. Groups from those markets feel this change most.
How do agents plan group applications?
- Show the fee as its own line. The visa fee is a government charge, separate from the land arrangements. We keep it apart in proposals so clients see where the cost comes from.
- Check the local table. Each mission publishes its own amounts, so we ask agents to confirm the figure with the mission that will take the application.
- Start early. The documents a mission asks for, such as the itinerary and hotel confirmations, come from the confirmed programme. We issue them as soon as a booking is firm.
For the wider picture, see our guides to JESTA, Japan's planned travel authorisation and Visit Japan Web.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Fees and Travel Voice: visa fees rise fivefold.
FAQ
When did Japan's new visa fees start? On 1 July 2026, for applications accepted from that date. Applications accepted by 30 June 2026 were charged the old fee.
How much is a Japanese visa now? About 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and about 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Each mission collects it in local currency.
Do visa-exempt visitors pay the new fee? No. Travellers from visa-exempt countries and regions do not need a visa for a short tourist stay, so they pay no visa fee.
Does the fee apply to every nationality in the same way? Not always. The ministry says the fee can differ or not be required, depending on nationality and purpose of travel, so we confirm it with the mission that handles the application.
Planning a group from a visa-required market? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
