Japan will introduce a sharp increase in its entry visa fees from July 1, raising costs by up to five times but the vast majority of Australian travellers will remain unaffected thanks to visa‑free entry for short stays.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the overhaul brings fees, unchanged since 1978, in line with inflation and shifting exchange rates. “There could be possibility for various impacts but bearing that in mind we made the revision,” he said.
Under the new structure, a single‑entry visa will jump from about $26.50 (3,000 yen) to $132 (15,000 yen), while a multiple‑entry visa will rise from roughly $53 to $265. By comparison, an equivalent single‑entry visa to Australia allowing a stay of up to 12 months costs $200.
Australians visiting Japan for tourism can still enter visa‑free for up to 90 days, meaning holidaymakers will not face the higher charges. But the increases will hit working‑holiday travellers, as well as Australians applying for work, study or immigration visas, who will now pay significantly more.
The Embassy of Japan in Australia has been contacted for clarification on how the changes will apply across different visa categories.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative government is also weighing broader immigration restrictions amid rising concerns over overtourism and a growing foreign‑resident population trends that have fuelled support for the far‑right Sanseito party. The visa fee hike follows other revenue‑raising measures, including the tripling of Japan’s international tourist tax, which is added to all outbound airfares from July 1.
As Japan tightens its immigration and tourism policies, Australians planning long‑term stays may need to factor in higher upfront costs even as short‑term holidaymakers continue to enjoy visa‑free access.
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