Japan said that it will raise the price of some tourist visas by more than 400 percent starting in July, the latest move in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s campaign to tightly regulate entries by foreign nationals.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the changes on Friday, saying in a news briefing that the changes were necessary after 48 years without a change. He cited factors including inflation and changes in exchange rates for the increase.
The fees will apply to travelers from more than 100 countries, including China, India and Vietnam, which were among Japan’s largest sources of visitors last year. They will go from paying about $18 to $93 for a single-entry visa, and from $37 to $186 for multiple entries.
Tourists from the United States and around 70 other countries will not have to pay the new fees because of visa exemptions. For now, those travelers can enter for free. In 2028, Japan plans to roll out an electronic system for visa-exempt travelers known as Jesta, the fee for which has not yet been set.
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