The Japanese government has approved a significant increase in visa fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals, marking the first revision of such charges in nearly five decades.
According to local media reports, the decision was adopted at a Cabinet meeting on Friday following amendments to a related Cabinet order. The move represents Japan’s first adjustment of visa fees since 1978 and is aimed at reflecting changes in inflation and exchange rates over the years.
Under the revised fee structure, the cost of obtaining a single-entry visa will jump from ¥3,000 ($18.60) to ¥15,000 ($92.99), while the fee for a multiple-entry visa will increase from ¥6,000 ($37.20) to ¥30,000 ($187.97).
The new rates are scheduled to take effect for applications submitted from July 1. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the review became necessary after decades without any adjustment.
“The current visa fee was set in 1978, and we have recently revised it to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since then,” Motegi told reporters, adding that the government does not expect the increase to immediately affect tourism inflows.
The development follows the passage of legislation by Japan’s Upper House last month authorising increases of up to 30 times current visa-related charges. The bill had earlier secured approval from the Lower House in April.
Beyond entry visas, the new law also raises the statutory ceilings for fees associated with residency matters. The maximum charge for changing residency status or extending a stay has been increased from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000, while the upper limit for permanent residency applications has been raised from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.
Government proposals indicate that actual fees for residency changes and visa extensions, currently between ¥5,500 and ¥6,000, could rise to as much as ¥70,000. Permanent residency application fees are also expected to increase sharply from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
The revised framework is expected to be fully implemented before the close of the next fiscal year on March 31, 2027. Japanese authorities said the additional revenue would help cover the administrative costs associated with managing the country’s growing foreign population, which stood at a record 4.13 million residents at the end of 2025.
Officials also said the funds would support Japanese-language education programmes and strengthen efforts to tackle illegal overstaying. The government argued that the revised charges would bring Japan’s visa and residency fees closer to those imposed by Western countries, noting that visa renewal fees in the United States range from about $420 to $470, while similar charges in Germany are between €93 and €98.
