Japan has announced a significant increase in visa application fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals, marking the first adjustment to its visa charges in nearly five decades.
The decision was approved during a Cabinet meeting and is expected to take effect from July 1, applying to all visa applications submitted from that date onward.
Under the revised fee structure, the cost of obtaining a single-entry visa will increase fivefold, from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000. The fee for a multiple-entry visa will also rise sharply, moving from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000.
Japanese authorities said the adjustment reflects economic realities, including inflation and changes in exchange rates since the fees were last reviewed in 1978.
Speaking on the development, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the government carefully assessed the situation before approving the increase and does not expect the higher charges to discourage visitors from travelling to Japan.
The fee hike follows the passage of legislation by Japan’s parliament aimed at increasing revenue from immigration-related services. Lawmakers argued that additional funds are needed to support the administration of the country’s growing foreign resident population.
The revised framework also raises the maximum fees that can be charged for residency-related applications. The upper limit for residency status changes and visa extensions has been increased substantially, while the cap on permanent residency application fees has also been expanded.
Government officials said actual charges for these services will be determined through future Cabinet orders and are expected to be introduced before the end of the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
According to authorities, the additional revenue will help strengthen immigration management, expand Japanese-language education programmes and improve efforts to address visa overstays.
Japan’s foreign resident population reached a record 4.13 million people at the end of 2025, prompting the government to seek additional resources to manage the growing number of foreign nationals living in the country.
Officials have also argued that the new fees will bring Japan’s visa and residency charges closer to those imposed by several Western countries, where immigration-related application costs are generally higher.
