Japan Quadruples Visa Costs for Nigerians, Other Foreigners

The Japanese government has given its nod to a significant increase in visa charges for citizens of Nigeria and other countries globally. This move follows a revised Cabinet order, with the local media outlet Japan Times reporting that the decision was made during a Cabinet session on Friday. It marks the first adjustment to visa fees in nearly five decades, specifically since 1978.

Under the updated fee structure, securing a single-entry visa will now cost ¥15,000 ($92.99), a substantial jump from the previous ¥3,000 ($18.60). Similarly, a multiple-entry visa will see its price climb from ¥6,000 ($37.20) to ¥30,000 ($187.97). These new charges will become effective for all visa applications submitted on or after July 1.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, speaking at a press briefing on Friday, explained the rationale behind the increment. He stated, "The current visa fee was set in 1978, and we have recently revised it to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations since then." Motegi further added, "We made this decision after carefully considering various factors, and we do not anticipate that it will have an immediate impact on inbound tourism."

This development comes after Japan's Upper House passed a bill last month, which permits an increase in visa-related fees for foreign nationals by as much as 30 times current rates. The primary goal of this legislation is to generate additional funds to help offset the administrative expenses associated with managing the country's expanding foreign resident population. The bill had previously received approval from the Lower House in April.

Before the enactment of this bill, the legal maximum fee for altering residency status or extending a period of stay was ¥10,000 ($63). The ceiling for permanent residency applications also stood at ¥10,000. With the recent revisions, these upper limits have now been significantly elevated to ¥100,000 and ¥300,000 for residency status changes/extensions and permanent residency applications, respectively.

The revised framework stipulates that the actual fees will be determined by a Cabinet order, operating within these newly established statutory boundaries. The government has put forward proposals to raise fees for changes in residency status and extensions of stay from their current range of ¥5,500–¥6,000 to a new bracket of ¥10,000 to ¥70,000. Furthermore, permanent residency application fees are slated to increase from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.

These adjustments are anticipated to be fully implemented before the conclusion of the next fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2027. According to officials, the additional revenue generated will be channeled towards managing Japan's growing foreign resident population, which hit a record 4.13 million by the close of 2025. Funds will also support the expansion of Japanese-language education programs and bolster efforts to combat illegal overstaying.

The government has also defended these fee hikes by asserting that Japan needs to bring its visa and residency-related charges more in line with those observed in Western nations. For instance, visa renewal fees typically range from approximately $420 to $470 in the United States, and between €93 ($107) and €98 in Germany.