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.
The decision was adopted during a Cabinet meeting on Friday following amendments to a related Cabinet order. According to local media reports, the new fee structure will take effect for visa applications submitted from July 1.
Under the revised rates, the cost of a single-entry visa will jump from ¥3,000 ($18.60) to ¥15,000 ($92.99), while a multiple-entry visa will increase from ¥6,000 ($37.20) to ¥30,000 ($187.97).
Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, said the adjustment reflects economic realities that have changed substantially since the fees were last reviewed in 1978.
“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.
Despite concerns that higher charges could discourage travel, the minister expressed confidence that the move would not have an immediate effect on inbound tourism.
The fee increase follows legislation passed by Japan’s Upper House last month, allowing visa-related charges for foreign nationals to rise by as much as 30 times existing levels. The bill had previously secured approval in the Lower House in April.
Authorities said the policy is designed to generate additional revenue to offset the growing administrative costs associated with managing Japan’s expanding foreign resident population.
Under the revised framework, the statutory ceiling for fees related to residency status changes and extensions of stay has been increased from ¥10,000 to ¥100,000. The maximum charge for permanent residency applications has also been raised from ¥10,000 to ¥300,000.
Government proposals indicate that fees for residency status changes and stay extensions could rise from the current ¥5,500–¥6,000 range to between ¥10,000 and ¥70,000. Permanent residency application fees are expected to increase from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
The new measures are scheduled to be fully implemented before the end of Japan’s next fiscal year on March 31, 2027.
Officials said the additional funds will support the management of Japan’s foreign population, which reached a record 4.13 million residents at the end of 2025. The revenue is also expected to fund Japanese-language education programmes and strengthen efforts to tackle illegal overstaying.
The government further argued that the revised fees would bring Japan’s visa and residency-related charges closer to those imposed by several Western nations.
Visa renewal fees currently range between approximately $420 and $470 in the United States, while Germany charges between €93 ($107) and €98 for similar services.