The Japanese government has sharply increased visa application fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals, ending nearly five decades of unchanged rates.
The new charges, approved by the Cabinet on Friday and effective from July 1, raise the single-entry visa fee from ¥3,000 ($18.60) to ¥15,000 ($92.99). Multiple-entry visas will climb from ¥6,000 ($37.20) to ¥30,000 ($187.97).
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi justified the adjustment, noting that fees had remained static since 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.
He 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.”
The hike follows parliamentary approval last month of legislation allowing higher visa and residency-related charges. It aims to generate revenue to manage Japan’s record 4.13 million foreign residents, fund Japanese-language programmes and combat illegal overstaying.
Officials emphasised that Japan’s fees remain lower than those in countries such as the United States and Germany. Further increases for residency status changes and permanent residence applications are expected by March 2027.
