The Japanese government has announced a major increase in visa application fees for foreign nationals, including Nigerians, with the new charges set to take effect from July 1, 2026.
The decision marks the first significant revision of Japan’s visa fee structure since 1978 and will see the cost of obtaining a visa rise by as much as 400 percent.
Under the new fee schedule, the cost of a single-entry visa will increase from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000, while a multiple-entry visa will rise from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000.
Based on current exchange rates, the revised fees translate to approximately ₦127,000 for a single-entry visa, up from about ₦25,500, while a multiple-entry visa will now cost roughly ₦255,000, compared to the previous ₦51,000.
Japanese authorities said the increase reflects decades of inflation, exchange-rate fluctuations, and rising administrative costs associated with processing visa applications and managing immigration services.
Speaking on the policy change, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the existing fee structure had remained unchanged for nearly five decades despite significant economic changes both within Japan and globally.
“The current visa fee was set in 1978, and we have revised it to reflect inflation and exchange-rate movements since then,” he said.
The Japanese government said revenue generated from the higher fees would be used to support immigration administration, language education programmes, integration services for foreign residents, and measures aimed at tackling visa overstays.
The fee hike comes as Japan’s foreign resident population continues to grow. Government figures show the number of foreign residents reached a record 4.13 million at the end of 2025, increasing demand for public services and immigration management.
Officials also noted that the revised charges would bring Japan’s visa fees closer to those charged by other developed nations, including the United States and several European countries.
For Nigerian travellers, students, businesspeople and workers planning trips to Japan, the new fees represent a substantial increase in travel costs. Applications submitted on or after July 1 will be processed under the revised fee structure, while applications filed before that date will remain subject to the existing charges.
The announcement is expected to have implications for international travel planning, particularly among frequent visitors and prospective students seeking opportunities in Japan.
