- Japan has increased visa fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals
- The new charges will take effect from July 1
- The government says the increase reflects inflation and rising administrative costs
The Japanese government has approved a significant increase in visa fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals following changes to its visa regulations.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the decision, approved at a Cabinet meeting on Friday, represents the first adjustment to Japan’s visa fees since 1978, according to local media reports.
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Under the revised fee structure, the cost of a single-entry visa will increase from ¥3,000 (about $18.60) to ¥15,000 (about $93), while a multiple-entry visa will rise from ¥6,000 (about $37.20) to ¥30,000 (about $188).
The new charges will take effect for all visa applications submitted from July 1.
Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, said the revision was necessary to reflect inflation and changes in exchange rates over the past several decades.
He noted that the government carefully considered the decision and does not expect the higher fees to discourage international visitors or significantly affect tourism.
The increase follows the passage of legislation by Japan’s Upper House last month, allowing the government to raise visa and residency-related fees by as much as 30 times the current statutory limits. The bill had earlier received approval from the Lower House in April.
Before the amendment, the maximum fee for changing residency status or extending a stay was ¥10,000, while permanent residency applications were also capped at ¥10,000. Those limits have now been increased to ¥100,000 and ¥300,000 respectively.
Actual fees will be determined through Cabinet orders within the newly approved limits.
Under the proposed framework, charges for residency status changes and stay extensions are expected to rise from the current ¥5,500–¥6,000 range to between ¥10,000 and ¥70,000. Permanent residency application fees are also expected to increase from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000.
The government plans to implement the broader fee adjustments before the end of the next fiscal year on March 31, 2027.
Officials said the additional revenue would help cover the costs of managing Japan’s growing foreign resident population, which reached a record 4.13 million by the end of 2025.
The funds will also support Japanese-language education programmes and strengthen efforts to tackle illegal overstaying.
The government further explained that the revised charges are intended to bring Japan’s visa and immigration fees closer to those imposed by many Western countries, where similar services generally cost considerably more.
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