Japan to triple tourist tax and raise visa fees fivefold from 1 July 2026

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Meanwhile, to alleviate the impact of the higher departure tax on Japanese citizens travelling overseas, passport application fees will be reduced.

Japan’s government has announced a significant increase in its international tourist tax and visa fees for foreign tourists, alongside a deduction in passport application fees for Japanese citizens.

All the new rates will take effect on 1 July 2026.

International tourist tax

Under the revised framework, the international tourist tax imposed on foreign visitors to Japan, as well as travellers departing the country, will increase from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The tax will continue to be collected by airlines and other transport operators as part of ticket purchases.

The increase forms part of the government's efforts to address challenges associated with overtourism, according to local media reports when the proposal was first raised in November 2025.

Travellers who have booked their tickets on or before 30 June 2026 will continue to pay the existing 1,000-yen tax, even if their departure date falls on or after 1 July 2026.

The following groups will remain exempt from the tax:

• Crew members
• Passengers under the age of two
• Transit passengers who leave Japan within 24 hours after entry
• Persons subject to deportation
• Passengers who planned to travel between third countries but happened to stop by Japan due to emergency conditions such as inclement weather
• Passengers who planned to depart for a foreign country but happened to return to Japan due to emergency conditions such as inclement weather
• Persons leaving Japan by an official airplane or ship such as government plane
• Certain foreign diplomats and military personnel dispatched to Japan for official purposes

Visa fees

At the same time, visa application fees for foreign nationals will rise substantially as follows:

• Single-entry visa fee: from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen
  
• Multiple-entry visa fee: from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen

According to The Japan Times, the adjustment marks the first revision of the country's visa fees in 48 years since 1978. The move is expected to increase government revenue and help cover the administrative costs associated with managing the country’s growing foreign population.

Passport application fees

On the other hand, to offset the impact of the higher departure tax on Japanese citizens travelling overseas, the government will reduce passport application fees for its nationals.

According to The Mainichi, for applicants aged 18 and above applying for a 10-year passport at a service counter from 1 July 2026, the fee will be lowered from the current 16,300 yen to 9,300 yen.

For applicants aged under 18, the counter application fee for a five-year passport will be standardised at 4,800 yen, down from 11,300 yen for those aged 12 to 17, and 6,300 yen for children under 12.

Online applicants will also receive a 400 yen discount regardless of passport type.

The fee reduction is also intended to encourage greater passport ownership among Japanese citizens.

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