Japan Visa Policy Update (June 2026)

I. Uniform New Policy Worldwide (Effective globally on July 1st, regardless of nationality)

1. Short-term visa fees increased fivefold (applicable to all countries requiring visas)

The Japanese Cabinet passed legislation on June 19th, implementing a unified Japanese yen pricing system across all embassies and consulates worldwide, with no country-specific price differences:

Single-entry short-term visa (tourism/business/family visit): 3000 yen → 15000 yen
3/5/10-year multiple-entry visa: 6000 yen → 30000 yen;

Applicable to: All foreign applicants who cannot enter Japan visa-free (China, Vietnam, Philippines, India, Mongolia, Cambodia, etc.);

Breakpoint: Applications submitted on or after July 1st will be charged the new price; applications submitted before June 30th will maintain the lower price.

2. Globally Unified Increase in Departure Tax (All Foreign Visitors, including Visa-Free Travelers)

International Tourist Tax: ¥1000 → ¥3000, collected on your airfare, regardless of nationality or visa type.

3. Global Launch of 10-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (Applications open in July 2026)

Unified Rules: Valid for 10 years, maximum stay per entry of 90 days, unlimited entries;

Globally Unified Relaxation: Mandatory itinerary and hotel booking confirmations eliminated; proof of funds can be either bank statements or bank deposits;

Differences: Asset thresholds may vary slightly by consular district and embassy/consulate, with lower thresholds for high-income countries in Europe and America, and higher thresholds for Southeast Asia and East Asia.

II. Two Major Global Blocs: Visa-Free Entry Groups (Unaffected by Price Increases) VS Visa-Required Groups

(I) 74 Countries/Regions Visa-Free for Short-Term Visits (90-Day Short-Term Stay Permit Upon Arrival)

1. Developed Countries in Europe and America (All 90-Day Stays);

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, All 27 EU Countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, etc.

2. Asia-Pacific Visa-Free Zone

90-Day Standard: South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
Shortened Stay Limits: Thailand 15 Days, Indonesia 15 Days, Brunei 30 Days

3. Other Regions

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand; South America: Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, etc.; Middle East: UAE, Qatar, etc.

Core Impact: Visa-free citizens do not bear the increased cost of visa fees; this price increase only impacts the source of visitors from countries requiring visas.

(II) Major Source Countries Requiring Advance Visa Applications (Full Responsibility for Price Increases)

East Asia: Mainland China (largest visa-issuing group globally, accounting for 73% of 7.2 million short-term visas in 2024), Mongolia;

Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar;

South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka;

Middle East and Africa: Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, etc. (Some accept globally accepted eVISA).

III. Global eVISA System (Expanded globally by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 15, 2026)

1. Countries Where eVISA Can Be Applied for Independently Online (No Travel Agency Required)

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Taiwan: Applicants can submit single-entry tourist eVISA applications directly through their official websites; no intermediaries are required.

2. Countries where eVISA can only be processed through designated travel agencies:

Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, India, Indonesia, and Mongolia: Applications must be processed through a Japanese-certified agency; individuals cannot apply directly to the consulate.

Vietnam and the Philippines: Only group tourists can apply for eVISA; independent travelers still need a paper sticker visa.

3. Globally Unified eVISA Rules

Only covers single-entry short-term tourist visas; 3/5/10-year multiple-entry visas remain globally as paper sticker visas.

Entry Requirements: Bring a printed copy of the eVISA PDF; no sticker in passport; valid at airports and ports of entry worldwide.

Processing Time: 3 business days in Europe and America; 5-7 business days in developing Asian countries.

IV. Regionally Differentiated Visa Rules (Policy Differences Worldwide)

1. Visa-Free Countries in Europe and America (No Visa Required, Entry Inspection Only)

Entry Documents: Only a valid passport; no proof of funds or itinerary required. Immigration officers may randomly check round-trip tickets.

Restrictions: Prohibited from working or engaging in long-term business. Frequent short-term trips may be considered suspicious for work purposes, resulting in shortened stays or refusal of entry.

Long-Term Visa Supplement: For European and American citizens applying for Japanese work/business/highly skilled worker visas, the required documents are significantly simplified, and no intermediary guarantee is required.

2. Southeast Asian Countries (Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia)

Vietnam & Philippines: Paper visas are required for independent travel; eVISA is only available through designated group tours; low asset threshold.

Indonesia: Visa-free for 15 days; sticker visas are required for stays of 30 days or more; asset requirements for multiple-entry visas are higher than for China.

Commonality: Many Southeast Asian countries have abolished the “activation entry” requirement for 3-year multiple-entry visas; a globally unified new rule.

3. South Asia (India, Bangladesh)

Primarily paper visas; eVISA is piloted; strict review process; requires a complete itinerary, hotel bookings, bank statements, and proof of employment.

Multiple-entry visa thresholds are extremely high; only those with an annual income equivalent to 300,000 RMB or more can apply for a 5-year multiple-entry visa.

4. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan (Visa-free areas, special policies)

Holders of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan passports are visa-free for 90 days; however, long-term residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan with third-country passports still need a visa; no visa fees; unaffected by the July price increase.

V. Global Adjustments to Long-Term Visas (Study/Work/Business)

The processing fee for long-term residence status has been uniformly increased globally, by approximately 3-4 times;

The online residence status application system has been rolled out globally: materials can be submitted online in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and China’s consular districts, with the processing time shortened to within 2 weeks;

The scoring criteria for highly skilled personnel visas have been uniformly relaxed globally, and a green channel for the approval of overseas high-end talents has been established.

VI. Stratified Impact of Global Travel Costs (After July 2026)

Visa-free travelers (Europe, America, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau): Only a 2000 yen increase in departure tax, resulting in minimal overall cost change;

Southeast Asian tourists with moderate budgets (Vietnam, Cambodia): A single visa cost increase of approximately 500 RMB local currency, reducing the cost-effectiveness of short-haul trips;

Mainland Chinese tourists (most affected group): A single consulate fee increase of 540 RMB, and multi-year visas increasing by over 1000 RMB, significantly raising the cost of business and frequent travel;

Global frequent business travelers: A 10-year multiple-entry visa becomes the optimal solution, requiring a one-time payment of 30,000 yen for unlimited entries within 10 years, thus mitigating long-term costs.

VII. Globally Unified Entry Rules (Regardless of Nationality)

No nucleic acid test, vaccine, or quarantine requirements; globally open.

Short-term stays are uniformly prohibited from paid work; regardless of visa-free or visa holder status, violations will result in immediate deportation and a 5-year ban on entry.

No mandatory JESTA registration: Registration is optional only for some visa-free countries in Europe and America; all visa-holding foreign travelers do not need to declare.

Passport Standards: Validity ≥ 6 months, at least 2 blank visa pages; consistent standards applied at ports of entry worldwide.

VIII. Global Visa Reciprocity Benefits (Visa-free entry to third countries with a valid Japanese multiple-entry visa)

Globally unified travel policy, regardless of applicant’s nationality:

Asia: Philippines 7-day visa-free, Georgia 90-day, UAE simplified visa-on-arrival;

Americas: Mexico 180-day visa-free, Panama 30-day visa-free;

Eurasia: Montenegro, Armenia, Jordan visa-free entry, significantly reducing travel costs to many countries.