Travelling To Japan? Indian Visa Applicants Get A Major Cost Advantage

Planning a trip to Japan this year? Here's one travel expense you won't have to worry about. While Japan has rolled out its first visa fee increase in nearly five decades, raising charges by as much as five times for most foreign nationals, Indian travellers have been exempted from the hike. That means if you're applying for a Japanese tourist visa from India, you'll continue paying just INR 500 for both single-entry and multiple-entry visas, making Japan one of the few long-haul destinations that still offers an exceptionally affordable visa for Indian passport holders.

The revised fee structure came into effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to most nationalities that require a visa to enter Japan. For everyone else, a single-entry visa now costs JPY 15,000 (approximately INR 8,760), up from JPY 3,000, while a multiple-entry visa has increased from JPY 6,000 to JPY 30,000 (around INR 17,520). It is the first revision to Japan's visa fees since 1978, reflecting a significant policy shift after nearly 48 years.

India Exempted

Despite the sweeping increase, Indian applicants will continue to follow the existing fee structure. According to information published by the Embassy of Japan in India and confirmed by Japanese diplomatic missions, Indian nationals will still pay INR 500 regardless of whether they apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. The exemption applies even after the new global fee revisions came into force.

While Japanese authorities have not publicly detailed the reason behind India's exemption, such arrangements are generally linked to bilateral agreements and country-specific visa fee frameworks. The decision means that Indian travellers remain insulated from one of the largest visa fee revisions Japan has ever introduced.

The application process for Indians also remains unchanged. Applicants can continue submitting their visa applications without requiring a prior appointment. Payments are accepted in Indian rupees through cash, point-of-sale terminals, or UPI, depending on the application centre. The standard processing time remains around six working days, although Japanese authorities have cautioned that increased application volumes could result in longer wait times during peak travel periods.

Travellers should also remember that while the visa fee remains unchanged, VFS Global service charges continue to apply. Currently, the service fee is INR 800, taking the total amount payable for most applicants to INR 1,300.

Why Fees Changed

Japan says the increase is intended to bring its visa charges in line with present-day administrative costs. The previous fee structure had remained untouched since 1978, despite decades of inflation, currency fluctuations, and the growing complexity of immigration management.

The revision also comes as Japan experiences a record rise in its foreign resident population, which has crossed four million for the first time. Additional revenue from visa and immigration-related fees is expected to support administrative functions, expand Japanese-language programmes for foreign residents, and strengthen measures against visa overstays.

Japanese lawmakers approved the broader legislative changes earlier this year, with the Lower House clearing the bill in April and the Upper House passing it in May. Officials have indicated that the revised fee structure is also intended to bring Japan's immigration charges closer to those levied by other G7 countries.

Broader Reforms

The visa fee hike is only one part of a much wider overhaul of Japan's immigration fee structure. Several residency-related charges have also been revised upward, with more changes expected to take effect by March 31, 2027.

Under the new framework, the upper limit for permanent residency application fees has been raised substantially, while charges for changing residency status and extending periods of stay have also increased significantly. The government has proposed higher fee ranges for various immigration procedures, reflecting its effort to modernise an administrative system that had remained largely unchanged for decades.

For Indian travellers, however, the headline remains reassuring. Even as Japan becomes a more expensive destination to access for many international visitors, Indians continue to enjoy one of the country's lowest visa costs. At a time when visa fees around the world are steadily rising, Japan remains a relatively affordable destination for Indian tourists—at least when it comes to securing permission to enter the country.

(With inputs from various sources)

FAQs

Q1. Is Japan increasing visa fees for Indian travellers?
No. Indian nationals will continue paying INR 500 for both single-entry and multiple-entry visas despite the global fee hike.

Q2. When did Japan's new visa fees come into effect?
The revised visa fees came into effect on July 1, 2026, for most foreign nationals.

Q3. How much is Japan's new visa fee for other nationalities?
A single-entry visa now costs JPY 15,000, while a multiple-entry visa costs JPY 30,000 for most applicants.

Q4. Why are Indian travellers exempt from the visa fee hike?
Japanese authorities have not officially explained the exemption, but it is believed to be linked to bilateral visa arrangements between India and Japan.

Q5. Has the Japan visa application process changed for Indians?
No. The application process remains the same, with applications accepted without prior appointments and processing typically taking around six working days.