2025年10月19日至21日，日本政府宣佈計畫自2026財年起上調簽證費用，這是自1978年以來近50年來的首次調整，目的是使日本簽證收費水準與歐美主要國家接軌。此次調整不僅涉及費用金額，也包括收費方式的改革，對遊客和相關行政管理都將產生一定影響。

目前，日本單次簽證費用約為3000日元，多次簽證為6000日元，遠低於美國（185美元）和英國（127英鎊）等國家。調整後，日本簽證費將參考歐美標準，但具體漲幅仍在討論中，官方尚未公佈最終金額。收費方式也將進行改革，計畫將收費時間點由“簽發時”改為“申請時”，此舉主要是為了減少無效申請、降低行政成本，並提升簽證審批效率。

這次調整的背景主要有兩方面。一是日本簽證費用近50年來幾乎未變化，而行政成本持續上升；二是訪日遊客數量激增，2025年上半年訪日遊客達2151萬人次，創歷史新高。政府認為，上調簽證費用不會對遊客總量產生顯著影響，同時有助於緩解熱門地區的“過度旅遊”問題，並增加財政收入。調整將涵蓋商務、旅遊、留學等多類簽證類型，其中中國遊客占簽證簽發量的約70%，可能受到一定影響，但即便調整後，費用整體仍低於歐美主要國家。

外務省計畫在2025財年內公開徵求公眾意見，以聽取各方回饋，最終方案預計在2026年正式實施。這次調整標誌著日本在應對國際旅遊增長、提升簽證管理效率及財政收入方面邁出重要一步，同時也為遊客提供提前規劃出行的時間視窗。

From October 19 to 21, 2025, the Japanese government announced plans to raise visa fees starting from the 2026 fiscal year, marking the first adjustment in nearly 50 years since 1978. The move aims to align Japan’s visa costs with those of major Western countries and involves changes not only to fee amounts but also to the payment process, affecting both travelers and administrative management.

Currently, a single-entry visa costs approximately 3,000 yen (around 142 RMB), while a multiple-entry visa is 6,000 yen (around 284 RMB), far below fees in countries like the United States (185 USD, around 1,320 RMB) and the United Kingdom (127 GBP, around 1,215 RMB). After the adjustment, Japan plans to reference Western fee standards, although the exact increase has not yet been finalized.

The payment method will also change. Fees will be collected at the time of application instead of at issuance, aimed at reducing invalid applications, lowering administrative costs, and improving the efficiency of visa processing.

The decision comes against the backdrop of rising administrative costs and a surge in inbound tourism. In the first half of 2025, Japan received 21.51 million visitors, a record high. The government believes that raising visa fees will not significantly impact overall visitor numbers, while also helping to alleviate over-tourism in popular areas and increasing fiscal revenue.

The adjustment will apply to multiple visa categories, including business, tourism, and student visas. Chinese travelers account for approximately 70% of issued visas, so they may be somewhat affected, though even after the increase, fees will remain lower than those in Western countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to solicit public feedback within the 2025 fiscal year before finalizing the plan, which is expected to take effect in 2026. This adjustment reflects Japan’s efforts to manage the rapid growth of international tourism, enhance visa administration efficiency, and strengthen fiscal resources, while giving travelers ample time to plan for the change.