Japan will increase visa fees for foreign visitors by up to five times starting July 1, marking the country's first revision of visa charges in nearly five decades.

According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fee for a single-entry visa will rise from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen, while the cost of a multiple-entry visa will increase from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the fee adjustment, the first since 1978, is intended to reflect inflation and changes in exchange rates.

Motegi said the government does not expect the increase to significantly affect demand for travel to Japan in the short term.

The Japanese yen has weakened considerably against the U.S. dollar since 2021 and remains near its lowest levels in decades. Combined with the post-pandemic recovery in global travel, the weaker currency has helped drive a surge in inbound tourism.

Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million foreign visitors last year, underscoring the country's growing appeal as an international travel destination.

The move comes as Japan reviews a broader range of immigration-related fees.

In May, the upper house of parliament approved legislation allowing authorities to raise the maximum fee for permanent residency applications from 10,000 yen to as much as 300,000 yen.

The legislation also permits fees for residency status changes and visa extension applications to increase from 10,000 yen to a maximum of 100,000 yen.

Japanese authorities say the changes are intended to bring visa and immigration-related charges more in line with those of other Group of Seven (G7) countries.

In the United States, fees for non-immigrant visa applications generally range between $185 and $315, while the United Kingdom charges £135 for a standard visitor visa valid for up to six months.(ILKHA)