On 19/6, the Japanese government announced its decision to increase visa fees for foreign nationals.

Under the new regulations, the fee for a single-entry visa will increase from 3,000 yen (approximately 490,000 VND) to 15,000 yen (approximately 2.5 million VND). For multiple-entry visas, the fee will rise from 6,000 yen (approximately 980,000 VND) to 30,000 yen (approximately 4.9 million VND).

This adjustment follows a law passed by Japan's Upper House last month, which permits increases in visa and residency-related fees by up to 30 times.

Specifically, the legal ceiling for fees to change residency status or extend a period of stay will increase from 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen (approximately 16 million VND). The fee for applying for permanent residency will rise from 10,000 yen to 300,000 yen (approximately 49 million VND).

Explaining the reason for the hike, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that the current visa fees have been in place since 1978, necessitating an adjustment to reflect inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.

"The decision was made after careful consideration of many factors, and we do not anticipate an immediate impact on the wave of international tourism to Japan", Motegi said.

Foreign tourists in Kyoto in March. Photo: Reuters

The Japanese government indicated that the fee increase is necessary to align with Western nations, thereby establishing a stricter immigration management system. For instance, visa extension fees in the US currently range from 420 to 470 USD (approximately 10.7-12 million VND), while in Germany they are 93-98 euro (approximately 2.5-2.7 million VND).

Additional revenue generated from this new policy will be used to manage the record-high foreign resident community in Japan, which is projected to reach 4.13 million people by the end of 2025. These funds will also support the expansion of Japanese language training programs and strengthen measures against illegal labor and residency.

According to travel agencies, Vietnam is one of the countries with a large number of residents, workers, and tourists in Japan. The fee increase is expected to significantly impact the cost of new applications and renewals for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese interns, students, and tourists in the coming period.

Hoai Anh (According to Japan Times)