Japan Raises Visa Fees Fivefold from 1 July 2026 — What UAE Residents Need to Know

On 19 June 2026, the Japanese government approved a revision of the cabinet order that sets visa issuance fees — the first increase in 48 years, since 1978. From 1 July 2026, the fees rise roughly fivefold. The new amounts apply to applications submitted on or after that date, and the fee is paid at the Japanese embassy or consulate when the visa is issued.

Whether the increase affects you depends on your passport nationality, not your UAE residence. Japan is a popular holiday and business destination from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and most UAE-resident expatriate nationalities need a visa to enter.

Emirati passport holders are not affected. Since 2022, UAE nationals have enjoyed a short-stay visa waiver for Japan — extended from 30 to 90 days from 1 July 2025 — provided they hold an ICAO-compliant biometric passport and complete the one-time passport pre-registration at a Japanese diplomatic mission before travel. Because no visa is issued, there is no issuance fee.

UAE residents on visa-requiring passports — including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Egyptian and most other nationalities — will pay the new, higher fee on any application submitted from 1 July 2026. The increase adds up quickly for families: four single-entry visas rise from JPY 12,000 to JPY 60,000 in government fees alone.

1. 1If your Japan trip is coming up, apply before 1 July 2026 — the higher fee applies only to applications submitted on or after that date, so an earlier application is charged the current lower fee.
2. 2If you apply on or after 1 July, budget for the new fee: JPY 15,000 for a single-entry visa or JPY 30,000 for a multiple-entry visa, payable when the visa is issued.
3. 3If you travel to Japan often, weigh a multiple-entry visa against repeated single-entry applications — one multiple-entry visa may be better value over time.
4. 4Emirati nationals: confirm your one-time passport pre-registration is complete before you fly. No visa and no fee are required for stays of up to 90 days.
5. 5Prepare a complete, well-documented application. A higher fee does not change the documentary requirements, and a refused application means paying the fee again on reapplication.

This update is based on the Japanese cabinet order of 19 June 2026 (reported by Jiji Press and Kyodo News) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, as of 23 June 2026. The fee increase takes effect on 1 July 2026 and applies to applications submitted on or after that date; Japan’s official English visa-fee page may not display the new figures until the effective date. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp).