Japan is preparing to reduce passport application fees by 7,000 yen (about $45) in an effort to offset the potential impact of proposed increases in the departure tax and avoid affecting overseas travel, reported the Nikkei newspaper on Wednesday, December 17.
Currently, the cost of a ten-year passport is 16,300 yen, with an online application fee of 15,900 yen, which will be reduced to 9,000 yen.
According to regulations, individuals aged 18 and over can only apply for a ten-year passport, while those under 18 can still only apply for a five-year passport. Previously, passport fees ranged from 6,000 to 11,000 yen depending on age, which will now be uniformly reduced to 4,500 yen.
The Japanese government plans to revise relevant laws at the parliamentary meeting scheduled for January 2026, with the new rules set to take effect in July.
The funds for this expenditure reduction will come from the proposed increase in departure tax revenues, which will apply to all departing Japanese and foreign citizens. The government is considering raising the “international travel tax” from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen.
Japan is also planning to increase visa fees for foreign citizens. Currently, the cost of a single-entry visa to Japan is 3,000 yen, while a multiple-entry visa costs 6,000 yen, which is cheaper than similar visas in the United States or Europe.
The Japanese government is considering raising visa fees to 15,000 yen.