Chinese authorities announce "reciprocal adjustment" to Japan visa fees — single-entry visa jumps from 2,250 to 16,750 yen!

On September 11, the Chinese Embassy in Japan issued the “Notice on Adjusting Visa Fees for Japan”: starting September 14, 2026, visa application fees for Japanese citizens applying for Chinese visas will be increased across the board.

When the news broke, the most eye-catching number was 16,750—the single-entry visa fee jumped directly from 2,250 yen to 16,750 yen, an increase of about 7.4 times, adding roughly 14,500 yen (approximately seven or eight hundred yuan).

Note two details in the notice:

First, applications accepted before September 14 will be charged at the original rates.In other words, applications submitted within these three days can still benefit from the old pricing;

Second, visa fees for third-country nationals remain unchanged.This adjustment is only for Japanese citizens and is a point-to-point operation.On the same day, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Mao Ning was also asked about this matter, and her response was concise: this adjustment was made according to the principle of reciprocity.

Why Now? Look at What Japan Did in July

The rationale behind China’s latest fare increase dates back three months.

On June 19 this year, the Japanese Cabinet decided to raise the single-entry visa fee for foreigners from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen and the multiple-entry visa fee from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen starting July 1—a full fivefold increase.

This marks the first time in 48 years since Japan established its current standards in 1978 that visa fees have been raised.Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi cited “rising prices and exchange rate fluctuations” as the reason.

Interestingly, Japan also did something else around the same time: starting July 1st, the departure tax for foreign tourists rose from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen.

Round trip, the fixed cost of going to Japan has visibly gone up.

And with the rise in Japan visa fees, the group most affected is precisely the Chinese.The reason is simple: among Japan’s top five sources of tourists, South Korea, Taiwan (China), the United States, and Hong Kong (China) all enjoy visa-free treatment, only tourists from mainland China need to apply for a visa no matter how long they stay.Although the price increase is "for all countries," in reality, almost all the extra costs are being paid by Chinese travelers.

So two months later, China raised the visa fee for Japanese visitors to China to 16,750 yen—slightly higher than the 15,000 yen Japan charges foreigners—and explicitly included the word "reciprocal" in the announcement, making the message crystal clear: whatever you charge us, we’ll charge you.

"Reciprocity" Is Not Being Used for the First Time

The concept of "reciprocity" in the consular field is actually a consistent approach China has taken in handling visa matters, and this is not the first time it has been applied.

The most typical example occurred in 2023: in May of that year, the Chinese Embassy in the United States announced that starting May 30, the visa fee for U.S. citizens traveling to China would be adjusted to $185 per application—matching exactly the fee the U.S. charges Chinese citizens.The reasoning is also four words: principle of reciprocity.

There are also reverse moves.

Starting December 2023, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad temporarily charged 75% of the standard visa fee for visitors to China; the measure reducing visa fees for South Korean citizens has now been extended to December 31, 2026.In other words, good relations can lead to reductions, poor relations can lead to hikes; visa fees are no longer just administrative charges but have become a diplomatic barometer.

Add to that the broader context: exchanges between the two countries are cooling down

Looking solely at visa fees does not fully capture the significance of this issue.Over the past year, the flow of people between China and Japan has itself been in a clear downward trend.

Since November last year, relations between China and Japan have remained chilly.The number of Chinese tourists traveling to Japan has dropped significantly for several consecutive months, with a year-on-year decline of over 60% in May alone this year; by July, more than 1,195 flights between China and Japan were canceled in a single month, with a cancellation rate exceeding 30%, and several routes have been suspended entirely.Air ticket prices subsequently soared, and many tourists who had originally planned to visit Japan redirected to Thailand, South Korea, or Europe.

In this context, China’s decision to raise visa fees for Japan in one go is less about “raising prices” and more about sending a clear signal.

How Much Does It Affect Ordinary People? The Key Lies at Year-End

After discussing the macro picture, let’s return to the most practical question: will travel to China become more expensive for Japanese people?

In the short term, the impact is actually limited.

Currently, China still implements a short-term visa exemption policy for holders of ordinary Japanese passports; eligible tourism, business, and family visit trips do not require a visa at all, so naturally they won’t be subject to this 16,750-yen fee.

So what really needs to be watched is this year’s timeline— the current visa exemption measures will only be in effect until the end of the year.

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• ,——,16750,.For a family of four, the basic visa fees alone amount to 67,000 yen (approximately 3,200 RMB), which can significantly influence travel decisions.It is worth noting that before the pandemic in 2019, Japan was once one of China's most important sources of inbound tourists; and Chinese tourists have long been the biggest spenders in Japan's tourism industry.The visa fee between two close neighbors jumped from just over two thousand yen to over sixteen thousand yen—a figure that speaks volumes about the current state of bilateral relations.

  The true impact of the sevenfold price increase will become clear by the end of the year.