The Japanese government has increased the visa fee for foreigners for the first time in 48 years.

The Japanese authorities have decided to increase visa fees for foreigners for the first time since 1978, and visas will become five times more expensive. This was reported on June 20 by The Japan Times (TJT) newspaper with reference to the relevant decree.

"The fee will be increased from the current 3 thousand ¥ (about 1.3 thousand rubles) to 15 thousand ¥ (about 6.8 thousand rubles) for a single-entry visa and from 6 thousand ¥ (about 2.7 thousand rubles) to 30 thousand ¥ (about 13.6 thousand rubles) for a multiple-entry visa. The new fees will apply to applications submitted on or after July 1," the material says.

According to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, the authorities took this step due to high inflation and the weakening of the yen. The Government plans to use the additional revenue to expand Japanese-language programs and strengthen measures to combat illegal residence in the country.

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On April 24, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported on the tightening of checks by the Japanese visa application center in Moscow on the documents of tourists from the Russian Federation. Employees, as explained, could ask applicants to provide them with special information as part of a new entry, which significantly affected the time for reviewing applications.