Japan will raise its ¥1,000 departure tax and review long-unchanged visa fees, and introduce a JESTA electronic pre-screening system by 2028. Practical update for travel agents, consolidators and airline partners.

What exactly is changing

Departure tax: The current departure fee of ¥1,000 per person (applied to everyone leaving Japan) is expected to be raised in fiscal 2026 to better align with global levels and fund airport/screening upgrades.
Visa fees: Japan is reviewing visa charges for the first major revision since 1978 — single-entry fees (around ¥3,000 today) may rise to narrow the gap with rates charged by the U.S. and Europe. Expect changes to fee collection and timing (application vs. at-entry) as part of the overhaul.
JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization): A mandatory online authorization for travellers from visa-exempt countries is planned for rollout by fiscal 2028 (the government’s target). Early reports indicate a registration charge in the several-thousand-yen range (commonly reported ~¥6,000 in press summaries).

Why Tokyo is making these moves — and what the funds will target

The government frames the increases as modernization and funding measures: improving airport congestion management, reinforcing screening and border control, and generating stable revenue for social priorities (including recently expanded education subsidies). The policy also aims to bring Japan’s travel-related charges closer to international practice while preserving long-term tourism sustainability.

Practical impacts for B2B travel stakeholders

Checklist for travel agents and consolidators

Risks, plus commercial & reputational considerations

Conclusion — what to do now

Japan’s planned fee reforms are not just a tourist issue — they change quoting, compliance, and customer care for the entire B2B travel ecosystem. Start updating pricing templates, build JESTA into your pre-departure checks, and consider added-value processing services to protect margins and improve client experience.

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