By Florenda Corpuz
TOKYO – Japan issued more than half a million visas to Filipino nationals in 2025, with the Philippines ranking second only to China among recipients, according to figures released by the Foreign Ministry on June 23.
Japanese embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions issued 7,862,060 visas in 2025, up from 7,196,373 the previous year and the second-highest annual total on record after the 8.28 million visas issued in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippines received 522,057 visas, accounting for about 7% of the total. China ranked first with 5,709,706 visas, or nearly 73% of all visas issued, followed by Vietnam with 305,563, India with 265,882 and Indonesia with 184,345.
The figures were released ahead of revised visa fees that will take effect for applications accepted on or after July 1.
Under the amended Cabinet Order on Fees Collected by Consular Officers, the standard fee for a single-entry visa will increase to about 15,000 yen from 3,000 yen, while the fee for a multiple-entry visa will rise to about 30,000 yen from 6,000 yen. As a general rule, fees will be paid in the local currency of the country or territory where the Japanese embassy or consulate processing the application is located.
The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, however, said June 24 that Filipino nationals applying for temporary visitor visas for stays of 90 days or less will continue to receive visas free of charge despite the revised fee schedule.
Applicants who submit their applications through accredited agencies or visa application centers may still be required to pay separate handling or service fees. Japan also said visa fees may vary depending on an applicant’s nationality and purpose of travel, and no visa fee will be charged if a visa application is denied.
(Photo by Din Eugenio)
