China will raise visa issuance fees for Japanese nationals by about sevenfold. As Japan's move to increase visa fees for foreign entrants fivefold is being interpreted as targeting Chinese tourists, observers say Beijing is responding in kind by invoking reciprocity.
According to local media including the state-run Global Times on the 12th, the Chinese Embassy in Japan announced the previous day that, starting on the 14th, it will raise visa fees for Japanese citizens traveling to China.
The single-entry visa fee will rise from 2,250 yen (about 19,700 won) to 16,750 yen (about 146,500 won). The double-entry visa will increase from 3,750 yen (about 32,800 won) to 25,100 yen (about 219,500 won).
The six-month multiple-entry visa will go from 4,500 yen (about 39,400 won) to 33,500 yen (about 293,000 won), and the one-year multiple-entry visa will rise from 7,500 yen (about 65,600 won) to 50,250 yen (about 439,500 won). Fees are increasing by about sevenfold.
The embassy said there will be no change in visa fees for third-country nationals.
The move is seen as a response to Japan's visa fee hike implemented in Jul. Mao Ning, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing the previous day that it was a "reciprocity-based response."
The Japanese government decided on the increase in Jun. and, starting in Jul., raised the single-entry visa fee from 3,000 yen (about 26,200 won) to 15,000 yen (about 131,200 won), and the multiple-entry visa from 6,000 yen (about 52,400 won) to 30,000 yen (about 262,100 won). That is five times the previous level.
The measure by the Japanese government was interpreted as targeting Chinese tourists. That is because South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and others are exempt from Japanese visas, so short-term tourists do not need to pay visa issuance fees. Chinese nationals need a visa to visit Japan.
However, even if Beijing raises visa fees, the immediate impact on short-term Japanese tourists appears limited. China currently allows Japanese nationals visa-free entry for up to 30 days. But if the Chinese government does not extend the visa-free policy that ends on Dec. 31 this year, short-term visitors will also need to obtain visas, which could increase the expense burden.