Manila: The temporary Japanese visitor visa for stays within 90 days will remain free for Filipino nationals, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Thursday. The clarification comes as Japan announced a major visa fee increase, its first in more than four decades, for several countries, reportedly including those from China, India, and Vietnam.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Japanese Embassy issued an advisory emphasizing that the temporary visitor visa for stays of up to 90 days for Philippine nationals will continue to be issued free of charge. This measure underscores the importance Japan places on strengthening people-to-people exchanges as a vital component of the bilateral relationship between Japan and the Philippines.

The issuance of temporary visitor visas for Filipinos has been free of charge, with applicants only required to pay a mandatory service fee of PHP800 to VFS Global, the embassy's third-party service provider handling visa applications.

Currently, the Japanese Embassy collects visa fees only for single-entry long-term stays, set at PHP5,750, and PHP11,550 for multiple-entry long-term stays. These fees are in addition to the PHP800 service fee payable to VFS Global.