Japan Tightens Visa Rules for Russians, Making Travel More Complicated

Getting a visa for Japan just got tougher for Russian travelers. The country’s visa center in Moscow, which opened in February 2026, has quietly tightened its document review process, according to the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), citing tour operator ITM Group.

The new rules are especially strict for families. Under the updated procedures, each family member must now submit copies of every other traveler’s financial and personal documents, including proof of relationship. For example, if a sponsor is covering the trip, the sponsored person must include all of the sponsor’s paperwork in their own application. Previously, this wasn’t required.

Another change: errors once corrected on the spot at the Japanese embassy’s consular section now require a fresh appointment through an electronic queue. This can delay the process significantly. Individual entrepreneurs are also facing extra scrutiny, with officials demanding business verification through extracts from the Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs.

Despite the stricter checks, properly submitted applications are still processed within five to six days. However, if documents need to be returned and resubmitted, the wait can stretch to three weeks.

The visa tightening comes on top of earlier news that airfare to Japan could double starting in June, due to increased fuel surcharges by Japanese carriers. For Russians, a trip to Japan is becoming both more expensive and more bureaucratic.