The government will raise the rate of international tourist passenger tax (departure tax) to 3,000 yen per trip from July 1. In conjunction with this increase, the Japan Tourism Agency has published a leaflet for departing travelers on its website.
Currently, the fee is 1,000 yen per departure from Japan. For cruises and air travel, a special collection is added to the fare and paid to the government (tax office and customs office) by the operator or travel agency. In the case of private jets and other private arrangements, payment must be made to the customs office by the time of boarding.
The new tax rate will take effect on July 1, but the pre-revision tax rate (1,000 yen per transaction) will be applied as a transitional measure for departures on airline tickets and tours issued by June 30.
Infants under 2 years of age, transit passengers leaving the country within 24 hours of entry, and departure by ship, aircraft crew, or official ship or aircraft are exempt from taxation.
The tax revenues will be used to address congestion at tourist attractions, to introduce or upgrade entry/exit facilities such as walk-through gates, to disseminate information on inbound tourism (including attracting local visitors and raising awareness of manners), and to develop tourism resources that utilize the unique culture and nature of the region, including important cultural assets.
As for Japanese nationals traveling abroad, the passport application fee will be lowered as well as the departure tax, effective July 1. 10-year passports will be reduced from 16,300 yen to 9,300 yen, and 5-year passports will be unified from two levels of 10,300 yen for ages 12 to 18/6,300 yen for ages under 12 to 4,800 yen.
© Source travel watch