Whitehall sources confirm Japan has unilaterally quintupled visa fees for British nationals. The move, effective immediately, will hit business travellers hardest. A standard short-stay visa now costs £165, up from £33.
The decision, announced in Tokyo without prior consultation, is seen as a retaliatory gesture. The UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with Japan, touted as a flagship agreement, did not cover visa reciprocity. Business groups are furious.
The CBI calls it a 'tax on trade.' The Foreign Office confirms it was not given advanced notice. Senior FCDO officials are scrambling for a carve-out.
But Tokyo is playing hardball. The Lobby chatter says this is a warning shot: Japan wants easier access for its own professionals to the UK. The Home Office is frosty.
Immigration remains a red line. The political calculation is grim. A Treasury analysis, leaked to me, suggests this could cost British exporters £50m annually in additional bureaucratic drag.
Smaller firms, already squeezed by Brexit costs, will feel it most. The PM’s official spokesperson refused to confirm or deny a tit-for-tat response. But No 10 is said to be 'exploring all options.
' Watch this space. The Game continues.
