Japan on Thursday opened two specialized visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg to handle rising demand from Russian tourists. As part of the change, Japan’s Embassy in Moscow and its consulate general in St. Petersburg will no longer process tourist visa applications directly.
Instead, applicants must now submit their documents at the newly established centers in the two cities. VFS Global, a Dubai-headquartered company that specializes in visa and passport outsourcing services, will operate both facilities. Consequently, the move transfers administrative responsibilities from Japanese diplomatic missions to a private service provider.
Japan’s Embassy in Moscow said the decision followed a sharp increase in Russian visitors traveling to Japan. Officials noted that existing consular services faced mounting pressure as application numbers climbed steadily over the past year.
Record-Breaking Russian Tourism
The number of Russian tourists visiting Japan reached 194,900 in 2025, marking a record high. This figure nearly doubled compared to the previous year and surpassed the earlier peak of 120,000 recorded in 2019. Analysts attribute the surge to shifting travel patterns among Russian citizens.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, access to many European and Western destinations has become increasingly restricted. As a result, Russian travelers have sought alternative holiday locations, with Japan emerging as a preferred option.
Meanwhile, VFS Global announced it will charge a service fee of 970 rubles, or $12.56, per application. Additionally, the company will introduce a digital appointment system designed to streamline submissions and prevent overcrowding at the centers.
