The number of passport applications in Japan in July increased 1.6 times from a year earlier to about 530,000, following a fee reduction starting that month, it was learned Thursday.
There were about 3.3 times more applications in the first three days of July compared with the same period last year, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Passport issuance is likely to take about three weeks, faster than the initial expectation of one month given the expected increase in applications, according to the ministry.
Starting on July 1, Japanese nationals age 18 or older can apply for a 10-year passport at a fee of ?8,900 online, down from ?15,900 previously. Children can apply for a five-year passport for a fee of ?4,400 online, down from ?10,900.
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