GoAsia
Visa and entry rules

Japan visa and entry requirements

Entry rules for tourists with an ordinary passport: how you enter Japan, how long you may stay, what to register before arrival and where to apply.

Last checked: November 5, 2026

Choose your passport to see the entry rules for each country.

Before you travel

Passport validity
No minimum stated by the authorities. A valid passport is required; no minimum remaining validity is published.[8]

Registration before arrival

Visit Japan Web Optional
Who
foreign visitors and returning residents
When
before arrival
Fee
Free

Online registration of immigration and customs information; a 2D code is shown at the airport. The Digital Agency never asks users to pay a fee.[14][15]

Register on the official site (www.vjw.digital.go.jp)

Apply only on official sites

Fraudulent websites imitate the JAPAN eVISA website and Visit Japan Web; Visit Japan Web is free.

Agency sites that look official charge extra fees for the same forms. The official domains are: mofa.go.jp, evisa.mofa.go.jp, vjw.digital.go.jp, services.digital.go.jp, moj.go.jp

Announced changes

  • March 31, 2029: JESTA (electronic travel authorization) becomes mandatory for visa-exempt short-stay visitors, cruise passengers and some transit passengers, who cannot enter without authorization or a visa, with authorization needed for each new entry. The start date is set by cabinet order no later than 31 March 2029; the government targets fiscal year 2028.[11][12][13]

All entry options

Visa-free

Visa exemption

Visa Exemption Scheme (short-term stay)

Who can use this: 74 passports[1]

Applies to the nationalities listed, with these conditions as published: ePassport (ICAO) only for Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Serbia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates; ePassport registered with a Japanese mission for Indonesia and Qatar; machine-readable passport (ICAO) for Barbados, Lesotho and Türkiye; Hong Kong SAR passport or BN(O) passport with right of residence in Hong Kong; Macao SAR passport; Taiwan passport with a personal ID number; Uruguay only the old passport version that shows place of birth.

Show passports

🇦🇩 Andorra · 🇦🇷 Argentina · 🇦🇺 Australia · 🇦🇹 Austria · 🇧🇸 Bahamas · 🇧🇧 Barbados · 🇧🇪 Belgium · 🇧🇷 Brazil · 🇧🇳 Brunei · 🇧🇬 Bulgaria · 🇨🇦 Canada · 🇨🇱 Chile · 🇨🇷 Costa Rica · 🇭🇷 Croatia · 🇨🇾 Cyprus · 🇨🇿 Czechia · 🇩🇰 Denmark · 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic · 🇸🇻 El Salvador · 🇪🇪 Estonia · 🇫🇮 Finland · 🇫🇷 France · 🇩🇪 Germany · 🇬🇷 Greece · 🇬🇹 Guatemala · 🇭🇳 Honduras · 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China · 🇭🇺 Hungary · 🇮🇸 Iceland · 🇮🇩 Indonesia · 🇮🇪 Ireland · 🇮🇱 Israel · 🇮🇹 Italy · 🇱🇻 Latvia · 🇱🇸 Lesotho · 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein · 🇱🇹 Lithuania · 🇱🇺 Luxembourg · 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China · 🇲🇾 Malaysia · 🇲🇹 Malta · 🇲🇺 Mauritius · 🇲🇽 Mexico · 🇲🇨 Monaco · 🇲🇪 Montenegro · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 🇲🇰 North Macedonia · 🇳🇴 Norway · 🇵🇦 Panama · 🇵🇾 Paraguay · 🇵🇪 Peru · 🇵🇱 Poland · 🇵🇹 Portugal · 🇶🇦 Qatar · 🇷🇴 Romania · 🇸🇲 San Marino · 🇷🇸 Serbia · 🇸🇬 Singapore · 🇸🇰 Slovakia · 🇸🇮 Slovenia · 🇰🇷 South Korea · 🇪🇸 Spain · 🇸🇷 Suriname · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · 🇹🇼 Taiwan · 🇹🇭 Thailand · 🇹🇳 Tunisia · 🇹🇷 Türkiye · 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 🇺🇸 United States · 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Stay
90 days. 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, 90 days for the others. Nationals of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom whose bilateral arrangements allow up to 6 months must apply for an extension before 90 days end.[1]
  • 15 days: Indonesia, Thailand
  • 30 days: Brunei, Qatar
Extension
Possible. Extensions of the Temporary Visitor status are granted only for truly unavoidable humanitarian or equivalent special circumstances, for example medical treatment.[10]

Requirements

  • Stay of 90 days or less without income-earning activities.[4]
  • Travellers whose passport type does not meet the stated condition, for example no ePassport, are asked to obtain a visa in advance and may be refused entry.[1]

Nationals of Colombia are advised to obtain a visa in advance and otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry.

e-Visa

JAPAN eVISA

Who can use this: All passports except: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR China, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR China, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay[1][2]

Depends on country of residence, not only the passport: residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom and U.S.A. apply on the website; residents of China, the Philippines (packaged tour), Viet Nam (packaged tour), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates apply through an accredited agency. Ordinary passports only.

Stay
90 days. Single-entry tourist visa. 15 or 30 days for nationals of China residing in China, 15 days for nationals of Viet Nam residing in Viet Nam and of the Philippines residing in the Philippines.[2]
  • 15 days: Philippines, Vietnam
Fee
About 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa for applications accepted from 1 July 2026, paid online; the amount may differ by nationality and purpose, and an accredited agency adds its own handling fee.[3][5]
Processing
5 working days from the day after receipt if there are no problems; longer if additional checks are needed.[6]
Entry
Single entry

Requirements

  • Tourism only. Visiting relatives or friends, business and transit need a paper application at a Japanese embassy or consulate.[3]
  • The 'Visa issuance notice' must be shown on a device at the airport; PDF, screenshot or printout is not accepted.[2]
  • An interview at the Japanese mission may be requested.[2]

Fraudulent websites that look like the JAPAN eVISA website exist.

Apply on the official site (www.evisa.mofa.go.jp)
Visa from an embassy

Short-term stay visa from an embassy or consulate

Short-Term Stay visa

Who can use this: All passports[4]

Every passport not covered by visa exemption, and visa-exempt nationals who do not meet the passport condition. Nationals of China, Russia, the CIS countries, Ukraine, Georgia, the Philippines and Viet Nam follow country-specific procedures.

Stay
90 days. Up to 90 days. A single-entry visa is valid for 3 months for entering Japan and cannot be extended.[4][7]
Fee
About 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and about 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa for applications accepted from 1 July 2026, paid in local currency; no fee if no visa is issued; approved agencies charge a separate handling fee.[5]
Extension
Possible. Only for truly unavoidable humanitarian or equivalent special circumstances, for example medical treatment.[10]
Processing
5 working days from the day after receipt if there are no problems; may exceed one month if the mission refers the case to the Ministry in Tokyo.[6]
Entry
Single entry

Requirements

  • Apply at the Japanese embassy, consulate general or consular office with jurisdiction over the place of residence, at an accredited agency, or online where the mission offers it. Applications cannot be made inside Japan.[4]
  • Valid passport, application form, photo, itinerary with flight or ship number and arrival and departure dates, proof of ability to pay travel expenses and, for tourism, an itinerary in Japan.[8]
  • A visa does not guarantee entry; the immigration officer at the port of entry decides on landing permission.[4]

Visa-exempt nationalities do not need this.

Good to know

  • Visas cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan or while staying in Japan.[4]
  • A 6-month long stay for sightseeing and recreation (Designated Activities, extendable to 1 year) exists for nationals of visa-exempt countries aged 18 or older with savings of at least 30 million yen, plus an accompanying spouse.[9]
  • Visa fees rose on 1 July 2026 to about 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa.[5]

Research status

Last checked: November 5, 2026. Checked against the official sources within the last 30 days.

Change log

No changes since the first check on November 5, 2026.

How this works: each country's rules come only from its government (immigration authority, foreign ministry, official e-Visa portals). A daily check compares the official pages with our data, one country after another, so every country is checked at least every two weeks. Changes are reviewed before they appear here.

No legal advice. Airlines and border officers decide on boarding and entry. Always confirm the rules on the official site before you travel, especially for unusual passports or longer stays.

Sources and background

Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.

  1. [1] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  2. [2] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  3. [3] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: FAQ about JAPAN eVISA. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  4. [4] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: VISA. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  5. [5] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Fees (applications accepted on or after July 1, 2026). Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  6. [6] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Processing Time. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  7. [7] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Validity of a Visa. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  8. [8] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Checklist for Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  9. [9] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Specified visa: Designated activities (Long Stay for sightseeing and recreation). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  10. [10] Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice: Temporary Visitor status of residence (在留資格「短期滞在」). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  11. [11] Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice: 令和８年入管法等改正について. Retrieved November 5, 2026.
  12. [12] Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice: Outline of the 2026 amendment (JESTA). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  13. [13] Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice: Immigration control basic plan materials (JESTA introduction in fiscal 2028). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  14. [14] Digital Agency, Government of Japan: Visit Japan Web. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  15. [15] Digital Agency, Government of Japan: Announcement Concerning Use of Visit Japan Web. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
Japan travel guide

Other countries