Japan Visa Policy

Visa Policy for Japan

Japan’s visa policy determines the regulations, laws and requirements that a foreign traveler needs to meet to visit the country. This policy varies for each nationality and depends on the period of stay and the purpose of the intended visit.

Citizens of around 65 visa-exempt countries can travel to Japan for tourist or business reasons without a visa, for a period of stay between 15 and 180 days depending on nationality.

Although there are more than 65 visa-exempt countries, there are almost 180 countries and territories around the world that require a visa in order to travel to Japan.

At the moment Japanese visa law states that all visa required citizens must obtain an embassy visa in advance of travel, as it does not offer a visa on arrival option.

Applying for an embassy visa requires the traveler to select the type of visa required for the purpose of travel, whether a tourist visa, business visa, transit visa, student visa, work visa, or other visa option.

For longer periods of stay or other travel purposes than those permitted visa-free, visa-exempt nationalities for Japan must also go to a government office, to submit an embassy application.

However, an electronic visa (eVisa) for Japan is expected to be implemented in the coming months, which will allow a number of eligible foriegn citizens to submit an application online, eliminating the need to visit a consulate in person.

Below you will find a complete list of Japanese visa regulations to travel to Japan from your country of residence.

Tourist Visa Policy for Japan

Although a select few nationalities can enter Japan visa-free for tourism, the Japanese tourist visa policy currently states that the majority of foreign citizens must currently obtain a visa in advance to travel to the country for this purpose.

At the moment, any foreign citizen who needs a tourist visa to visit Japan must visit a government diplomatic office in order to apply for an embassy visa for tourism.

An approved tourist visa for Japan usually permits a total stay up to 30 days and is valid for 90 days to enter Japan from the date of issue.

The protocol for applying for a Japanese tourist visa still currently requires the traveler to attend a consular appointment in person, and provide a range of supporting documentation, including a passport valid for at least 6 months, before the document can be approved.

However, a Japanese tourist eVisa application online , which will greatly expedite this process, is expected to be introduced in the near future for a number of eligible nationalities.

Find below further information about Japanese tourist visa requirements for your nationality.

EVISA for Japan

Expected to be implemented in the coming months, the Japan eVisa is an upcoming electronic visa system that will allow eligible citizens to apply for and receive an approved visa online without having to visit an embassy or consulate in person.

The eVisa for Japan will be a single entry online visa which is expected to permit the holder to enter Japan for a single short stay for tourism.

The Japanese tourist eVisa will first be made available to passport holders of the People’s Republic of China, before being rolled out to other eligible nationalities.

In order to apply for the electronic visa for Japan, eligible individuals will be able to complete a simple online form in just a few minutes.

It is expected that it will be necessary to fill in the electronic application with basic personal and passport information, and answer a few security-related questions, for the eVisa to be approved.

The period of validity of an approved Japan visa online has not yet been announced. It will be published on this page once made available by the Japanese government.

Those planning a trip to Japan in the near future are advised to periodically check this page for any updates about the eVisa type.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

The visa laws for foreign citizens to enter Japan state that there are up to 180 countries and territories around the world that need an embassy visa to travel to Japan. In this section you will find a list of those eligible countries.

The protocol of applying for a Japan consular visa requires the traveler to first make an appointment at a Japanese embassy or consulate well in advance of the intended date of arrival. This is because it may take several weeks or more for the approved visa to be issued to the traveler.

Once the applicant has arrived at the nearest Japanese diplomatic office for the appointment, they must furnish a form completed with personal data and a valid passport, which must be the same as the one they will be traveling with.

Normally, the passport must have a minimum validity of 6 months before starting the trip and, sometimes, it is necessary for it to contain between one or two blank pages.

After the traveler provides the consular official with any additional supporting documentation required (which varies by the type of embassy visa requested), they will also have to pay a fee before getting the visa embassy approved.

A Japanese embassy visa can be granted to the traveler for different purposes, whether as a tourist visa, work visa, student visa, business visa, or transit visa, among other visa types This must be indicated on the embassy form when filling in the application.

See the list below for nationalities that require a visa in advance from a Japanese embassy.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mayotte
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Virgin Islands
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Visa Not Required

There are currently more than 65 countries around the world whose citizens do not need a visa to travel to Japan, depending on the purpose of the visit and the period of stay.

According to Japanese visa policy, a citizen of a visa-exempt country may travel to Japan for business or tourist reasons without a visa, as well as to attend conferences and courses, but not to perform paid work in the country.

The period of allowed visa-free stay can vary from 15 days to 6 months, depending on nationality.

Additionally, Chinese tourists traveling on a cruise company approved by Japan do not require a visa, as long as they embark and disembark from the same specified ship.

In the event that a visa not required foreign citizen wishes to travel to Japan for a longer period of stay, or visit for purposes such as to work or study, they must apply for a Japanese embassy visa.

This can be done by requesting a consular appointment at the nearest Japanese diplomatic office well in advance of their trip.

Find below a full list of the countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel to Japan.