Visa policy of Japan



Visitors to Japan must obtain a visa from one of the Japanese diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries.

Visa exemption
Holders of ordinary passports of the following jurisdictions do not need a visa to stay in Japan, for stays up to the duration listed below:

E - Nationals of Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom may apply for an extension of stay (up to a maximum of 6 months) at the Ministry of Justice. R - Passport must be registered at a Japanese diplomatic mission. The registration is valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. PB - Biometric passport required. PM - Machine-readable passport required. 1 - For holders of Hong Kong SAR passports or British National (Overseas) passports who have the right of abode in Hong Kong. 2 - For holders of Macao SAR passports. 3 - For holders of Taiwan passports that include a personal identification number. 4 - For British citizens or British Nationals (Overseas).

Online travel authorization
In June 2024, the Japanese government announced plans to introduce an online travel authorization system for visa-exempt visitors, as part of a migration legislative reform. The new system will require foreign visitors who are exempt from obtaining short-stay visas to declare information such as the purpose of their stay online before entering Japan. This measure aims to prevent illegal stays and will be implemented by the Immigration Services Agency, drawing inspiration from the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Non-ordinary passports


Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter Japan without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days each visit (unless otherwise stated):

Holders of diplomatic and official passports of other countries to whom a visa exemption applies when using an ordinary passport are also exempted from a visa, but are granted the status of residence as temporary visitors under the same conditions and maximum stay as with an ordinary passport. This exemption does not apply to holders of diplomatic and official passports of Taiwan, and to those of the United States traveling for official purposes.

APEC Business Travel Card
Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions who also hold an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the code "JPN" on the reverse may travel to Japan without a visa for business purposes for stays of up to 90 days:

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)
Holders of ordinary passports of and foreign nationals who reside in the following countries and territories can apply and obtain a single entry e-visa individually. The duration of stay for these jurisdictions is up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted). e-Visa holder must arrive in Japan by air.

There are regulations for specific e-visa applications. Applications made by Chinese passport holders residing in mainland China must be submitted by an authorized travel agency. The e-visa will be valid for a single entry, with a duration of stay of 15 days. Foreign nationals residing in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Mongolia, and South Korea (excluding those under the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Japan in Jeju) must also submit their applications through an authorized travel agency. Additionally, citizens of Vietnam who are part of a package tour hosted by a designated travel agency can apply for an e-visa.

E-visa holders must use the designated website to display their visa information, as screenshots and PDF files are not considered valid proof of the visa.

History
Japan historically had special visa policies for nationals of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States who could not provide their financial guarantees and obtain a visa independently. Instead, they had to apply through an approved travel agency or be invited by a resident or citizen of Japan. However, these requirements were gradually lifted, starting with citizens of Russia on 1 January 2017, followed by Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on 5 June 2017. Armenia's requirements were lifted on 1 September 2017, Azerbaijan's on 1 December 2017, and those for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine on 1 January 2018.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has also maintained special visa policies for nationals of China and the Philippines, requiring them to apply through an accredited travel agent or be invited by a Japanese citizen or resident. In 2014, a simplified process was introduced for nationals of the Philippines and Vietnam traveling in groups through registered travel agencies, allowing them to obtain entry visas for tourist visits up to 15 days with fewer required documents. Additionally, nationals of India, the Philippines, and Vietnam can obtain multiple-entry visas if they have previously visited Japan and other G7 countries or demonstrate "sufficient financial capability."

Starting in 2015, Chinese tourists traveling on approved cruise ships have been allowed to enter Japan without a visa, provided they embark and disembark the same specified ships. In 2016, Japan reportedly planned to further ease visa requirements for visitors from key markets such as India, China, and Vietnam. This new wave of visa liberalization policies began on 17 October 2016 for Chinese nationals and on 1 January 2018 for Indian nationals.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan suspended visa exemptions for most countries beginning in March 2020 and later extended this suspension to all countries. These exemptions were subsequently restored on 11 October 2022. As of 2024, Japan has further expanded its visa policies by allowing Indian nationals and those residing in India to be eligible for e-Visas.

Statistics
In 2015 4,768,286 Japanese visas were issued. It is an increase of 66% from 2014 when 2,871,639 visas were issued and the highest number ever recorded.

Most visas were applied for by nationals of the following countries:



Most visitors arriving to Japan were from the following countries of nationality: In 2015 most visas were issued for group sightseeing (1,957,498) and individual sightseeing (1,126,209). There were 62,052 multiple-entry visas for Okinawa and 10,500 multiple-entry visas for three prefectures in Tōhoku.

Re-entry Permit as a Visa


The re-entry permit in Japan also exists in the form of a stamp, known as 再入国許可 (Japan Re-entry Permit), which is affixed to a foreign passport or other travel document and serves as a re-entry visa.

Foreign nationals planning to travel outside Japan for more than one year are required to obtain a re-entry permit. Typically, this permit is applied to the passport as a self-adhesive sticker.

For individuals without a valid passport, a booklet-type re-entry permit is issued concurrently with the re-entry permit stamp.

As of the new system introduced in July 2012, the maximum period for a re-entry permit is six years.

Special Re-entry Permit
From July 9, 2012, foreign nationals legally residing in Japan who plan to leave the country for no more than one year are no longer required to apply for a re-entry permit before their departure. Instead, they can obtain a special re-entry permit at their point of departure. Previously, if a foreign national left Japan without a re-entry permit, their visa or legal residency status could be revoked.

However, the special re-entry permit system has specific exceptions. It does not apply to individuals whose resident status is in the process of revocation, those whose confirmation of departure is suspended, individuals who have received a written detention order, those who are in the process of applying for refugee status and staying with the resident status of "Designated Activities," or individuals specified by Japan's Ministry of Justice as threats to national interests or public order. Additionally, this permit is deemed necessary for the fair control of entries and departures.

The special re-entry permit is not available for holders of booklet-type re-entry permits. These individuals must have a stamp-type re-entry permit in their booklets since the validity of the booklet re-entry permit is limited to the stamp's valid date.

Admission refused
As a result of sanctions against North Korea, entry except transit is refused to North Korea nationals