Japan entry requirements, by passport
What you need to get into Japan depends on the passport in your hand. Find yours below: the visa or e-authorisation, how long you can stay, the official fee and the government page to apply on.
32 of 32 passports verified on official pages.
What each passport needs
| Passport | To get in | Stay | Document and fee | Apply | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Canada | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Mexico | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Brazil | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Ireland | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Germany | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| France | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Italy | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Spain | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Netherlands | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Switzerland | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Russia | Visa needed before you fly | As granted on the visa | Short-term stay visa (Japanese embassy/consulate)Official fee: Varies by nationality; standard approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry from 1 Jul 2026 (confirm with the mission)Apply: Apply at least several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| Türkiye | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Israel | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Saudi Arabia | e-Visa before you fly | up to 90 days | JAPAN eVISA (short-term stay, tourism)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: No official lead time published; apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| India | e-Visa before you fly | up to 90 days | JAPAN eVISA (via accredited agency in India)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: No official lead time published; apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| China (mainland) | e-Visa before you fly | 15 or 30 days | JAPAN eVISA (via accredited agency in China)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: No official lead time published; apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| Hong Kong SAR | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Taiwan | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Japan | Own country | ||||
| South Korea | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Singapore | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Thailand | Visa-free | 15 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Vietnam | Visa needed before you fly | As granted | Short-term stay visa (via accredited agency / Japanese mission)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: Apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| Philippines | Visa needed before you fly | As granted | Short-term stay visa (via accredited agency / Japanese mission)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: Apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
| Indonesia | Visa-free | 15 days per entry | Visa waiver registration of ePassport (at a Japanese mission in Indonesia) | Official page | Verified |
| Australia | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| New Zealand | Visa-free | 90 days per entry | Nothing to apply for | Official page | Verified |
| Nigeria | Visa needed before you fly | As granted on the visa | Short-term stay visa (Japanese embassy)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: Apply at least several weeks ahead; embassy may interview | Official page | Verified |
| South Africa | e-Visa before you fly | up to 90 days | JAPAN eVISA (short-term stay, tourism)Official fee: Approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry (applications accepted from 1 Jul 2026, paid in local currency; may differ or be waived by nationality)Apply: No official lead time published; apply several weeks ahead | Official page | Verified |
Verified means NUM read it on a government page on 10–11 Oct 2026. Likely means a reputable source says it and one official page agreed. Not checked yet means NUM could not confirm it: use the official page. Fees are as published on that date and can change.
The rules everyone meets at the border
Passport
Passport must be valid for the whole length of stay; Japan sets no extra validity period (airlines may apply their own stricter rules). If extending your stay, the passport must cover the extension. Safe standard: valid for your whole stay.
Arrival card
Disembarkation Card for Foreigners + Customs Declaration (or both via Visit Japan Web QR codes). Register on Visit Japan Web before departure to get immigration and customs QR codes; otherwise complete the paper forms on board/at arrival Fee: Free.
Official form · free on the official site
Border systems for every visitor
None today. JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) for visa-exempt visitors and some transit passengers was enacted by the Diet on 29 May 2026; start date to be set by ordinance (government target FY2028, legal deadline 31 Mar 2029). Fee not yet set. Nothing to apply for yet.
Onward ticket
Visitors should hold a return or onward ticket; immigration can refuse entry without it.
Proof of funds
Immigration may deny entry if you cannot show how you will support yourself during the stay.
Travel insurance
Not required for tourists (strongly advised; Japanese healthcare bills foreigners at full cost). Mandatory for the digital nomad status: private cover with at least JPY 10 million medical.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations required for entry.
Cash to declare at customs
Declare cash/means of payment (incl. securities, precious metals) worth JPY 1,000,000 or more on entry or exit.
Taxes, levies and fees
International Tourist Tax (departure tax) is JPY 3,000 per departure from 1 Jul 2026 (was JPY 1,000; JPY 1,000 still applies if the ticket contract was made before 1 Jul 2026). Usually included in the air/ship ticket. Exempt: children under 2, transit passengers leaving within 24 hours, crew. Several cities/prefectures also charge hotel accommodation taxes collected by the hotel.
Medicines, vapes and banned items
Medicines catch travellers out: amphetamine-based ADHD drugs (e.g. Adderall) are banned even with a prescription. Stimulant raw materials (e.g. pseudoephedrine, lisdexamfetamine/Vyvanse) and narcotics (e.g. codeine, oxycodone, tapentadol) need prior permission from the MHLW Narcotics Control Department (apply at least 14 days before travel). Beyond 1 month's supply of prescription drugs or 2 months of OTC drugs you need an Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho, formerly 'Yakkan Shoumei') before departure. CBD containing THC is illegal. Meat products (incl. sausages, ham, jerky) are banned without animal-quarantine permission.
Travelling with children
Carry each child's birth certificate or proof of relationship; a notarised consent letter from an absent parent is advised. Japanese authorities have sometimes stopped minors leaving without a parent/guardian.
Work, study, working holiday and nomad visas
Every official route NUM found for Japan. You apply directly with the government.
Work permits
Foreigners with a job offer from a Japanese employer; HSP via points system; Specified Skilled Worker for designated sectors after skills and Japanese tests
Stay: Typically 1-5 years per grant, renewable (SSW (i) has a total cap)
Employer sponsors Certificate of Eligibility from Immigration Services Agency, then visa at embassy
Official fee: Visa fee per FEES page; residence-procedure fees rising
Study
Admitted students at Japanese universities, colleges and language schools
Stay: Length of studies (granted in periods, renewable)
Certificate of Eligibility via the school, proof of funds; part-time work only with separate permission
Official fee: Visa fee per FEES page
Working holiday
Of our passports: CA, GB, IE, DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, KR, TW, HK, AU, NZ (32 partners in total; age 18-30, 18-25 for AU/CA/KR/IE unless extended by agreement; annual quotas e.g. UK 6,000, Canada 6,283, Italy 500, Netherlands 200)
Stay: Up to 1 year
Apply at Japanese mission in home country; holiday is main purpose; funds; return ticket or funds for one; some nationalities may now participate twice
Official fee: Usually free
Digital nomad
Remote workers for foreign employers/clients who are nationals of a listed visa-exempt + tax-treaty country (of ours: US, CA, MX, BR, GB, IE, DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, CH, TR, IL, AE, HK, TW, KR, SG, MY, TH, ID, AU, NZ; NOT RU, SA, IN, CN, VN, PH, NG, ZA)
Stay: 6 months, no extension; must wait 6 months before reapplying
Annual income of JPY 10 million+; private health/travel insurance with JPY 10 million+ medical cover; no residence card issued; spouse/children may accompany
Official fee: Visa fee per FEES page
Long stay
Japan has no general retiree or financially-independent residence visa; long stays require a family, work or study status (the 6-month digital nomad status is the main non-work option)
Stay: -
-
Official fee: -
Family
Spouses and children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents; dependents of work-visa holders
Stay: 6 months to 5 years, renewable
Certificate of Eligibility sponsored by the family member in Japan
Official fee: Visa fee per FEES page
Investor
People establishing or managing a business in Japan
Stay: 1-5 years, renewable
Office in Japan plus capital/staffing thresholds set by ISA (reportedly tightened in Oct 2025; check current thresholds before planning)
Official fee: Visa fee per FEES page
Business
Meetings, negotiations, conferences, market research (no paid work in Japan)
Stay: Up to 90 days
Same as tourist; visa nationals need invitation/guarantee documents
Official fee: As short-term visa
Tourist
Tourists, family visits, short business; 74 exempt countries/regions visa-free, others visa or eVISA by country of residence
Stay: Up to 90 days (15 days for Thailand/Indonesia exemption; 30 days Qatar/Brunei)
Valid passport, return ticket, funds; no work
Official fee: Free if exempt; visa approx. JPY 15,000 single / 30,000 multiple from 1 Jul 2026
What changed, and what is coming
- By 31 Mar 2029 (target FY2028) · Confirmed JESTA pre-travel electronic authorization for visa-exempt short-stay visitors; fee and start date to be set by ordinance. Source
- 2026-2027 · Announced Higher fees for residence-status changes/extensions and permanent residence (caps raised by the 2026 amendment; amounts to be fixed by ordinance). Source
- 2026-11-01 · Confirmed Tax-free shopping switches to a refund system (pay tax at purchase, refund after customs export check at departure). Source
- 2026-07-01 · In force International Tourist Tax raised from JPY 1,000 to JPY 3,000 per departure (tickets contracted before this date keep JPY 1,000). Source
- 2026-07-01 · In force Visa fees raised roughly fivefold: approx. JPY 15,000 single-entry, JPY 30,000 multiple-entry. Source
- 2026-05-29 · In force Diet enacted the Immigration Control Act amendment creating JESTA and raising caps on residence-procedure fees (permanent residence cap JPY 300,000; extension/change cap JPY 100,000; exact amounts by ordinance). Source
- 2026-05-15 · In force MOFA JAPAN eVISA eligibility page updated: direct online eVISA for residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, UK, USA; agency-based eVISA for China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, UAE, and package tours from the Philippines and Viet Nam. Source
- 2026-04-01 · In force Working Holiday partners now 32, including Italy and Malta (added 2026). Taiwanese nationals can participate twice from 1 Feb 2026 (South Korea from 1 Oct 2025). Source
- 2025-09-01 · In force JPETS TB-clearance certificate now required for Vietnamese mid/long-term entrants (Philippines and Nepal since 23 Jun 2025). Source
Your checklist, with the dates it is due
NUM builds it for your passport and your travel dates: the authorisation and when to apply, the arrival card and the day it opens, what to carry at the border, your own country's exit rules, and a calendar file for every deadline.
Every document here is issued by a government, and the official link is the only place to get it. Most arrival cards and many authorisations are free. NUM is not a visa service and cannot apply for anything. Rules change without notice: the official page always has the final word.