Most travelers can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days — here's how the exemption works, who needs to apply in advance, and what to prepare before you land.
QUICK FACTS
Japan has visa-exemption arrangements with roughly 74 countries and regions, letting travelers enter for short-term tourism or business without applying for a visa in advance. Most of these grant a 90-day stay; a handful of European countries (including Germany, Austria, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, and the UK) can apply for a further extension beyond the initial 90 days at a Regional Immigration Bureau before it expires. Exemption only covers tourism, visiting friends/family, and short business trips — it does not permit paid work.
If your country doesn't have a visa-exemption arrangement with Japan, you must apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate before traveling — this cannot be done on arrival. Requirements (photos, itinerary, financial proof, invitation letters, etc.) vary by country and purpose of visit, so apply directly through your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate's website.
Visit Japan Web is Japan's official online portal for pre-registering immigration, customs, and (optionally) health declarations, generating QR codes that speed up arrival at major airports. It isn't mandatory, but registering in advance (ideally the day before or several hours before landing) meaningfully shortens the queue. You should also carry proof of onward or return travel and be ready to state your accommodation address, since immigration officers may ask for either.
Staying longer than the visa-exemption period, working, studying, or living in Japan requires an appropriate visa category (work visa, student visa, spouse visa, etc.), most of which need a Certificate of Eligibility issued in Japan before you apply at an embassy. Japan also has working holiday agreements with a number of countries for travelers roughly 18–30 years old — eligibility and quotas differ by partner country, so check the agreement for your nationality specifically.
EXEMPTION EXAMPLES
United States, Canada, Mexico
United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, and most EU/Schengen countries
South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia
Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile
Data as of: Verified August 2026, based on MOFA's visa-exemption notice effective September 2025. Visa rules change and vary by nationality — this page is for general reference only. Always confirm your specific requirements on Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or with your nearest Japanese embassy/consulate before booking travel.
FAQ
If your country is on Japan's visa-exemption list (around 74 countries/regions, including the US, UK, most of the EU, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Singapore), you don't need a visa for short tourism or business trips of up to 90 days. If your country isn't on the list, you must apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate before you travel. Always confirm your specific country's status on the official MOFA website, since the list changes over time.
Most visa-exempt nationalities can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business. A few countries have shorter exemption periods or different rules under bilateral agreements — check your country's specific terms on the MOFA site rather than assuming 90 days applies.
No, it's optional — you can still complete paper immigration and customs forms on arrival. But pre-registering on Visit Japan Web generates QR codes that let you use the faster electronic gates at major airports, so most travelers register in advance to save time.
Japan doesn't have a blanket legal requirement for 6 months of remaining passport validity, but your passport must cover your entire stay, and many airlines enforce the 6-month rule as a boarding condition regardless. To avoid being denied boarding, plan for at least 6 months of remaining validity.
No. Visa-exempt entry only covers tourism, visiting friends or family, and short unpaid business activities (meetings, conferences). Any paid work requires the appropriate work visa obtained in advance.
It's a visa category letting young travelers (typically ages 18–30, sometimes up to 25 depending on the country) work and travel in Japan for up to a year. Japan has working holiday agreements with a specific list of countries, each with its own quota and application process — check whether your country has an agreement and its exact terms before applying.