E01
E01 · Before you fly

Japan Visa Requirements Checker

You’ll see 上陸許可 jōriku kyoka: landing permission, the sticker immigration puts in your passport

Choose your nationality and where you live to see whether you need a visa for a tourist trip to Japan, and whether you can apply online.

Not listed? Then you need a visa.

Decides where you apply and whether you can use the online eVISA.

Quick answer

Citizens of 74 countries and regions can visit Japan visa-free for short stays, mostly up to 90 days (Ministry of Foreign Affairs list dated September 1, 2025). Everyone else needs a visa, applied for from their country of residence. Residents of 9 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can apply online through JAPAN eVISA.

More about Japan visas

Visa-free countries and regions (74)

MOFA list dated September 1, 2025. Days = maximum stay on landing.

Andorra90
Argentina90
Australia90
Austria90
Bahamas90
Barbados *90
Belgium90
Brazil *90
Brunei30
Bulgaria90
Canada90
Chile90
Costa Rica90
Croatia90
Cyprus90
Czech Republic90
Denmark90
Dominican Republic90
El Salvador90
Estonia90
Finland90
France90
Germany90
Greece90
Guatemala90
Honduras90
Hong Kong *90
Hungary90
Iceland90
Indonesia *15
Ireland90
Israel90
Italy90
Latvia90
Lesotho *90
Liechtenstein90
Lithuania90
Luxembourg90
Macao *90
Malaysia *90
Malta90
Mauritius90
Mexico90
Monaco90
Montenegro *90
Netherlands90
New Zealand90
North Macedonia90
Norway90
Panama *90
Paraguay *90
Peru *90
Poland90
Portugal90
Qatar *30
Republic of Korea90
Romania90
San Marino90
Serbia *90
Singapore90
Slovakia90
Slovenia90
Spain90
Suriname90
Sweden90
Switzerland90
Taiwan *90
Thailand *15
Tunisia90
Türkiye *90
United Arab Emirates *90
United Kingdom90
United States90
Uruguay *90

* Passport conditions apply — select the country above for details.

Who can apply for a JAPAN eVISA online?

Eligibility depends on where you live, not your passport. Residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States can apply online themselves. Residents of China, Philippines, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates apply through an accredited agency and receive the visa electronically (some only for their own nationals or packaged tours). Show the "Visa issuance notice" at the airport/port on a device with internet access. PDF, screenshot and printed copies are NOT accepted. No visa sticker is placed in the passport. Only for travel to Japan by air, or by sea on international scheduled passenger ferries between Japan and Busan or Shanghai.

Short-term visa basics
  • Short-term stay = up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends/relatives etc., with no remunerated activities.
  • Visas are issued only at Japanese Embassies/Consulates abroad; they cannot be obtained on arrival or inside Japan.
  • A visa does not guarantee entry; landing permission is granted by the immigration officer at the port of entry.
  • Apply at the mission with jurisdiction over your place of residence, via an accredited agency, the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online — as specified by that mission.
What is changing
  • Visa fees rose on July 1, 2026 to about ¥15,000 (single) and ¥30,000 (multiple), from about ¥3,000 and ¥6,000.
  • JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization): Amendment to the Immigration Control Act enacted 29 May 2026, promulgated 5 June 2026 (Act No. 32 of 2026). JESTA provisions take effect on a date set by Cabinet Order no later than 31 March 2029. Targets visa-exempt foreigners coming for short-term stays (tourism etc.), cruise passengers and some transit passengers. Authorization is required for every new entry; entering with neither authorization nor visa will be prohibited. Carriers must report passenger names and must not board people the ISA says should not enter. A fee (amount set by Cabinet Order) will be charged. Authorized travellers’ landing stamps may be replaced by walk-through gate records.
  • JESTA target: FY2028: Under the "Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan", the government aims to introduce JESTA in FY2028, ahead of the original 2030 schedule. No exact launch date or fee amount has been announced.
Japan visa guide for Philippine citizensJapan visa guide for Indian citizens

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Japan?
Citizens of 74 countries and regions can visit Japan visa-free for short stays, mostly up to 90 days (Ministry of Foreign Affairs list dated September 1, 2025). Everyone else needs a visa, applied for from their country of residence. Residents of 9 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can apply online through JAPAN eVISA.
What are the Japan visa requirements for Philippine citizens?
Filipinos need a visa. Through the Japan Visa Center operated by VFS Services Philippines Private, Inc. (started 7 April 2025). Book an appointment on the VFS site linked by the Embassy. Documents include your passport, the application form with a 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo, a PSA birth certificate, an itinerary in Japan and, if you pay for the trip, a bank certificate, income tax return and certificate of employment. Temporary Visitor (≤90 days) visa for Philippine nationals is gratis (free), and remains free after the 1 July 2026 fee revision. The Visa Center charges its own handling fee (amount not published by the Embassy; ask VFS).
What are the Japan visa requirements for Indian citizens?
Indians need a visa. Submit through VFS Global (Japan Visa Application Centre); no prior appointment needed per the Embassy. Mumbai Consulate stopped direct applications from 20 April 2026 and uses VFS. From 1 July 2026: Indian nationals ₹500 for single or multiple entry. Other nationals: ₹8,650 single, ₹17,350 multiple/double. Transit visa abolished. VFS service fee charged in addition. JAPAN eVISA available in India since 1 April 2024 for Indian and foreign nationals residing in India: single-entry short-term tourism visa (up to 90 days). You still submit the application (with passport) at VFS, but receive an electronic visa instead of a sticker; show the "visa issuance notice" online on a mobile device at the airport.
How much does a Japan visa cost?
For applications accepted from July 1, 2026, about ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa and ¥30,000 for multiple entry, paid in local currency (previously about ¥3,000 and ¥6,000). Some nationalities pay less or nothing, and accredited agencies add their own handling fee.
Do US citizens need a visa for Japan?
No. US citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business meetings. A visa is needed for work, study or stays longer than that.
What is JAPAN eVISA?
An online single-entry tourist visa for up to 90 days. Eligibility depends on where you live, not your nationality: residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States apply online themselves, and residents of several other countries apply through an accredited agency. You show the visa notice on your phone at the airport; screenshots and printouts are not accepted.
Sources · 9 official pages · checked September 24, 2026
  1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Exemption of visa (short-term stay)
    74 visa-exempt countries and regions, stay periods and passport conditions (list dated September 1, 2025)
  2. MOFA — JAPAN eVISA
    Eligibility by country of residence (page dated May 15, 2026)
  3. MOFA — JAPAN eVISA FAQ
    How the visa notice is shown; single entry, tourism only
  4. MOFA — Visa fees from July 1, 2026
    About ¥15,000 single / ¥30,000 multiple
  5. MOFA — Visa overview
    Short-term stay rules; visas issued only abroad
  6. Embassy of Japan in the Philippines — Visa information
    VFS Japan Visa Centers, processing time, fee (gratis for Filipinos)
  7. Embassy of Japan in the Philippines — Tourist visa requirements (PDF)
    Document checklist
  8. Embassy of Japan in India — Visa
    VFS application, fees from July 1, 2026, eVISA
  9. Immigration Services Agency — JESTA (amended Immigration Control Act) (Japanese)
    Enacted May 29, 2026; to start by March 31, 2029

Fact-checked by the TravelSafe Japan team against these pages; AI helped with drafting. General information, not legal advice. Report an error · How we verify

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