Japan visa: the complete guide

Japan has visa-exemption arrangements with more than 70 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the entire EU/Schengen area. Citizens of those countries holding a valid ordinary passport can enter Japan as tourists without a prior visa, for a maximum of 90 days. Always confirm that your country is on the list before travelling.

What you need to bring

• A valid passport, ideally with at least 6 months of validity from your date of entry (Japan does not formally require those 6 months, but it is the usual recommendation to avoid problems).
• A return ticket or onward ticket out of Japan (immigration may ask for it).
• Sufficient funds — it is advisable to be able to show at least the equivalent of around 50,000 ¥ per week. If you are unsure how much cash to bring, read our guide to money in Japan.
• Purpose of travel: tourism, family visit, short-term business or transit.

Although it is not a legal entry requirement, taking out travel insurance is strongly recommended: Japanese healthcare is excellent but expensive for non-residents.

What the exemption does NOT allow

Visa-free entry does not authorise you to work or receive payment in Japan. It also does not allow you to study for more than 3 months or to reside permanently. If that is your case, you need a specific visa — see the Visa types section.

You also cannot do a "visa run" (repeatedly leaving and re-entering to chain stays together). Immigration may deny entry if it detects this pattern.

Visit Japan Web (VJW) is the official digital system of the Government of Japan for completing your disembarkation card and customs declaration online before arrival. With the QR codes it generates, you clear immigration and customs in minutes.

What it is for

• Digital disembarkation card — replaces the paper form on the plane. You register your flight, address in Japan and length of stay.
• Digital customs declaration — you indicate whether you are carrying declarable items. When finished you get a QR code for the customs check.

How to register — 5 steps

1. Go to vjw.digital.go.jp and create an account with your email.
2. Enter your passport details and your flight information.
3. Fill in the Arrival Declaration with your personal details.
4. Fill in the Customs Declaration.
5. Save the generated QR codes on your phone or print them. You present them on arrival.

Practical tips

• Have the full address of your first accommodation to hand (with the Japanese postcode).
• Use the flight number of the leg that arrives in Japan (the connecting one if you have a layover).
• Download the QR codes offline or take a screenshot — wifi may not be available until after immigration.
• If you travel in a group, each traveller needs their own account and their own QR codes.

The system is in Japanese and English. It is not mandatory, but we recommend it to all travellers.

When you land at Narita or Haneda the entry process always follows the same order:

1. Health check — quick, with no COVID restrictions currently.
2. Immigration — you present your passport and the VJW QR code (or the paper form). Fingerprints and a photo are taken. The officer stamps the passport and notes the period of stay (normally 90 days).
3. Baggage claim.
4. Customs — you present the VJW customs QR code (or the red paper form). If you are not carrying anything declarable, it is instant.

With VJW completed in advance, steps 2 and 4 are noticeably faster. Narita and Haneda have dedicated kiosks for travellers with QR codes.

Customs limits (duty-free allowance)

• Cash: you must declare if you carry more than 1,000,000 ¥ (or its equivalent in other currencies, traveller\'s cheques, etc.).
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of other tobacco (if you combine types, the total must not exceed the equivalent of 250 g).
• Alcohol: 3 bottles of around 760 ml each.
• Perfume: 2 ounces (about 56 ml).
• Other goods: up to 200,000 ¥ in total value. These tobacco and alcohol limits only apply to those over 20 (the legal age in Japan).
• Medicines: some medicines that are common abroad (syrups with codeine, products with pseudoephedrine) may be restricted or prohibited. Always carry the leaflet and the prescription. Check with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs if in doubt.

You can consult the detailed official allowance on the Japan Customs website.

Visas are applied for in person at the Japanese Embassy or Consulates General in your country. There is no direct online application.

General documents required

• Original passport with at least 2 blank pages and 6+ months of validity.
• Application form (available on the embassy website), completed and signed.
• Recent photo with a white background (4.5 × 4.5 cm).
• Proof of address.
• Bank statement for the last 3 months or a tax return.
• Detailed itinerary (dates, cities, accommodation).
• Return flight reservation.
• Hotel bookings or a letter of accommodation.

Specific visas (student, work, Working Holiday) require additional documentation.

Processing times and fees

• Tourist visa: 5–7 working days · roughly the local equivalent of 3,000 ¥ (single entry) or 6,000 ¥ (multiple entry).
• Long-stay visas (student, work): several weeks or months, depending on the CoE.

Apply well in advance, especially if you depend on the Certificate of Eligibility arranged by the Japanese side.

A very common question: unlike the United States (ESTA) or the future European ETIAS, Japan does not currently require any prior electronic travel authorisation for tourists from visa-exempt countries. You arrive with your passport and enter directly under the 90-day exemption.

It is worth not confusing two different things:

• Visit Japan Web is not a visa or an ESTA. It is only a system to complete the disembarkation card and customs declaration online in advance. It is optional and free — see the Visit Japan Web section.
• The visa exemption is automatic. For tourism of up to 90 days there is nothing to apply for in advance and no fee to pay.

What JESTA is and when it comes into force

JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is the future electronic pre-screening system that Japan intends to introduce for travellers from visa-exempt countries, in the style of the US ESTA. The Japanese parliament passed the law creating it on 29 May 2026, but the system is not yet operational.

According to official projections, JESTA will launch during Japan\'s 2028 fiscal year (between April 2028 and March 2029). When it starts, it will be mandatory for tourists from the 70-plus visa-exempt countries: you will have to arrange the authorisation online and pay a fee before travelling. A guideline figure of 2,000 to 3,000 ¥ was discussed in parliament, but the final amount is not yet set.

In short, for any trip in 2026 and 2027 you do not need to arrange JESTA: you enter with your passport alone. As the launch date approaches, the official portal, the exact fee and the validity will be published. Always verify the up-to-date status before travelling on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.