Do I need a visa for Japan? Rules by passport
74 countries and regions can visit Japan without a visa. Pick your passport and where you live to see your rules, then find out how the eVISA works, what visas cost now and what is changing next.
Quick answer
- Visa-free: 74 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Europe, Singapore, South Korea and the UAE, can visit for tourism without a visa, usually for up to 90 days
- Shorter stays: Brunei and Qatar get 30 days, Thailand and Indonesia 15 days
- Need a visa? Many residents can apply online for an eVISA. Since 1 July 2026 a single-entry visa costs 15,000 yen
- Where you live matters: if you need a visa, you apply in your country of residence, and the eVISA depends on that country
- Coming next: JESTA, an online pre-travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, expected from 2028. It is not needed yet
For most visitors, getting into Japan is the easy part. If your passport is on the visa-free list, you just need it to be valid for your whole stay, a return or onward ticket, and a few minutes on Visit Japan Web before you land. If it is not, the online eVISA has made applying much simpler than it used to be.
Based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan list, last updated 1 September 2025 and checked on 7 November 2026. The list above shows all 74 visa-free nationalities plus common nationalities that need a visa. Always confirm on the official site before booking.
Visa-free entry: the rules
Japan calls this a "visa exemption for short-term stay". It covers tourism, visiting friends or family, and short business trips such as meetings, but not paid work.
- How long: 90 days for most, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, and 15 days for Thailand and Indonesia.
- Up to 6 months: citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the UK get 90 days on arrival and can extend to 6 months by applying in Japan before the 90 days end.
- ePassport only: for the UAE, Brazil, Malaysia, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Serbia and Thailand, the exemption only works with an ePassport.
- Register first: Indonesian and Qatari citizens must register their ePassport with a Japanese embassy or consulate at home before travelling. It stays valid for three years.
- Counting days: Japanese missions count your stay from the day after you arrive, so arriving on 1 January and leaving on 16 January counts as 15 days.
- At the border: carry a passport valid for your whole stay and proof of your return or onward flight. Immigration takes your fingerprints and photo.
Colombia is not on the list. Japan advises Colombian citizens to get a visa in advance.
If you need a visa: the eVISA
Japan's eVISA lets you apply online for a single-entry tourist visa of up to 90 days, with no sticker in your passport. It depends on where you live, not only on your nationality.
| Where you live | Who can apply |
|---|---|
| Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, UK, USA | Anyone living there who needs a visa, applying online directly |
| UAE, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea | Anyone living there who needs a visa, applying through the accredited visa agency |
| China | Chinese nationals living in China (15 or 30 days) |
| Philippines, Vietnam | Nationals living there, only on a package tour booked through designated travel agencies (15 days) |
How it works at the airport: you show the "visa issuance notice" live on a phone or tablet with an internet connection. Screenshots, PDFs and printouts are not accepted, so make sure you have data or Wi-Fi when you land. The eVISA works for arrivals by air, and on the scheduled ferries from Busan and Shanghai.
If you do not live in an eVISA country, or you are travelling for something other than tourism, apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate, or its visa centre, in your country of residence.
Visa fees from 1 July 2026
Japan raised its visa fees on 1 July 2026, the first increase since 1978.
| Visa | Before July 2026 | From 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | 3,000 yen | 15,000 yen |
| Multiple entry | 6,000 yen | 30,000 yen |
Fees are paid in local currency at the rate the embassy sets, and the visa centre adds its own service charge. The fee is charged when the visa is issued.
Living outside your home country
If you need a visa, you apply in the country where you live, not where your passport is from. A Kenyan citizen living in Dubai applies in the UAE, and an Indian citizen living in London applies in the UK.
- Your residence permit must usually still be valid when you return from Japan.
- Many countries use a visa centre (such as VFS Global or a Japan Visa Application Centre) instead of the embassy counter. Your local Japanese embassy or consulate website says which.
- Typical documents: passport, signed application form, photo, residence permit, flight and hotel bookings, a day-by-day itinerary, recent bank statements and proof of employment or study. Exact lists vary by mission.
- Timing: processing often takes one to two weeks and longer in busy seasons, so apply about a month before you fly.
Use the passport checker above to see whether the eVISA covers where you live.
JESTA: what is changing
Japan is creating JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), an online form that visa-free visitors will fill in before they fly, similar to the US ESTA or the UK ETA.
- The law was passed on 29 May 2026.
- Start date: to be set by the government, and no later than 31 March 2029. The target is the 2028 fiscal year.
- Fee and validity: not announced yet.
- Right now: nothing is needed. Ignore websites that offer JESTA applications today. We will update this guide when it opens.
What to do before you land
Whether you have a visa or not, register on Visit Japan Web, the free government site that replaces the paper immigration and customs forms with a QR code. It is optional, but it saves time. Our entering Japan guide walks through it step by step, along with customs allowances, medicines and the new tax-free refund system.
Also useful: Japan for first-timers, how much a trip costs and our free itinerary maker.
Opening hours, prices and transport details change. Check the official sources before you travel: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: visa information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Japan as a tourist?
Not if you hold a passport from one of the 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most of Europe, Singapore, South Korea or the UAE. Everyone else needs a visa, which many residents can now get online as an eVISA.
How long can I stay in Japan without a visa?
Usually 90 days. Brunei and Qatar citizens get 30 days, Thailand and Indonesia 15 days. Citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the UK can extend to 6 months from inside Japan.
Where do I apply if I live outside my home country?
In the country where you live. Japanese embassies and consulates accept applications from legal residents, often through a visa centre, and the eVISA is offered based on country of residence.
How much is a Japan visa in 2026?
Since 1 July 2026, 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and 30,000 yen for multiple entry, paid in local currency, plus any visa centre service fee.
Do I need JESTA to visit Japan?
Not yet. The law was passed in May 2026 and the system is expected to start in the 2028 fiscal year, no later than March 2029.
Can I show a screenshot of my Japan eVISA?
No. You must show the visa issuance notice on a phone or tablet connected to the internet. Screenshots, PDFs and printouts are not accepted.
We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
