Entering Japan in 2026: Visas, Visit Japan Web and Customs

Arriving in Japan is quick and well organised. Most visitors need only a valid passport and a few minutes on Visit Japan Web before they fly. The rules worth reading in advance are about medicines, cash and the new way tax-free shopping works.

Do you need a visa?

Citizens of around 70 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe, can enter Japan without a visa for tourism. The usual limit is 90 days, though a few nationalities get less. Everyone else needs a visa, and some nationalities can now apply for an eVISA online.

• Your passport must be valid for your whole stay.
• You may be asked to show an onward or return ticket.
• You cannot work on a visa-free entry.
• Rules change, so check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list for your nationality before you book.

Visit Japan Web, step by step

Visit Japan Web is the government's free website for arrival paperwork. It replaces the paper immigration card and customs form with QR codes. It is optional, and paper forms are still accepted, but it usually saves time in busy halls.

1. Create an account at vjw.digital.go.jp. There is no app, it runs in your browser.
2. Add your passport details. Scanning the passport with your phone camera is the quickest way.
3. Add your trip: arrival date, flight number and your first hotel address.
4. Fill in the immigration and customs sections. Each person needs their own, though you can add family members to one account.
5. Finish at least 6 hours before landing, then screenshot or print your QR codes in case you have no signal.

• At Haneda, Narita and Kansai: joint kiosks scan your passport and a single QR code for both immigration and customs.
• At other airports: such as Fukuoka, Chubu and Naha, you show an immigration QR code and a separate customs QR code.

What happens when you land

1. Follow the signs to immigration. Your fingerprints and photo are taken at a machine or by an officer.
2. Collect your bags.
3. Go through customs, scanning your QR code at a kiosk or handing over the paper form.
4. Walk out into arrivals, where you can buy a Suica card, pick up a SIM or eSIM and find your train.

Our tip: If you use the automatic gates, ask an officer for a passport stamp. Some shops still like to see proof of your entry date for tax-free purchases.

Customs allowances

Visitors can bring in the following without paying duty.

Meat products, fresh fruit and plants are tightly controlled, so do not pack sausages, jerky or fresh produce.

Bringing medicines

Japan is strict about some common medicines. Check your pills before you pack.

• You can usually bring up to a one month supply of prescription medicine and up to two months of over-the-counter medicine without paperwork.
• For larger amounts you need an import certificate, called a Yakkan Shoumei, arranged before you travel.
• Some medicines are banned outright, including stimulant ADHD drugs such as Adderall and many cold remedies that contain pseudoephedrine.
• Carry medicines in their original packaging with a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor.

Tax-free shopping: the new refund system

From 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan works as a refund. You pay the full price, including 10 percent tax, and claim the tax back when you leave.

• Spend at least 5,000 yen before tax in one shop on one day.
• Keep your receipts and keep the goods with you. If items bought together are missing when you leave, the whole purchase can lose its refund.
• At the airport, before check-in, complete the departure step at a customs kiosk or on Visit Japan Web.
• Green means go. Red means a customs officer will check your goods.
• Then claim the refund in the way the shop explained, often to your card or an app.

Our tip: Allow an extra 20 to 30 minutes at the airport if you have tax-free purchases to process.

JESTA and other changes ahead

• JESTA: Japan plans an online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, similar to the US ESTA, expected around 2028. Nothing is required yet.
• Departure tax: the International Tourist Tax is 3,000 yen per person since July 2026. It is added to your flight ticket.

We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.