“Do I need a visa for Japan?” has three possible answers. Some passports need no visa for a short trip. Some travellers can get an electronic visa (eVISA) online. Everyone else applies to a Japanese embassy or consulate, often through a visa centre. Which answer is yours depends on your passport first, then where you live and why you are going.
This guide works through that decision for any passport, using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) visa exemption list and its JAPAN eVISA rules. We use examples from the US, the UK, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Indonesia. We checked every official page listed under Sources on 7 October 2026. Voyfaro does not apply for or issue visas.
Do I need a visa for Japan? Quick answer
- No visa for short stays with a passport from one of the 74 countries and regions on MOFA’s exemption list, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, the EU countries and South Korea. Some need an ICAO ePassport (such as UAE, Brazil and Thailand) or a registered ePassport (Indonesia and Qatar).
- Visa-free stay: 90 days for most. 30 days for Brunei and Qatar. 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand.
- Visa needed for every other passport, including Indian, Filipino, Nigerian, Saudi, Pakistani, Chinese and Vietnamese passports.
- JAPAN eVISA (online, tourism only): if you need a visa and you live in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK or the US, you can apply yourself at evisa.mofa.go.jp.
- eVISA through an accredited agency: if you live in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea (except the Jeju consulate’s area), Singapore or the UAE. Separate rules apply in the Philippines, Viet Nam and China.
- Embassy (paper) visa: for everyone else who needs a visa, and for trips that are not tourism, such as family visits, business or transit. There is no visa on arrival.
- Also know: Visit Japan Web is the official online arrival service. JESTA, a travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is now law but not running yet.
Who this applies to
This guide is for anyone planning a short-term stay in Japan. MOFA defines that as a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives and similar visits, with no paid work.
It does not cover work, study, long stays or diplomatic and official passports. For work or long stays, MOFA says you normally need a Certificate of Eligibility before applying for a visa.
A visa, or visa-free status, does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer grants “landing permission” on arrival, and that sets how long you can stay.
Step 1: is your passport visa-exempt?
MOFA’s page “Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)”, dated 1 September 2025, lists 74 countries and regions. Holders of these passports can visit for a short stay without a visa, subject to the notes below. Countries marked “ePassport”, “MRP” or “see notes” have extra conditions, explained under “Passports with extra conditions”.
| Region | Visa-exempt passports (MOFA list) |
|---|---|
| Asia | Brunei (30 days), Hong Kong (see notes), Indonesia (15 days, registered ePassport), Macao (see notes), Malaysia (ePassport), Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (see notes), Thailand (15 days, ePassport) |
| North America | Canada, United States |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados (MRP), Brazil (ePassport), Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama (ePassport), Paraguay (ePassport), Peru (ePassport), Suriname, Uruguay (see notes) |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
| Middle East | Israel, Qatar (30 days, registered ePassport), Türkiye (MRP), United Arab Emirates (ePassport) |
| Africa | Lesotho (MRP), Mauritius, Tunisia |
| Europe | Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro (ePassport), Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia (ePassport), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom |
Unless a shorter period is shown, the stay granted on arrival is 90 days.
Passports with extra conditions
MOFA attaches notes to several countries. These are the ones that catch people out:
- ICAO-compliant ePassport required: UAE (since 1 November 2022), Brazil (since 30 September 2023), Thailand, Serbia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Montenegro. Without one, MOFA says you must get a visa in advance or be refused entry. An ICAO ePassport has the ePassport symbol on the cover.
- Malaysia: visa-free only with an ICAO ePassport. Without one, MOFA advises getting a visa, or you may be strictly examined and refused entry.
- Barbados, Türkiye and Lesotho: visa-free only with an ICAO machine-readable passport.
- Indonesia and Qatar: visa-free only if your ICAO ePassport is registered with a Japanese mission before you travel. Registration lasts 3 years or until the passport expires, if sooner. See the Indonesian example below.
- Hong Kong: HKSAR passports, and BNO passports for people with the right of residence in Hong Kong. Macao: Macao SAR passports only. Taiwan: passports with a personal ID number only.
- Uruguay: MOFA says the newer ordinary passport issued after 16 April 2025 without a place of birth on the data page is not recognised as valid by Japan. MOFA says these new passports cannot be used to travel to Japan at all, so getting a visa in one does not solve the problem. Travel on an old-version passport. The exemption still applies to old-version passports issued after 16 April 2025.
- Colombia is not on the list. MOFA advises Colombian nationals to get a visa in advance.
- Up to 6 months: Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the UK have arrangements allowing stays of up to 6 months. You still get 90 days on arrival, and MOFA says you must apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau for an extension before that runs out.
If your passport is exempt, you do not need an eVISA. You do need a visa for paid work or a longer stay than your exemption allows.
Step 2: if you need a visa, can you use JAPAN eVISA?
The JAPAN eVISA is an electronic, single-entry visa for tourism only, for a stay of up to 90 days. There is no sticker in your passport. MOFA’s eVISA page (updated 15 May 2026) decides eligibility by where you live, not only by your passport.
| Where you live | How the eVISA works |
|---|---|
| Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, UK, US | All foreign residents who need a visa apply online themselves at evisa.mofa.go.jp |
| Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea (except the Jeju consulate’s area), Singapore, UAE | All residents who need a visa apply through an accredited agency |
| Philippines | Philippine nationals living there, on a packaged tour run by designated travel agencies (15-day stay) |
| Viet Nam | Vietnamese nationals living there, on a packaged tour run by designated travel agencies (15-day stay) |
| China | Chinese nationals living there, through an accredited agency (15 or 30-day stay) |
| Anywhere else | No eVISA. Apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate for where you live |
MOFA’s other eVISA conditions:
- Ordinary passports only, and no multiple-entry eVISA.
- Air, or the scheduled ferries from Busan or Shanghai.
- Tourism only. Visiting friends or relatives, business, study, work and transit need a paper visa.
- Stay in your country of residence while you wait. You may be called for an interview.
- A phone or tablet with internet. At check-in you show the live “visa issuance notice”. A PDF, screenshot or printout is not accepted.
- A credit card in your own name if you apply online yourself. MOFA’s eVISA FAQ says the fee is paid online by credit card only, not in cash. In principle the cardholder must be the applicant, though a parent or guardian can pay for a child. Without a credit card, apply on paper at the Japanese mission for where you live.
The mission decides your stay: 15, 30 or 90 days. The eVISA is valid for 3 months from the day after issue, for one entry, and you can fly to Japan from any country.
Step 3: everyone else applies to an embassy or consulate
If you need a visa and cannot use the eVISA, apply on paper to the Japanese embassy or consulate for where you live. Depending on the mission, MOFA says that means its consular section, an accredited agency or a Japan Visa Application Centre. You get a visa sticker in your passport. You cannot apply from inside Japan, and each mission publishes its own checklist. Our guide to passport vs residence visa rules explains why where you live matters so often.
Examples by passport
| Traveller | Visa for Japan? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| US passport, living anywhere | No, for up to 90 days | Check the purpose fits a short-term stay. Use Visit Japan Web if you like |
| UK passport, living anywhere | No, for up to 90 days | To stay longer (up to 6 months), apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau for an extension before day 90. It must be granted |
| Brazilian ICAO ePassport | No, for up to 90 days | Without an ICAO ePassport you need a visa first. Residents of Brazil can apply online for the tourist eVISA |
| Indonesian ICAO ePassport | No, for up to 15 days, if registered | Register the ePassport first. Longer trips, or no registration, need a visa |
| Indian passport, living in India | Yes | eVISA for tourism through VFS Global, or a paper visa for other purposes |
| Filipino passport, living in the Philippines | Yes | eVISA on a registered agency’s package tour, or a paper visa |
| Nigerian passport, living in Nigeria | Yes | Paper visa through the Japan Visa Application Centres in Abuja or Lagos |
| Saudi passport, living in Saudi Arabia | Yes | Apply online for the tourist eVISA at evisa.mofa.go.jp. You pay the fee online by credit card |
| Pakistani passport, living in Pakistan | Yes | Pakistan is not on the eVISA list. Apply to the Japanese mission for your area |
Indian passport holders
India is in MOFA’s accredited-agency group. The Embassy of Japan in India says the eVISA started there on 1 April 2024 and applications are submitted through VFS, with no prior appointment needed. You can apply from 3 months before travel. From 1 July 2026 the visa fee for Indian nationals is INR 500 for a single or multiple-entry visa, plus the VFS service fee. The embassy warns that the only payments are the visa fee and the service charge, and that it never asks for payment by phone or email.
Filipino passport holders
Living in the Philippines, your eVISA route is a package tour run by a travel agency registered with the Embassy of Japan, with a 15-day stay. Independent trips and family visits need a paper visa. Filipinos living in the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia or another online country can apply online themselves. Our Japan eVISA guide for Filipinos covers each route.
Nigerian passport holders
The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria says Nigerian nationals need a visa “regardless of the purpose or duration” of the trip. Since March 2025, with few exceptions, applications go through the Japan Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Lagos, run by VFS Global. The embassy says this is its only authorised visa agency, and applications by a proxy are not normally allowed. The minimum processing time is 12 working days in Abuja and 14 in Lagos. Nigerians who live in an online eVISA country, such as the UK or Canada, can use the eVISA there for tourism.
Saudi passport holders, and others living in the Gulf
Residents of Saudi Arabia, of any nationality, apply online. UAE residents apply through the accredited agency there. Our Japan eVISA guide for UAE and Saudi residents has both routes.
Indonesian passport holders
The Embassy of Japan in Indonesia explains the ePassport registration:
- It covers sightseeing, business or visiting relatives or friends, for up to 15 days each time, with any number of entries while it is valid.
- Register online through the Japan Visa Exemption System (JAVES) on the JAPAN eVISA website, then show the “Visa Exemption Registration Notice” on your phone at check-in. Printouts and screenshots are not accepted.
- Or register on paper at a Japanese mission in Indonesia (in Jakarta, at the Japan Visa Application Centre) and get a sticker. Registration is free; the visa centre charges its own fee.
- A new passport needs a new registration. Without a visa or registration, you will be refused entry.
Indonesians without an ePassport, or staying longer than 15 days, need a visa. Residents of Indonesia can use the tourist eVISA through the accredited agency. In Jakarta, the embassy says visa applications go through the Japan Visa Application Centre, and in principle the embassy does not take visa applications itself. Outside Jakarta, check the Japanese mission for your area.
Visa fees and processing times
- Fee: MOFA says that from 1 July 2026 a single-entry visa costs about JPY 15,000 and a multiple-entry visa about JPY 30,000, paid in local currency. Some nationalities pay less or nothing, and agencies charge their own handling fee. No visa fee is charged if a visa is not issued.
- eVISA: the same fee, about JPY 15,000, with reductions for some nationalities. Once issued, it is not refunded for any reason.
- Processing: MOFA says about one week for a complete paper application, and longer if the mission has to consult Tokyo. For the eVISA, normally 5 working days after a complete application, but it can take more than a month if extra checks are needed, and it cannot be expedited. Some embassies, such as India’s, also say paper visa processing cannot be expedited.
- When to apply: the eVISA opens 3 months before travel. MOFA says you do not need to buy a confirmed ticket before applying.
- If you are refused: MOFA does not give reasons, and eVISA applicants must wait 6 months before reapplying.
Arriving in Japan: Visit Japan Web
Visit Japan Web, run by Japan’s Digital Agency, lets you complete immigration and customs procedures online before you fly. At the airport you show a 2D (QR) code on your phone or tablet. To register you need your flight details, passport and an email address.
- It does not replace a visa. You still need visa-free status or a valid visa.
- If you have a visa, you can enter its visa issue number to bring in your visa details.
- If your passport has less than 6 months left, Visit Japan Web shows a warning.
- Use the Digital Agency’s official page, services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/. The old address, vjw-lp.digital.go.jp, redirects there. The Digital Agency has warned about suspicious apps such as “Visit Japan Web Info”.
JESTA: what has officially been announced
Japan is creating JESTA, an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, similar to the US ESTA. This is what the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has published:
- The law creating JESTA was passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026 (Act No. 32 of 2026).
- It will cover visa-exempt visitors coming for short stays such as tourism, cruise passengers, and some transit passengers who enter Japan temporarily.
- Travellers will need an authorisation before each new entry. People with neither a JESTA nor a visa will not be allowed to enter. Airlines and shipping companies will have to report passenger details, and must not carry anyone the agency says should not enter.
- A fee will be set by Cabinet Order.
- The JESTA rules start on a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.
On the official pages we checked, no start date or fee had been set, and there was no application website. For now, visa-exempt travellers do not need anything extra. Ignore any site that offers to sell you a JESTA today.
Common mistakes and scams
- Assuming you are exempt without reading MOFA’s notes. A UAE, Brazilian or Thai passport without an ICAO chip, or an unregistered Indonesian ePassport, needs a visa
- Overstaying a 15 or 30-day exemption
- Using the eVISA for family visits or business
- Applying for the eVISA from a country you do not live in, or leaving it while you wait
- Renewing your passport after the eVISA is issued and not applying again
- Showing a screenshot or printout of an eVISA or JAVES notice
- Starting an online eVISA application without a credit card in your own name
- Using look-alike websites. MOFA warns about fraud sites copying the JAPAN eVISA website, so type evisa.mofa.go.jp yourself
- Paying anyone who says they can speed up your visa or make sure it is approved. Processing cannot be expedited
- Buying non-refundable flights before your visa is issued
How Voyfaro can help
- Visa: we point you to the official Japanese sources and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee visas, and we do not book visa appointments. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network. MOFA highly recommends travel medical insurance for trips to Japan. Until your visa is issued, we suggest refundable fares and free-cancellation hotels.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with your passport, where you live, your dates and who is travelling. Asking is free.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a visa for Japan?
No, not for a short-term stay. The United States is on MOFA’s visa exemption list, and the stay granted on arrival is 90 days. Paid work or a longer stay needs the right visa.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Japan?
No. The UK is on the exemption list, and UK nationals get 90 days on arrival. The UK arrangement allows stays of up to 6 months, but only if you apply to the Regional Immigration Bureau for an extension before day 90 and it is granted.
Do Indians need a visa for Japan?
Yes. Residents of India can apply for the tourist eVISA through VFS Global. For other purposes, such as visiting family or business, apply for a paper visa. From 1 July 2026 the Embassy of Japan in India lists the visa fee for Indian nationals as INR 500, plus the VFS service fee.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Japan?
No. MOFA says visas are issued only at Japanese embassies, consulates and consular offices abroad. They cannot be obtained on arrival or inside Japan.
Can I apply for the JAPAN eVISA from any country?
No. You must live in one of the countries on MOFA’s eVISA list, apply in the way set for that country, and stay there while your application is processed. If you live elsewhere, apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate for your area.
Do I need Visit Japan Web?
It does not replace a visa. It is the official online service for immigration and customs forms, and it can make arrival smoother. You show the QR code on your phone at the airport.
Do I need a JESTA to visit Japan now?
No. The JESTA law has passed, but the system starts on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029. No official application site had opened when we checked.
Can Voyfaro get my Japan visa approved?
No. Only the Japanese authorities decide. We point you to the official sources and help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 7 October 2026:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) (1 September 2025: 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, 15, 30 and 90-day stays, ICAO ePassport and MRP conditions, Indonesia and Qatar registration, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Uruguay notes including new Uruguayan passports not eligible for travel, Colombia advice, 6-month arrangements and extension application before 90 days)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, VISA (24 June 2026: definition of short-term stay, no visas on arrival or inside Japan, landing permission, where to apply, about one week’s processing and longer if Tokyo is consulted, Certificate of Eligibility, eVISA countries, travel medical insurance recommended)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa) (15 May 2026: online and accredited-agency countries, Philippines, Viet Nam and China rules, air and ferry only, ordinary passports only, tourism single entry up to 90 days, live display of the notice, fraud warning)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, JAPAN eVISA frequently asked questions (tourism only, paper visa for other purposes and transit, exempt nationals do not need an eVISA, 3-month validity, 15, 30 or 90-day stays, JPY 15,000 fee and reductions, 5 working days’ processing, no expedited processing, apply up to 3 months ahead, no confirmed ticket needed, stay in your country of residence, no multiple-entry eVISA, no refund after issue, 6-month wait after refusal, passport renewal, and Q44 to Q47: fee paid online by credit card only, no cash, cardholder normally the applicant, paper application if you have no credit card)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, JAPAN eVISA website
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Visa Fees (24 June 2026: about JPY 15,000 single entry and JPY 30,000 multiple entry from 1 July 2026, local currency, no fee if no visa is issued, separate agency handling fee)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 2026 amendment of the Immigration Control Act (Japanese) (passed 29 May 2026, promulgated 5 June 2026, Act No. 32 of 2026, creates JESTA) and its summary of the amended law (PDF, Japanese) (who JESTA covers, authorisation for each new entry, carrier duties, fee by Cabinet Order, start by 31 March 2029)
- Digital Agency of Japan, Visit Japan Web (the old address https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ redirects here: immigration and customs procedures online, 2D code shown on a smartphone or tablet, what you need to register, 7 March 2024 notice that the site URL changed, 14 December 2023 notice on suspicious apps such as “Visit Japan Web Info”) and its usage guide (visa issue number, passport validity warning)
- Embassy of Japan in India, Visa (submission through VFS without an appointment, 3 months ahead, fees from 1 July 2026, processing cannot be expedited, fraud warning) and The JAPAN eVISA system (21 March 2024: eVISA from 1 April 2024 through the Japan Visa Application Centres run by VFS Global, single-entry tourism up to 90 days for Indian and foreign nationals living in India, live display of the notice)
- Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Visa Information (24 June 2026: visa needed for every trip, Japan Visa Application Centres in Abuja and Lagos since March 2025, only authorised agency, no proxy applications in principle, minimum 12 and 14 working days)
- Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Visa exemption by ePassport pre-registration (Japanese) (15-day stays, 3-year validity, free registration, multiple entries, re-registration for a new passport, refusal of entry without registration) and online pre-registration through JAVES (Japanese) (updated 1 August 2024: online registration, notice shown on a device, no printouts or screenshots, paper option still available) and Visa information (Indonesian) (14 September 2026: visa applications submitted at the Japan Visa Application Centre in Kuningan, Jakarta; in principle the embassy does not take visa applications itself)