Japanese Visas and Entry Procedures

Entering Japan for tourism involves three main steps: determining if you need a visa, registering online before arrival, and completing procedures at the airport. This guide outlines the current system as of August 2026. Because rules and country-specific details change frequently, this article focuses on telling you exactly where to find the most up-to-date official information.

Visa Requirements for Short-Term Stays

Visa exemptions in Japan are determined by individual agreements with specific countries and regions. There is no single global standard; whether you need a visa depends entirely on your passport-issuing country or region.

If you are eligible for an exemption, you do not need a visa for short-term stays such as sightseeing or visiting relatives. Under this status, your residency status is "Temporary Visitor," which strictly prohibits any form of paid work, including short-term part-time jobs.

Conditions are not uniform. The number of days you can stay varies by country, and not everyone is granted 90 days. Some regions also require specific passport types (such as those with an IC chip). To find the exact number of days and requirements for your specific nationality, you must check the official lists directly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the official lists. This article does not copy them here — including the number of eligible countries and regions — because any such figure goes out of date, so please consult the primary sources below before your trip.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Exemption of Visa (Short-term Stay)
• MOFA: Exemption of Visa (Short-term Stay)

If You Require a Visa

If you are not eligible for a visa exemption, you must obtain a visa before your departure, even for tourism. Required documents, processing times, and application locations differ by country. Please follow the specific instructions provided by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your place of residence. This article does not list general required documents, as they vary significantly by region.

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa
• MOFA: Visa

Please note that visa fees are subject to change. According to Cabinet Secretariat documents (as of late March 2026), fees for single-entry visas are scheduled to increase from 3,000 yen to 15,000 yen, and multiple-entry visas from 6,000 yen to 30,000 yen. Check with your local Japanese diplomatic mission for the exact amount and effective date. This fee revision does not apply to travelers entering under a visa exemption.

JESTA is Not Yet in Operation

While there is discussion regarding a system similar to the US ESTA, as of August 4, 2026, JESTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is not yet operational. You do not need to complete any prior travel authorization to enter Japan right now.

The current status is as follows: The law to establish JESTA (Act No. 32 of 2026) was promulgated on June 5, 2026. However, the Immigration Services Agency describes the date on which the JESTA provisions take effect as "a date to be fixed by cabinet order, within the period ending March 31, 2029." The start date is still to be set by cabinet order, and there is no fixed date. The government aims to move the planned 2030 introduction forward to the 2028 fiscal year.

Once implemented, the system will target travelers entering under visa exemptions. The design involves submitting personal and travel information online before departure for pre-screening; as explained, travelers who are not authorized will not be able to board their flights. Those who are authorized are also to be allowed to use walk-through gates.

Pre-Arrival Registration and Airport Procedures

Visit Japan Web is Optional and Free

Visit Japan Web (VJW) is a free service provided by the Digital Agency. With one account, you can complete registration for quarantine (health questions), immigration (arrival record), customs declaration (accompanied/unaccompanied articles), and tax-free shopping.

Using VJW is optional. You can still complete the process using paper forms; customs declarations are available in 13 languages, and arrival records can be filled out on paper. The benefit of VJW is that it makes your arrival process smoother and faster; it is not a requirement for entry.

Three important points to remember:

• Since 3:00 a.m. Japan time on January 25, 2024, the two-dimensional (QR) codes for immigration and customs have been unified into one. Codes issued before then can no longer be used. Old instructions mentioning "two separate QR codes" are outdated.
• While you can register on a computer, you must display the resulting QR code on a smartphone or tablet to show at the counter.
• The feature for "proxy input" (entering information for group members/travel companions) was discontinued on June 2, 2025.

Customs Declaration at the Airport

Customs asks every passenger arriving in Japan to submit a "Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles." You can do this by presenting your Visit Japan Web QR code or by using a paper form. QR codes generated by the former customs declaration app became invalid on January 25, 2023, so Visit Japan Web is now the only electronic method.

At Haneda, Fukuoka, and Naha airports, you can also use electronic declaration terminals to complete your customs declaration while waiting for your luggage.

Facial Recognition Gates are for Departure Only

Facial recognition gates are available at seven airports: Haneda, Narita, Kansai, Fukuoka, Chubu, New Chitose, and Naha. However, these are only for departing passengers and are limited to those with a "Temporary Visitor" status. The system matches the photo stored in your IC passport chip with a photo taken at the gate; these images are not stored.

For arrival, you must still go through the manual immigration counter with an officer. These gates are not "walk-through" for arrival, so please allow plenty of time if you have connecting flights.

Checklist Before Departure

• Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list to see if your country/region is eligible for a visa exemption (if not, apply for a visa at an embassy/consulate).
• Confirm how many days you are allowed to stay, as this varies by nationality.
• Check your passport expiration date and ensure you have blank pages for entry stamps.
• Register with Visit Japan Web (optional; you can also enter using the paper forms).
• Ensure your smartphone (with the QR code) is in your carry-on luggage.
• JESTA is not currently required. Check the Immigration Services Agency for updates on its implementation.

For information on emergency contacts, see Emergency Situations. For information on transit IC cards like Suica and PASMO, see IC Cards.