Visa policy of Japan
Introduction A single-entry Japanese temporary visitor visa (New design since 2016)A double-entry Japanese transit visa on a Chinese passport (Old design)Visitors to Japan must obtain a visa from one of the Japanese diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption A Japanese temporary visitor landing permission sticker issued at the Haneda Airport on a Taiwan passportThe Japanese temporary visitor landing permission stickers and departed stamps issued at the Narita Airport and Naha Airport on a British passport Holders of ordinary passports of the following jurisdictions do not need a visa to stay in Japan for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):* All European Union member states*******************************************Date of visa changes;Visa exemption* Unknown: Barbados; * 1 June 1967: Yugoslavia (may continue to apply to Croatia and Slovenia)* 1 July 1955: West Germany (continues to apply to Germany)* 1 December 1955: France* 15 January 1956: Italy* 10 June 1956: Greece* 14 June 1956: Tunisia* 15 August 1956: Belgium and Denmark* 28 August 1956: Netherlands* 1 September 1956: Norway and Sweden* 15 April 1957: Liechtenstein and Switzerland* 19 April 1957: Dominican Republic* 5 January 1958: Turkey* 1 April 1958: Austria (previously also from 1 September 1928 to 13 March 1938)* 1 February 1959: Finland* 1 August 1960: Luxembourg* 1 January 1962: Argentina* 2 December 1962: United Kingdom* 20 September 1964: Canada* 15 April 1965: Spain* 1 September 1966: Ireland* 20 November 1966: Iceland* 15 February 1968: San Marino* 15 November 1969: Chile* 15 June 1970: New Zealand* 1 October 1971: Israel* 1 January 1972: Singapore* 10 April 1972: Mexico* 25 February 1973: El Salvador* 1 March 1973: Malta* 1 April 1973: Cyprus* 1 March 1974: Portugal* 2 May 1974: Uruguay* 27 May 1974: Suriname* 1 June 1974: Honduras* 16 September 1974: Costa Rica* 1 January 1976: Guatemala* 15 July 1977: Lesotho* 1 July 1980: Mauritius* 1 October 1981: Bahamas* 20 June 1986: Brunei* 15 December 1988: United States* 11 November 1996: Andorra* 1 April 1997: North Macedonia* 21 June 1997: Hungary* 10 September 1998: Czech Republic* 1 December 1998: Australia* 14 February 1999: Poland*23 September 1999: Monaco* 1 December 1999: Estonia* 1 April 2000: Latvia and Lithuania* 22 March 2002: Slovakia* 1 April 2004: Hong Kong and British Nationals (Overseas)* 1 March 2005: South Korea* 25 March 2005: Macao* 1 May 2005: Bulgaria* 26 September 2005: Taiwan* 1 September 2009: Romania* 1 May 2011: Serbia* 1 July 2013: Malaysia (previously also from 1 March 1983 to 1 June 1993) and Thailand* 1 December 2014: Indonesia (for pre-registered passports)* 1 November 2022: United Arab Emirates (previously also from 1 July 2017 for pre-registered passports)* 2 April 2023: Qatar (for pre-registered passports)* 30 September 2023: Brazil;Cancelled* Pakistan: 1 January 1961 to 15 January 1989* Bangladesh: 20 August 1973 to 15 January 1989* Iran: 1 October 1974 to 15 April 1992* Peru: 1 February 1972 to 15 July 1995* Colombia: 1 September 1962 to 1 February 2004===Non-ordinary passports===Holders of diplomatic and official passports of the following countries may enter Japan without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days (unless otherwise stated):*********************************************************Holders of diplomatic and official passports of other countries to whom a visa exemption applies when using an ordinary passport are also exempted from a visa, but are granted the status of residence as temporary visitors under the same conditions and maximum stay as with an ordinary passport. This exemption does not apply to holders of diplomatic and official passports of Taiwan, and to those of the United States traveling for official purposes.===APEC Business Travel Card===Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions who also hold an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the code "JPN" on the reverse may travel to Japan without a visa for business purposes for stays of up to 90 days:******************
Electronic Visa (e-Visa) Holders of passports of and foreign nationals who reside in the following countries and territories can apply and obtain a single entry e-visa individually. The duration of stay for these jurisdictions is up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted). * * * * * * * * * * * For Chinese passport holders who resides in mainland China, e-Visa is good for single entry and its duration of stay is 30 days. e-Visa application from mainland China must be made through the travel agencies accredited by the Japanese overseas establishment, the e-visa will be issued when the agencies are ready to apply through JAPAN eVISA.
History Japan had a special visa policy for nationals of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States who could not provide their financial guarantees and get a visa on their own but instead they had to apply through an approved travel agency or be invited by a resident or a citizen of Japan.These requirements were lifted for citizens of Russia on 1 January 2017, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on 5 June 2017, Armenia on 1 September 2017, Azerbaijan on 1 December 2017 and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine on 1 January 2018.In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has special visa policies for nationals of China and the Philippines. Nationals of these countries also must apply through an accredited travel agent or be invited by a Japanese citizen or a resident of Japan.As of 2014, nationals of the Philippines and Vietnam travelling in a group through a registered travel agency may obtain entry visas for tourist visits up to 15 days in a simplified process that requires fewer documents than before. Moreover, nationals of India, the Philippines and Vietnam can obtain multiple-entry visas providing that they have visited Japan and other G7 countries or they have "sufficient financial capability".As of 2015, Chinese tourists travelling on approved cruise ships do not need a visa. They must embark and disembark the same specified ships.Japan was reportedly set to ease visa requirements for visitors from key markets, such as India, China and Vietnam, starting in the summer of 2016.A new wave of visa liberalization policies started on 17 October 2016 for Chinese nationals and on 1 January 2018 for Indian nationals.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan suspended the visa exemptions for most countries from March 2020, and later for all countries, and restored them on 11 October 2022.
Statistics In 2015 4,768,286 Japanese visas were issued. It is an increase of 66% from 2014 when 2,871,639 visas were issued and the highest number ever recorded.Most visas were applied for by nationals of the following countries: Application from  Issued visas in 2017  Share  Issued visas in 2015  Share  Issued visas in 2014  Share  Issued visas in 2013  Issued visas in 2012   4,504,718  77%  3,780,773  79%  2,048,106  71%  971,542  1,112,407   325,564  5%  225,676  5%  163,386  6%  99,258  74,424   239,201  4%  162,273  3%  141,321  5%  122,376   90,498   226,993  4%  139,236  3%  96,648  3%  65,305  39,581   96,658  2%  74,088  2%  66,696  2%  55,622  50,938   67,445  1%  47,813  1%  57,606  2%  54,948  45,468   50,885  1%  38,798  1%  34,217  1%  28,697  35,049       20,857  1%  21,322  1%  183,684  228,528       20,399  0%  18,861  1%  21,644  22,964       19,349  0%  19,017  1%                   70,231  115,348 Others  357,548  6%  239,026  5%  204,459  7%  191,118  171.316Foreign tourists to JapanMost visitors arriving to Japan were from the following countries of nationality:In 2015 most visas were issued for group sightseeing (1,957,498) and individual sightseeing (1,126,209). There were 62,052 multiple-entry visas for Okinawa and 10,500 multiple-entry visas for three prefectures in Tōhoku. Country/Territory 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013     7,355,800    6,373,564    4,993,689    2,409,158    1,314,437     7,140,200    5,090,302    4,002,095    2,755,313    2,456,165     4,564,100    4,167,512    3,677,075    2,829,821    2,210,821     2,231,500    1,839,193    1,524,292    925,975    745,881     1,375,000    1,242,719    1,033,258    891,668    799,280     987,100    901,525    796,731    657,570    453,642     495,100    445,332    376,075    302,656    244,569     439,500    394,268    305,447    249,521    176,521     424,200    347,861    268,361    184,204    108,351     404,100    361,807    308,783    227,962    189,280 Total    28,690,900    24,039,053    19,737,409    13,413,467    10,363,904
Re-entry Permit as a Visa A Re-entry Permit Stamp (sticker type)There is also a , which is pasted into a foreign passport or other travel document servers as an re-entry visa.Those who are traveling outside Japan for longer than 1 year are required to have a re-entry permit. Normally, the re-entry permit will be applied to a passport in the form of a self-adhesive sticker. For those who do not have a valid passport, a booklet type re-entry Permit will be issued at the same time as the re-entry Permit stamp issues.In the new system as of July 2012, the maximum period for a re-entry permit is 6 years.===Special Re-entry Permit===From July 9, 2012, foreign nationals residing legally in Japan who are leaving Japan for no more than 1 year will not be required to apply for a re-entry permit prior to leaving, but can instead apply for a special re-entry permit at the point of departure. Previously if a foreign national left Japan without a re-entry permit, their visa or legal residency status could be revoked.The special re-entry permit system does not apply to those falling under any of the following.# those whose resident status is in the process of revocation# those whose confirmation of departure is suspended# those who have received a written detention order# those who are in the process of a refugee application and staying with the resident status of "Designated Activities"# those who are specified by Japan's Ministry of Justice to be a threat to Japan's national interests or public order, or for other good reasons to be in need of a re-entry permit for the sake of fair control of entries and departuresThe special re-entry permit is not available for booklet type re-entry Permit holders and they must have a stamp type re-entry permit on their booklet since the valid date of the booklet re-entry Permit is limited to the stamp.
Admission refused As a result of sanctions against North Korea, entry and transit is refused to North Korea nationals, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight.
See also * Visa requirements for Japanese citizens
Notes
References
External links *  List of Countries and Regions That Have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan (68 countries and regions as of July 2017)*  List of Japanese diplomatic missions*  MOFA visa instructions