Visas to Enter Japan

Short-Term Stay

If your stay in Japan is up to 90 days...

 

The citizens of 66 countries and regions are not required to obtain a visa to enter Japan because of the Visa Exemption Arrangements.
If you find your country or region in the following list, you can go sightseeing, attend business conferences, see your friends and families, study at Japanese language schools in a short term, etc., with only a valid passport.

Europe

North America
Andorra Canada
Austria** United States of America
Belgium

Oceania
Bulgaria Australia
Croatia New Zealand
Cyprus

Asia
Czech Republic Brunei*
Denmark Malaysia*
Estonia Republic of Korea
Finland Singapore
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Thailand*
France Hong Kong*
Germany** Macao*
Greece Taiwan*
Hungary

Latin America and the Caribbean
Iceland Argentina
Ireland** Bahamas
Italy Barbados*
Latvia Chile
Liechtenstein** Costa Rica
Lithuania Dominican Republic
Luxembourg El Salvador
Malta Guatemala
Monaco Honduras
Netherlands Mexico**
Norway Surinam
Poland Uruguay
Portugal

Middle East
Romania Israel
San Marino Turkey*
Serbia*

Africa
Slovakia Lesotho*
Slovenia Mauritius
Spain Tunisia
Sweden  
Switzerland**  
United Kingdom**  

Citizens of countries and regions with * have some extra requirements (about your passport in many cases).
Citizens of countries and regions with ** have the chance to extend your stay up to 6 months.

 

Details: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa/
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan official website, the links below as well)

 

Any paid activities are not permitted.
All foreign travelers in Japan are required to carry their passports all the time.
Up to 15 days for nationals of Brunei and Thailand.

 

If you are a citizen of...
China, apply for a visa from
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/topics/china/
Russia or NIS countries, apply for a visa from
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/russia_nis/
Philippines, apply for a visa from
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/philippine/

 

If you don't find your country in the list, and you are not a citizen of China, Russia, NIS countries nor Philippines, either, visa application is necessary.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/other_visa/

 

Work or Long-Term Stay

 

When foreign nationals engage in paid activities in Japan, study in Japan, or stay in Japan for more than 90 days, etc., visas will be required to enter Japan.
This page is specified to tourists, so if you hope to learn those visas, please visit the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/index/

 

Working Holiday Visa

 

If you are between 18 and 25 (30 in some cases) and the citizens of the following countries and regions, you can obtain a working holiday visa, which allows you to stay in Japan for up to 1 year and to work for a certain period of your stay.

Australia 
Canada 
Denmark 
France 
Germany 
Hong Kong 
Ireland 
The Republic of Korea 
New Zealand 
Norway 
Taiwan 
The United Kingdom 

 

Details: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index/

 

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