Japan waives visas for short visits such as tourism for travellers from 74 countries and regions. Visitors entering visa-free receive landing permission as a Temporary Visitor at airport immigration.
Visa-free stay by country
visa required
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, visa exemption list. The exemption covers 74 countries and regions.
Nationals of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Mexico can stay up to six months by applying to the Immigration Services Agency for an extension before the 90 days end. For Taiwan, the exemption covers only passports that show a personal ID number.
What a visa-free stay allows
Allowed
- Sightseeing
- Visiting family or friends
- Meetings, talks, site visits
Not allowed
- Paid work part-time jobs included
- Staying past the permitted period
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, short-term stay visa exemption.
The exemption applies to Temporary Visitor status only. Working or studying in Japan needs the visa for that purpose.
Immigration at the airport
- 01 Immigration counter passport, entry QR code
- 02 Fingerprints and photo foreigners aged 16+
- 03 Landing permission e.g. 90-day short stay
- 04 Baggage, then customs
Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Special permanent residents and some others are exempt from fingerprints and photo.
Entry details are registered in advance in Visit Japan Web or written on a paper disembarkation card. Registration is covered in the Visit Japan Web guide, and what customs lets in tax-free in the customs allowance guide.
Landing permission puts a landing permission seal (sticker) in the passport. Its details are registered in Visit Japan Web to create the tax-free shopping QR code.
