Japan Tourist Visa 2026: Exemptions, eVISA and How to Apply

Many visitors do not need a visa for Japan at all: nationals of 74 countries and regions can enter visa-free for a short tourist stay, usually for up to 90 days. Everyone else needs a short-term stay visa, which some residents can now obtain online through the JAPAN eVISA system rather than at an embassy. Japan has also legislated for a pre-travel authorisation called JESTA, but it is not yet operating.

Who needs a visa for Japan

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) keeps an official list of the countries and regions covered by reciprocal visa exemption arrangements. As of October 2026 that list contains 74 entries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of the European Union, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and several Latin American states.

The standard visa-free stay is 90 days, but there are exceptions. Nationals of Indonesia and Thailand are granted 15 days, while nationals of Brunei and Qatar receive 30 days. Citizens of a small group of countries, among them the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Mexico, may stay up to six months under their bilateral arrangements, but anyone wanting to stay beyond 90 days must apply to the Immigration Services Agency for an extension before their permitted stay runs out.

Some exemptions also carry passport conditions. Several nationalities, including Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, the UAE, Serbia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Montenegro, qualify only when travelling on an ICAO-compliant ePassport. Indonesian and Qatari nationals must register their ePassport with a Japanese diplomatic mission before travel. MOFA also notes that newer Uruguayan passports without a place of birth are not accepted. Check the notes for your nationality before booking.

Visa-free entry covers short-term activities such as tourism, visiting friends or relatives and attending meetings. It never covers paid work. If your nationality is not on the list, or you plan to work or stay longer than your exemption allows, you need a visa.

The options compared

Travellers who need a visa have two main routes, depending on where they live.

The traditional route is a paper application to the Japanese embassy, consulate-general or consular office with jurisdiction over your place of residence. Depending on the country, you apply in person, through an accredited travel agency or through a Japan Visa Application Centre. This route works for every short-term purpose, including tourism, visiting relatives, business and transit, and it is the only route for multiple-entry visas.

The JAPAN eVISA route lets eligible applicants apply, pay and receive the visa online. According to MOFA's eVISA page, last updated on 15 May 2026, it is open to foreign residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States who are not already visa-exempt. Residents of Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea (outside the Jeju consulate's jurisdiction), Singapore and the UAE can also obtain an eVISA, but the application goes through an accredited agency. Chinese nationals living in China apply through an accredited agency, and nationals of the Philippines and Viet Nam living in their own countries can use it only when joining a package tour run by a designated travel agency.

Key limits of the eVISA:

It covers tourism only, so visits to friends or relatives, business and transit still need a paper application.
It is single-entry only; multiple-entry visas cannot be requested online.
Only ordinary passport holders can apply.
You must travel by air, or by sea only on the scheduled international ferries between Japan and Busan or Shanghai.
You must stay in your country of residence while the application is processed, as you may be called for an interview.
You need an internet-connected smartphone or tablet to show the visa issuance notice at check-in; a printout, PDF or screenshot is not accepted.
Payment is by credit card in the applicant's own name, with limited exceptions such as a parent paying for a minor.

Document checklist

Exact requirements are set by each embassy or consulate and vary with nationality and circumstances, so always use the checklist published by the mission covering your residence. Commonly requested documents include:

A valid passport, plus a copy of the data page for online applications
A completed visa application form (paper route) or the online form (eVISA)
A recent passport-style photograph taken within the last six months
A day-by-day itinerary for your time in Japan, including accommodation details
A flight or ferry reservation or itinerary; MOFA says a purchased ticket is not required before applying for an eVISA
Proof of funds, typically recent personal bank statements
Proof of lawful residence in the country where you apply, if you are not a national of that country
For family applications, documents proving the relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates
A parental consent form if a minor travels without a parent
Where a person or organisation in Japan sponsors the trip, a letter of guarantee and invitation letter from that guarantor, sent directly to you rather than to the embassy

Fees

As of October 2026, MOFA states that a new fee schedule took effect on 1 July 2026. For applications accepted from that date, the fee converts to roughly 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and roughly 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa. Paper-route fees are generally paid in the local currency of the country where the visa is issued, so the exact figure you pay depends on local conversion.

Some nationalities pay a reduced fee or nothing at all under reciprocal arrangements, and the purpose of travel can also affect the amount. No fee is charged if a visa is refused. Accredited agencies add their own handling charge on top. For an eVISA, the fee is paid online only after approval, and MOFA's eVISA FAQ states it is not refunded once the visa is issued, even if you do not travel. Confirm the current amount for your nationality on the website of the relevant embassy or consulate.

How to apply: step by step

Check the MOFA exemption list to confirm whether you need a visa at all.
Identify the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence and read its short-term visa page.
Decide your route: eVISA if you are eligible and travelling purely for tourism, otherwise a paper application.
Gather the documents on that mission's checklist, combining files into single PDFs for online uploads.
For an eVISA, create an account on the official JAPAN eVISA website, complete the form, upload documents and submit; beware of lookalike sites.
For a paper application, submit in person, via an accredited agency or at a visa application centre, as the mission directs.
Respond promptly to any request for further documents or an interview.
When approved, pay the fee; eVISA holders then display the visa issuance notice online at check-in.
Before departure, register your arrival details on Visit Japan Web, the government's free service for immigration and customs, so you can present a 2D code on arrival.

Timing

MOFA says a complete paper application takes about one week to process, and its eVISA guidance quotes five working days from the point the mission confirms the application is complete. Both can take longer in busy periods, when an interview is needed or when the case is referred to Tokyo; MOFA warns eVISA cases may then exceed a month. Expedited processing is not available.

An eVISA application can be lodged no earlier than three months before travel. A single-entry visa, paper or electronic, is valid for three months from issue and lapses once you land in Japan. Multiple-entry visas, mainly issued to business travellers and certain other groups, are valid for one to five years. Your actual length of stay is set by the immigration officer on arrival; for eVISA holders it is 15, 30 or 90 days.

Common refusal reasons

Japanese missions do not give reasons for refusals, but the published requirements point to these common problems:

Incomplete or inconsistent applications, which MOFA says may be cancelled without examination
Documents that appear inauthentic or do not support the stated purpose
Insufficient evidence of funds or of a genuine, well-planned trip
Doubts about your entitlement or intention to return to your country of residence
Grounds for refusing entry under Japan's Immigration Control Act, such as certain criminal convictions or previous immigration violations
Using the eVISA for a purpose it does not cover, such as visiting relatives

After an eVISA refusal, MOFA's guidance says you must wait six months before reapplying.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Japan as a tourist?

Not if your nationality is on MOFA's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions and you meet any passport conditions. Everyone else needs a short-term stay visa before travelling.

Who can apply for a Japan eVISA?

As of October 2026, foreign residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the US can apply directly, with further countries covered via accredited agencies. Eligibility depends on where you live, not only your nationality.

What is JESTA and do I need it now?

JESTA is Japan's planned electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. The law creating it was passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026, but the system is not yet running, and government planning documents point to a launch around fiscal year 2028. No application is needed today.

How long can I stay in Japan without a visa?

Usually 90 days, but 15 days for Indonesian and Thai nationals and 30 days for Brunei and Qatar. A few nationalities, including the UK and Ireland, can extend to six months by applying to immigration while in Japan.

Can I get a multiple-entry tourist visa for Japan?

Not through the eVISA, which is single-entry only. Multiple-entry visas are issued through embassies to specific groups, mainly business travellers, and are valid for one to five years.

Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?

It is an optional government service that lets you register immigration and customs details in advance and show a 2D code on arrival, which can speed up entry. It does not replace a visa.

Before you travel

Japan's visa rules depend on your nationality, your country of residence, the purpose of your trip and your individual circumstances, and the eVISA eligibility list and JESTA timetable are both evolving. Confirm every requirement, fee and timescale on the official sources listed before you book or apply.