Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to apply for a Japan short-term visitor visa
Japan's short-term visitor visa is the visa issued for what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan calls a short-term stay — a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives and similar purposes, not including remunerative activities — and it is issued by a Japanese embassy, consulate-general or consular office abroad, never on arrival in Japan. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, and the stay granted on landing is 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, and 90 days for the others. [5]
- If you are not exempt, the application goes to the Japanese mission with jurisdiction over where you live, an accredited agency, a visa application centre, or online where the mission allows it — never inside Japan. [1]
- Processing takes approximately one week when all the requirements are met. [1]
- A visa is not a guarantee of entry: landing permission is granted by an immigration officer at the port of entry. [1] The encyclopedia terms index covers related travel terminology.
Who needs a Japan short-term visitor visa?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan publishes which nationalities need a visa for a short-term stay, naming among them the Philippines, Viet Nam, China, Russia, CIS countries, Ukraine and Georgia, and it directs each applicant to the Japanese embassy, consulate-general or consular office with jurisdiction over the country or region where they live for the detailed requirements. [1]
Japan also has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, listed in a notice dated 1 September 2025. [5] The period of stay granted upon landing permission is 15 days for nationals of Indonesia and Thailand, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, and 90 days for the remaining countries and regions on the list. [5]
Several of those exemptions are conditional, and a traveller who does not meet the condition is expected to obtain a visa before travelling. [5]
| Nationality or region | Condition attached to visa-free entry |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | Exemption applies only to nationals who have registered an ICAO-compliant ePassport with a Japanese diplomatic mission in Indonesia; the registration is valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. [5] |
| Thailand | Exemption applies only to holders of an ICAO-compliant ePassport; those without one should obtain a visa in advance or they will be refused entry. [5] |
| Malaysia | Exemption applies only to holders of an ICAO-compliant ePassport; those without one are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise they will be strictly examined and may be refused entry. [5] |
| Taiwan Region of China | The exemption is limited to passport holders with a personal ID number. [5] |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China | Exemption applies only to holders of a Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, or a British National Overseas passport with the right of residence in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. [5] |
| Macao Special Administrative Region of China | Exemption applies only to holders of a Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region of China. [5] |
| Uruguay | The arrangement covers holders of the older Uruguayan passport; the new version issued after 16 April 2025, which omits place of birth, is not recognised as valid by the Japanese government and is not eligible for travel to Japan. [5] |
What does a short-term stay cover, and how long is it?
A short-term stay is defined as a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives and similar purposes, and it does not include remunerative activities. [1]
If you intend to work in Japan for remuneration, or to stay for more than 90 days, you fall outside short-term stay: in principle you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before applying for a visa at the mission with jurisdiction over where you live. [1] The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British citizens that working in Japan without the correct visa is illegal, however informal or temporary the work. [3]
Which documents does the application need?
The ministry publishes the forms used for a short-term stay application: the visa application form, a letter of guarantee, an invitation letter for single-entry applications and another for multiple-entry applications, a list of visa applicants, an overview of the company or organisation, and an itinerary in Japan. [1] The application form is offered in English, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, and applicants are asked to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill it in and print it out. [1]
An inviting organisation or guarantor sends the required documents to the visa applicant rather than to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the diplomatic mission, and is encouraged to keep a copy. [1] Company or personal seals on the letter of guarantee and the letter of invitation are no longer required. [1]
Requirements can vary with the local situation and the purpose of the visit, and the mission may ask for additional documents on a case-by-case basis. [1] On the passport itself, the FCDO's guidance for British citizens is that it must be valid for the length of the stay, with no additional period of validity required, and that a blank page is needed for the visa stamp. [3] More travel paperwork terms are listed in the glossary of terms.
How do you apply, and how long does it take?
With the documents ready, you apply at the consular section of the Japanese embassy, consulate-general or consular office with jurisdiction over your place of residence, at an accredited agency, at the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, using the method the mission specifies. [1] A visa application cannot be made inside Japan. [1]
Online application is narrower than the paper route: foreign nationals who need a short-term visa for a tourism visit and who live in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan Region of China, the United Kingdom or the United States can apply online for a single-entry visa through the JAPAN eVISA system. [1]
Processing takes approximately one week provided that all necessary requirements are met, and further documents may be requested. [1] It can take longer than usual when the mission decides to consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, and the mission or the accredited agency then notifies the applicant of the result. [1]
Because visas are issued only at Japanese embassies, consulates-general and consular offices abroad, they cannot be obtained when you arrive in Japan or while you are staying there. [1] The ministry also warns applicants about fraudulent websites, social media accounts and emails that try to extract payments from visa applicants. [1]
Questions can go to the Foreign Residents Support Center (FRESC) MOFA Visa Information desk, Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, on Navi-Dial 0570-011000, or +81-3-5369-6577 from some IP phones and from overseas; it answers Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00, except holidays. [1]
Exceptions and limits
- A visa does not guarantee entry. The ministry describes a visa as one of the requirements for entering Japan under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act; landing permission is granted by an immigration officer at the port of entry, and the status of residence recorded on that permission sets out the activities a visitor may perform in Japan. [1]
- Exempt stays are not all the same length. Indonesia and Thailand receive 15 days, Brunei and Qatar 30 days, and the other listed countries and regions 90 days. [5] For nationals of countries whose exemption permits stays of up to six months under bilateral arrangements, staying more than 90 days requires an application for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the permitted stay expires. [5]
- Extensions are handled inside Japan. The FCDO tells British citizens that a longer stay can be requested at the nearest immigration office for another 90 days, with the passport valid for the extension period. [3]
- Overstaying is penalised. The FCDO warns British citizens that overstaying permission to remain in Japan risks arrest, detention and a heavy fine. [3]
- Health screening applies to some nationalities. Pre-entry tuberculosis screening covers nationals of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar and China. [1]
- Insurance is recommended. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly recommends international travel medical insurance for a trip to Japan. [1] The FCDO advises travellers to take out insurance covering the itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Japan on holiday?
It depends on nationality. Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, with stays of 15, 30 or 90 days granted on landing, while nationals who are not exempt need a visa from a Japanese mission before travelling. [5] [1]
Can I get a Japan visa at the airport when I arrive?
No. Visas are issued at Japanese embassies, consulates-general and consular offices abroad and cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan or during a stay there. [1]
How long does a Japan short-term visa application take?
Approximately one week when all the requirements are met, with additional documents possible case by case and longer processing when the mission consults the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. [1]
How long can I stay on a short-term stay visa?
Up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives and similar purposes without remunerative activities; working for pay or staying beyond 90 days falls outside short-term stay and normally requires a Certificate of Eligibility first. [1]
Can I apply for a Japan visa online?
Single-entry tourism applications can be made online through the JAPAN eVISA system by foreign nationals who need a short-term visa and live in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan Region of China, the United Kingdom or the United States. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers Japan's short-term stay visa rules and the visa exemption list only: Japan's working holiday programmes, medical stay visa, and long-term statuses are not covered, and no other country's entry rules are described.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: visa application procedures, documents and short-term stay, checked 18 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Japan travel advice — entry requirements, checked 18 October 2026
- GOV.UK: Japan travel advice, checked 18 October 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: exemption of visa (short-term stay), checked 18 October 2026