How to check Japan visa exemption and entry requirements

Do you need a visa to enter Japan?

MOFA maintains a list of countries and regions whose nationals do not require a visa to enter Japan, and separately lists the nationalities that do need one for a short-term stay, with dedicated guidance for the Philippines, Viet Nam, China, Russia, and the CIS countries, Ukraine and Georgia, plus a route for other nationalities [1]. MOFA directs travellers to the website of the Japanese embassy, consulate-general or consular office with jurisdiction over the country or region where they live, because the requirements for a visa application can vary with the local situation and the purpose of the visit [1].

For travel on a full British citizen passport from the UK, the FCDO states that you can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days, and that you do not need to apply before you travel [4]. The FCDO describes its Japan entry information as the UK government's understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel, and notes that the Japanese authorities set and enforce the entry rules [4]. Japan also operates separate visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports [1].

How long can you stay on a short-term visit?

MOFA defines a short-term stay as a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives and similar purposes, and the category does not include remunerative activities [1]. Anyone who intends to work in Japan for remuneration, or to stay for more than 90 days, falls outside short-term stay treatment and should in principle obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before applying for a visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission with jurisdiction over their place of residence [1].

For British citizens travelling from the UK, the FCDO says a longer stay can be requested at the nearest immigration office, which can grant an extension of another 90 days, and the passport must be valid for the period of the extension [4]. The status of residence shown on the landing permission records the activities a visitor is permitted to carry out in Japan [1].

What passport and entry checks apply at the border?

For British citizens travelling from the UK, the FCDO says the passport must be valid for the length of the stay, that no additional period of validity is required, and that a blank page is needed for a visa stamp [4]. Entry will be refused to a traveller who does not have a valid travel document, or who presents a passport that has been reported lost or stolen [4].

Under the framework MOFA describes, a visa is one of the entry requirements set by Japan's Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, and holding one does not guarantee entry, because landing permission is granted at the port of entry when the traveller meets the requirements for entry [1]. Visas are issued at Japanese embassies, consulates-general and consular offices abroad, and cannot be obtained on arrival in Japan or while staying there [1]. Travellers who need a multiple-entry visa should ask the immigration officials when they arrive, according to the FCDO guidance for British citizens [4].

How do you apply for a Japanese visa if you need one?

Applications are made to the consular section of the Japanese diplomatic mission with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence, to an accredited agency, to a Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, using the method the mission specifies, and a visa cannot be applied for inside Japan [1]. The documents required depend on the purpose of the visit and the local situation, and where an inviting organisation or guarantor is involved, that party sends the required documents to the applicant rather than to MOFA or the diplomatic mission [1]. Processing takes approximately one week when all the requirements are met, although additional documents may be requested case by case and the examination can take longer if the mission needs to consult MOFA in Tokyo [1].

The JAPAN eVISA system accepts online applications for single-entry tourism visits from people who need a short-term visa and currently live in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan Region of China, the United Kingdom or the United States [1]. MOFA also strongly recommends buying international travel medical insurance for a trip to Japan [1].

Exceptions and limits

• Overstaying. Remaining beyond the permission to stay carries a risk of arrest, detention and a heavy fine, according to the FCDO guidance for British citizens [4].
• Work and long stays. Working in Japan without the correct visa is illegal however informal or temporary the work [4], and long-term stays, work and study must meet the Japanese government's entry requirements for the relevant visa type [4].
• Health screening. Japan's pre-entry tuberculosis screening applies to nationals of the Philippines, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar and China [1].
• Food and goods. Bringing meat products, including sausages, bacon and ham, into Japan without permission from the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service is illegal, and the penalties include a heavy fine and a prison sentence [4].
• Lists that change. MOFA's announcements record new visa waiver measures and relaxations of visa requirements for particular nationalities, including measures for Paraguay, the United Arab Emirates and Brunei Darussalam, so the current lists should be re-checked close to departure [1].

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa to enter Japan for a holiday?

It depends on nationality: MOFA publishes a list of countries and regions that do not require a visa to enter Japan, and lists the nationalities that need one for a short-term stay such as tourism [1].

How long can British citizens stay in Japan without applying for a visa in advance?

The FCDO says you can get a visa on arrival for tourism or business for up to 90 days without applying before travel, and that an extension of another 90 days can be requested at the nearest immigration office, with the passport valid for the extension period [4].

How much passport validity do you need for Japan?

For British citizens travelling from the UK, the passport must be valid for the length of the stay, no additional validity period is required, and a blank page is needed for a visa stamp [4].

What happens if you overstay in Japan?

Overstaying the permission to remain risks arrest, detention and a heavy fine, according to the FCDO guidance for British citizens [4].

Related pages

Keep reading: passport validity and entry checks, entry permission types, Japan shore pass and transit, the airport transit visa guide, and the full frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Japanese work, student, spouse and residence visas are not covered here, nor are the separate Japanese shore pass and transit arrangements or the entry rules that apply to nationalities other than those described above; see Japan shore pass and transit for the transit side.

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, visa information, checked 18 October 2026
2. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Japan travel advice: entry requirements, checked 18 October 2026