VISA

August 15, 2025

Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 73 countries and regions listed in the table below.

73 Countries and Regions for Visa Exemptions
Asia Europe
Brunei (30 days) Andorra
Indonesia (Note 1) Austria (Note 8)
Malaysia (Note 3) Belgium
Republic of Korea Bulgaria
Singapore Croatia
Thailand (Note 2) (15 days) Cyprus
Hong Kong (Note 5) Czech Republic
Macao (Note 6) Denmark
Taiwan (Note 4) Estonia
North America Finland
Canada North Macedonia
United States France
Latin America and the Caribbean Germany (Note 8)
Argentina Greece
Bahamas Hungary
Barbados (Note 7) Iceland
Brazil (Note 2) Ireland (Note 8)
Chile Italy
Costa Rica Latvia
Dominican Republic Liechtenstein (Note 8)
El Salvador Lithuania
Guatemala Luxembourg
Honduras Malta
Panama (Note 2) Monaco
Paraguay (Note 2) Netherlands
Peru (Note 2) Norway
Mexico (Note 8) Poland
Suriname Portugal
Uruguay (Note 11) Romania
Oceania San Marino
Australia Serbia (Note 2)
New Zealand Slovakia
Middle East Slovenia
Israel Spain
Qatar (Note 9) Sweden
Türkiye (Note 7) Switzerland (Note 8)
United Arab Emirates (Note 2) United Kingdom (Note 8)
Africa
Lesotho (Note 7)
Mauritius
Tunisia
・Period of Stay
  • The period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, “30 days” for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.
  • (Note 1) For nationals of Indonesia (since December 1, 2014), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan in Indonesia (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • (Note 2) For nationals of Peru(since July 1, 2025), Paraguay (since June 1, 2025), Panama (since April 1, 2024), Brazil (since September 30, 2023), United Arab Emirates (since November 1, 2022), Thailand (since July 1, 2013) and Serbia (since May 1, 2011), visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are requested to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be refused to enter Japan.
  • (Note 3) For nationals of Malaysia (since July 1, 2013), visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
  • (Note 4) Visa exemption arrangement for Taiwan is limited to passport holders with a personal ID number.
  • (Note 5) For citizens of Hong Kong, visas are not required only for holders of Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport issued by the Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China or British National Overseas (BNO) passports who have the right of residence in Hong Kong.
  • (Note 6) For citizens of Macao, visas are not required only for holders of SAR passport issued by the Macao SAR of the People’s Republic of China.
  • (Note 7) For nationals of Barbados (since April 1, 2010), Türkiye (since April 1, 2011) and Lesotho (since April 1, 2010), visas are not required only for holders of Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold an MRP are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
  • (Note 8) For nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements, those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.
  • (Note 9) For nationals of Qatar (since April 2, 2023), visas are not required only for those who have registered ICAO-compliant ePassport to diplomatic missions of Japan (the embassy, consulates-general, or the consulate). Validity of the registration is three years period or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • (Note 10) Nationals of Colombia (since February 1, 2004) are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.
  • (Note 11) The new version of Uruguayan ordinary passport issued after April 16, 2025, which does not include a 'place of birth' on the personal data page, is not recognized as valid by the Japanese government. Therefore, these new passports will not be eligible for travel to Japan. The Japanese visa exemption arrangement applies only to Uruguayan nationals holding the old version of Uruguayan passports. Uruguayan nationals holding the old version of passports will remain eligible for visa exemption even if their passports were issued after April 16, 2025.

Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) in compliance with ICAO standards

(image 1) The identification data page with machine-readable passport data such as personal information

MRP in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards has certain individual information, which is able to be read by computer, entered on the identity page of the passport.

ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards

(image 2) The passport that show the ICAO standard IC passport mark is printed on the cover page.

ePassport in compliance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards has IC chip that stores certain individual and biometric data including a digital image of the passport photograph. ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards has ePassport’s symbol on the front cover of the passport.


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