Start with your passport, not your departure airport
- 01Nationality & passport
Find your nationality and read any passport-specific notes.
- 02Purpose & stay
Check that your visit and intended length fit the rule.
- 03Embassy or consulate
Confirm unclear cases with the Japanese embassy or consulate.
Japan's visa-exemption list has conditions and country notes. Even if your country is listed, read the conditions that apply to your passport. If you need a visa, use the application guidance of the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for where you live. Working, long-term stays and other purposes can require a different process from tourism.
Check these documents against the official instructions
| Check | What to resolve before departure |
|---|---|
| Passport | Validity for the trip, passport type and condition; confirm any uncertainty with the Japanese mission and airline. |
| Visa, if required | The applicable category, required documents, application route and processing instructions. |
| Travel plans | Dates, accommodation and return/onward details requested by the authority or carrier. |
| Transit | Requirements of any country you pass through, including a change of airport or an overnight connection. |
We do not apply a blanket six-month passport rule to all tourists. A warning in a form, a carrier's document check and Japan's legal entry conditions are different things. Resolve the rule for your actual passport and route before travel.
Visit Japan Web is an arrival service
Visit Japan Web registers information for arrival procedures. It is not a tourist visa application and does not approve your entry. Complete the correct visa process first if one applies, then use the Visit Japan Web steps to prepare arrival information.
Immigration considers entry and stay. Customs concerns what you bring. Even if you have no checked bag, check the passenger declaration requirements. Animal or plant quarantine may be a separate step for restricted items.
Check what is in your bag
Use Japan Customs' passenger guidance for declarations, prohibited goods and links to animal/plant checks. Do not assume packaged food, fruit or meat bought at an airport is allowed into Japan.
If an answer is still unclear
Send your nationality, passport type, travel purpose, dates and place of residence to the responsible mission through its official contact route. Ask the airline about its boarding-document check. Allow time for a response instead of relying on a forum answer for another traveller's case. Do not send passport images to an unofficial advice service.
Can I use this page as proof that I am eligible?
No. This page helps you find the right authority. It does not issue an eligibility decision or replace current official instructions.
Do I need to pay a third party to use Visit Japan Web?
The Digital Agency does not charge an application fee for its service. Use the official link in our Visit Japan Web guide.
Sources & checks
Sources checked 16 Sept 2026. For changing details, confirm with the responsible organization.
- MOFA · Short-stay visa exemptionsNationality, passport and stay conditions; check the country notes
- MOFA · Visa questionsVisa application, responsible mission and landing permission distinctions
- Digital Agency · Visit Japan WebOfficial arrival service; immigration and customs registration
- Japan Customs · Passenger clearancePassenger declaration, electronic and paper options
- MHLW · Bringing personal medicinesMedicine type, quantity and advance permission requirements · Do not treat a prescription at home as permission to import every medicine.
Review interval: 30 days. This page is not a live status feed. Check time-sensitive details with the linked authority before acting.