Visa-Free Entry to Japan — 74 Countries and Regions
Japan grants visa-free entry to citizens of 74 countries and regions for short-term stays. This list is based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan official notice dated September 1, 2025.
> Official source: MOFA — Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) · Last updated by MOFA: September 1, 2025
Stay Duration Tiers
90 days (default for most)
Citizens of the following countries/regions can enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings, conferences, or visiting friends and relatives.
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Hong Kong¹, Macao², Malaysia³, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan⁴
Americas: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados⁵, Brazil⁶, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico⁷, Panama⁶, Paraguay⁶, Peru⁶, Suriname, United States, Uruguay⁸
Europe: Andorra, Austria⁷, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany⁷, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland⁷, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein⁷, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro⁶, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia⁶, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland⁷, United Kingdom⁷
Middle East: Israel, Türkiye⁵, United Arab Emirates⁶
Africa: Lesotho⁵, Mauritius, Tunisia
30 days
- Brunei — 30 days (extended from 15 days in December 2024)
- Qatar⁹ — 30 days
15 days
- Indonesia¹⁰ — 15 days
- Thailand⁶ — 15 days
Footnotes (from MOFA)
- Hong Kong: Visa-free entry only for holders of Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport issued by the Hong Kong SAR of the PRC, or British National Overseas (BNO) passports whose holders have the right of residence in Hong Kong.
- Macao: SAR passport issued by the Macao SAR of the PRC only.
- Malaysia: ICAO-compliant ePassport required (since July 1, 2013). Non-ePassport holders must obtain a visa in advance.
- Taiwan: Visa exemption is limited to passport holders with a personal ID number (身分證字號).
- MRP required (Machine-Readable Passport, ICAO-compliant): Barbados (since April 1, 2010), Türkiye (since April 1, 2011), Lesotho (since April 1, 2010). Non-MRP holders may be refused entry.
- ICAO ePassport required (no pre-registration): Montenegro (since September 1, 2025), 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), Serbia (since May 1, 2011). Without a compliant ePassport, a visa must be obtained in advance — otherwise entry may be refused.
- 6-month extension possible: Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, UK — travelers wishing to stay over 90 days can apply for an extension at the Regional Immigration Bureau (Ministry of Justice) before the initial 90 days expire.
- Uruguay — passport warning: New Uruguayan passports issued after April 16, 2025 (which no longer include "place of birth" on the personal data page) are NOT recognized by the Japanese government. Holders of such new passports are not eligible for visa-free entry; only holders of the old-version Uruguayan passport remain eligible.
- Qatar — ePassport pre-registration: ICAO-compliant ePassport must be pre-registered at a Japanese diplomatic mission (embassy, consulate-general or consulate). Registration is valid for 3 years or until the passport expires. (Since April 2, 2023.)
- Indonesia — ePassport pre-registration: ICAO-compliant ePassport must be pre-registered at a Japanese diplomatic mission in Indonesia (embassy, consulates-general, or consulate). Valid for 3 years or until the passport expires. (Since December 1, 2014.)
Countries Explicitly NOT on the Visa-Free List
- Colombia — MOFA explicitly states (Note 10 on the official page) that Colombian nationals are advised to obtain a visa in advance; otherwise they will be strictly examined and may be refused entry. (Since February 1, 2004.)
- China (PRC) — Always requires a visa
- India — Always requires a visa (JAPAN eVISA available for tourism)
- Philippines — Always requires a visa
- Vietnam — Always requires a visa
- Russia, most African countries, most Middle East except those listed — Visa required
Important Reminders
- Visa-free entry is for short-term purposes only (tourism, business meetings, conferences, visiting friends/relatives)
- You cannot work or receive income during a visa-free stay
- Immigration officers determine actual permitted stay at the port of entry
- Passport must have sufficient remaining validity for the entire stay
- You may be asked for proof of onward travel and sufficient funds
- Review your specific nationality requirements on the By Country pages