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Japan Visa for German Citizens

Complete visa guide for German passport holders — requirements, documents, fees, and application process

German passport holders enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business trips, visiting family, or transit — no visa application needed at a Japanese embassy before travel. You still need a valid passport, return or onward ticket, and proof of sufficient funds at immigration. For stays beyond 90 days, paid work, or long-term study, apply for a visa in advance (see below).

✅

Visa Required

Visa-Free (90 days)

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eVisa

Not Needed

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Embassies

5 locations

Visa-Free Entry Conditions for German Citizens

✓Valid German passport
✓Return or onward ticket
✓Proof of sufficient funds
✓For work/long-stay: Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Long-term visas for Germany citizens moving to Japan

Study, work, family reunification, permanent residence and other stays longer than 90 days. These always require a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a visa, regardless of visa-free status for tourism.

Where to Apply

🏛️ Embassy & Consulates

BerlinMunichDüsseldorfFrankfurtHamburg

Visa pathways for German applicants

Visa-free short stay (up to 90 days)

Covers tourism, business meetings, conferences, family visits, and transit. Carry passport, return/onward ticket, hotel booking or host address, and funds. No paid work, no enrollment in long-term school on this status. Extension is not possible for tourism — you must leave Japan and re-enter, and immigration is increasingly strict on back-to-back "visa run" entries. Note: Japan is not part of Schengen, so your Schengen days do not affect your Japan allowance.

Long-term stay (work, study, spouse) — requires COE

You cannot convert a tourist entry to a work/study/spouse visa inside Japan. The Japanese employer, school, or spouse files a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the Immigration Services Agency (1–3 months). Once issued, bring the COE plus application to the Japanese embassy or consulate serving your region; the visa sticker is typically ready in 3–7 working days.

Frequently asked questions — German

Do Germany citizens need a visa for Japan?▾

No for tourism or short business stays up to 90 days — your passport is enough at Japan immigration. Yes for paid work, enrollment in a Japanese school, or joining a spouse: those require a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) filed from Japan, then a visa sticker at the embassy before travel.

Can I extend my 90-day stay in Japan?▾

Not for tourism in practice. Japan does not extend short-stay entries except for exceptional circumstances (illness, missed flight). The workaround of leaving and re-entering (“visa run”) is increasingly flagged by immigration — back-to-back short stays risk denied entry. If you need longer, apply for the right long-term visa in advance.

Do my Schengen days count toward the Japan 90-day limit?▾

No. Japan is not part of the Schengen Area, so time spent in Schengen countries is completely independent of your Japan visa-free allowance. Each 90-day Japan stay is counted on its own on entry by Japanese immigration.

Tips for Germany Applicants

💡90-day visa-free entry (extendable to 6 months — apply at Regional Immigration Bureau before 90 days expire)
💡German citizens eligible for Working Holiday visa (ages 18–30)
💡Strong academic exchange — many DAAD/JSPS research partnerships
💡Multiple consulates across Germany for visa applications

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