Whether you need a visa to visit Japan depends almost entirely on your passport — and in 2026 the answer comes with more moving parts than it used to: a visa fee that jumped fivefold in July, an online eVISA that’s open to some nationalities but routed through travel agencies for others, and a pre-travel authorization planned for visa-exempt visitors. This guide sets out who needs what, the documents Japanese missions actually check, and the mistakes that slow applications down.
Step one: are you visa-exempt?
Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions. If yours is on the list and you are visiting for tourism, family visits or short business meetings — and will not do any paid work — you need no visa. The landing permission you get at the airport is 90 days for most exempt nationalities, but only 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand and 30 days for Brunei and Qatar (MOFA — Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)).
The exempt group includes the US, Canada, the UK, the EU/EEA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil and the UAE, among others. Nationals of China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt and Kenya — most of the large outbound markets — need a visa.
Two exemption traps worth knowing:
- “Visa-exempt” never means “can work”. Remunerated activity is excluded under the exemption, even for a few days. Paid gigs, freelance shoots and short contracts need a proper status.
- A 15-day exemption is not a 90-day exemption. Indonesian and Thai visitors planning longer trips must apply for a visa instead.
Step two: eVISA or embassy?
The JAPAN eVISA lets eligible applicants get a single-entry tourism visa of up to 90 days online and show it on a smartphone at check-in and immigration. It is not available for multiple-entry visas, business trips or anything other than tourism (MOFA — The JAPAN eVISA system).
How you reach it depends on where you live. As of mid-2026, MOFA lists two groups:
- Direct online application for non-exempt nationals living in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the US.
- Application through an accredited agency for non-exempt applicants in places including mainland China (stays of 15 or 30 days), India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia and the UAE — and in the Philippines and Vietnam only for package tours (Vietnam’s eVISA stays are 15 days). The list keeps growing, so check MOFA’s eVISA page for your country of residence.
If you are not covered, or you want a multiple-entry visa, you apply the traditional way — usually through an accredited travel agency or a Japan Visa Application Centre, depending on the country. In India, for example, the Consulate-General in Mumbai moved to VFS Global-run JVACs from April 20, 2026, with original documents still submitted in person (Consulate-General of Japan in Mumbai — Visa).
The documents missions check
The exact checklist varies by mission and by who is paying, but the core is consistent:
- Passport with enough validity and blank pages.
- Visa application form and a compliant photo.
- Flight reservation showing flight numbers and dates for both legs.
- Day-by-day itinerary listing dates, main activities, locations, where you’re staying, and a reachable contact number in Japan. Missions expect this to match your flight dates exactly.
- Bank statement or bank certificate if you are funding the trip yourself. Several missions specify at least the most recent month’s statement and state that an employment certificate or payslip cannot substitute for it.
- Guarantor documents if a host in Japan is paying: a letter of guarantee, the guarantor’s residence or ID details, and evidence of their income — plus proof of your relationship if you are visiting family.
Typical weak points are an itinerary that is just a list of city names, a statement showing a large one-off deposit just before applying, and dates that don’t line up across the flight booking, hotel booking and itinerary.
Processing time
MOFA’s standard processing period is five working days from the day after your application is accepted — but it can take “from a couple of weeks to several months” when the mission needs extra confirmation or documents (MOFA — Visa Processing Time). The eVISA is no faster: allow at least five business days after all documents are in. Agencies add their own handling time on top, so apply at least three to four weeks before departure and never book non-refundable travel on the assumption of a five-day turnaround.
Fees from July 1, 2026
Japan raised visa fees for the first time in nearly 50 years. For applications on or after July 1, 2026, a single-entry visa is ¥15,000 and a multiple-entry visa ¥30,000, paid in local currency at the mission’s rate. Some nationalities still pay much less under bilateral arrangements — India is a notable example — so check your own mission’s fee table. Agency and application-centre service charges are added on top. Full detail is in our Japan visa fees breakdown.
Multiple-entry visas for frequent visitors
Several high-volume markets can apply for multiple-entry short-stay visas valid for one to five years, with each stay capped at 90 days (or shorter for some categories). Criteria are set per country: for Indian nationals, for example, they include previous trips to Japan in the last three years, financial capacity, or travel history to Japan and G7 countries. If you visit more than once a year, it is usually worth checking whether you qualify rather than paying for single entries.
Coming next: JESTA
Japan plans to require visa-exempt visitors to obtain an electronic pre-travel authorization, JESTA, similar to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. The launch has been brought forward to fiscal year 2028 (April 2028–March 2029). Nothing is required yet, and fees and the official portal have not been published — be wary of websites taking “JESTA applications” before then. Our travel authorization comparison explains how these systems typically work.
FAQ
How long does a Japan tourist visa take? Japan’s foreign ministry gives a standard processing period of five working days counted from the day after your application is accepted. It can take considerably longer, from a couple of weeks to several months, if the mission needs to verify something or asks for more documents. The JAPAN eVISA also takes at least five business days after all documents are submitted.
How much is a Japan tourist visa in 2026? For applications made on or after July 1, 2026, the standard fee is 15,000 yen for a single-entry visa and 30,000 yen for a multiple-entry visa, payable in local currency at the mission’s rate. Some nationalities pay a reduced fee under bilateral arrangements, so check your own embassy’s fee page.
Can I use the JAPAN eVISA? Only for a single-entry tourism visa of up to 90 days, and only if you are a national or resident of a country or region where the system is open. In some places, including mainland China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, you must apply through an accredited agency, and in the Philippines and Vietnam it is limited to package tours.
Can I extend a Japan tourist stay? Japan has no routine tourist extension. A regional immigration bureau may consider an extension request where there is a compelling reason, such as illness, but it must be filed before your permitted stay ends and approval is not assured. Plan your trip to fit within the period you are granted on arrival.
Do visa-exempt travellers need anything before flying to Japan? Not yet. Japan plans to introduce an electronic travel authorization called JESTA for visa-exempt visitors, expected in fiscal year 2028. Until it launches, visa-exempt travellers only need a valid passport and to meet the normal entry conditions.
Before you apply
See the Japan visa hub for how the tourist route sits alongside Japan’s study and work statuses, and our guide to ties to your home country for the evidence that matters most when a mission weighs a visitor application. This is preparation guidance, not legal advice — requirements differ by mission and change, so confirm with the Japanese embassy or consulate that covers your residence before applying. Join the VisaMet waitlist to have your itinerary and financial documents checked for consistency before you submit.