After last week’s major announcement that independent tourists can finally visit Japan visa-free from October 11, we’ve all been wondering which countries and regions would be included in the visa exemption list. In the latest border rules update released by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, foreign nationals from 68 countries and regions who wish to enter Japan for a short-term visit (up to 90 days) no longer need to apply for a visa. At the same time, tourists can visit Japan freely for tourism purposes without going through a travel agency.
Starting Tuesday October 11, the following 68 countries and regions no longer need to apply for a visa when travelling to Japan. Do note that the period of stay varies and there may be additional conditions. You’ll find more details here.
Asia
- Brunei
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Hong Kong
- Macao
- Taiwan
North America
- Canada
- United States
Latin America and the Caribbean
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Surinam
- Uruguay
Oceania
- Australia
- New Zealand
Middle East
- Israel
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
Africa
- Lesotho
- Mauritius
- Tunisia
Europe
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- North Macedonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Tourists from China, Russia, CIS countries (including Georgia), the Philippines and Vietnam must still apply for a visa before visiting Japan. For more information, visit here.
Note: these are the countries and regions listed on the MOFA page as of September 26 at 6pm.
Are you travelling to Japan on or after October 11? Read our guide on visa-free travel, valid vaccines, PCR tests and more here.
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