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Home  Useful Resources List |
 Guide to Japanese Visas |
 Japan Travelling |
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| Guide to Japanese Visas |
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| Exemption of Visas |
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| Visas are not required when applying for landing permission at a port of entry in Japan in the following cases: |
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| 1. Nationals of Countries and Areas with Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan |
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| As of February 2008, Japan had taken measures concerning the waiver of visa requirements with 62 countries and regions, as shown in the accompanying table. Nationals of these countries and regions holding valid passports can apply for landing permission for short-term stays for such purposes as sightseeing and business trips without obtaining a visa. However, cases involving paid activities in Japan are excluded. Also, the waiver of visa requirements are not applicable in the case of stays exceeding the period of time stipulated in each arrangement. In such cases, it is necessary for foreigners to obtain a visa. |
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| 2. Those Having Obtained Re-entry Permission |
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If foreigners who already reside in Japan, having acquired a status of residence for a long-term stay, such as for work, wish to leave the country temporarily during the period for which they have received permission to stay in Japan, they can obtain a re-entry permit before departing Japan. This permit enables them to re-enter Japan without having to obtain a new visa, as long as their re-entry is within the valid period of the permit. For such foreigners, the procedures for entering Japan are much simpler than the usual landing procedures.
Applications for re-entry permits can be made at the nearest immigration authority under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. When re-entry permission is granted, the permit is stamped on the foreigner's passport.
In principle, re-entry permission is valid for only one time. However, foreigners who have to leave Japan frequently can apply for multiple re-entry permits.
It is not possible to obtain re-entry permission at an embassy or consulate after departure from Japan. However, if a foreigner who has departed Japan after acquiring re-entry permission is unable to return to Japan before expiration of the permit for unavoidable reasons, such as illness, the foreigner can apply at an embassy or consulate for an extension of the re-entry permit's period of validity. |
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| List of Countries and Regions That Have Visa Exemption Arrangements with Japan |
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| Areas |
Countries and regions |
Term of residence |
| Asia |
Singapore |
3 months or less |
| Brunei |
14 days or less |
| Hong Kong (BNO, SAR passport) |
90 days or less |
| Republic of Korea |
90 days or less |
| Taiwan |
90 days or less |
| Macau (SAR passport) |
90 days or less |
| North America |
Canada |
3 months or less |
| U.S.A |
90 days or less |
| Latin America and Caribbean |
Mexico |
6 months or less |
| Argentina |
3 months or less |
| Bahamas |
3 months or less |
| Chile |
3 months or less |
| Costa Rica |
3 months or less |
| Dominican Rep. |
3 months or less |
| El Salvador |
3 months or less |
| Guatemala |
3 months or less |
| Honduras |
3 months or less |
| Suriname |
3 months or less |
| Uruguay |
3 months or less |
| Barbados |
90 days or less |
| Middle East |
Israel |
3 months or less |
| Turkey |
3 months or less |
| Oceania |
Australia* |
90 days or less |
| New Zealand |
90 days or less |
| Africa |
Lesotho |
3 months or less |
| Mauritius |
3 months or less |
| Tunisia |
3 months or less |
| Europe |
Austria |
6 months or less |
| Germany |
6 months or less |
| Ireland |
6 months or less |
| Liechtenstein |
6 months or less |
| Switzerland |
6 months or less |
| United Kingdom |
6 months or less |
| Belgium |
3 months or less |
| Croatia |
3 months or less |
| Cyprus |
3 months or less |
| Denmark |
3 months or less |
| Finland |
3 months or less |
| France |
3 months or less |
| Greece |
3 months or less |
| Iceland |
3 months or less |
| Italy |
3 months or less |
| Luxembourg |
3 months or less |
| Macedonia |
3 months or less |
| Malta |
3 months or less |
| Netherlands |
3 months or less |
| Norway |
3 months or less |
| Portugal |
3 months or less |
| San Marino |
3 months or less |
| Slovenia |
3 months or less |
| Spain |
3 months or less |
| Sweden |
3 months or less |
| Andorra |
90 days or less |
| Bulgaria |
90 days or less |
| Czech Rep. |
90 days or less |
| Estonia |
90 days or less |
| Hungary |
90 days or less |
| Latvia |
90 days or less |
| Lithuania |
90 days or less |
| Monaco |
90 days or less |
| Poland |
90 days or less |
| Slovakia |
90 days or less |
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Notes: In the case of the waiver of visa requirements of up to three months or 90 days, foreigners are granted upon landing a temporary visitor status for a period of 90 days (15 days for Brunei).
Nationals of countries and regions that have taken measures concerning the waiver of visa requirements with Japan for stays of up to six months in principle are granted permission to stay in Japan for 90 days at the time of landing. Nationals of these countries and regions who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days must apply at their nearest immigration authority in Japan for an extension of their period of stay. |
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In the case of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iran, the waiver of visa requirements is temporarily suspended.
In the case of Malaysia, Peru and Colombia, it is recommended to obtain visa.
In the case of China, visas are not required only for students of elementary, junior and senior high school in China for the purpose of school excursion staying in Japan less than 30 days.
In the case of Tunisia, even under the current visa waiver arrangement, it is recommended to obtain visa for Tunisian nationals who make short-stay in Japan during the period between April 1st and July 9th, 2008. |
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| 3. Special Cases of Landing |
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If the passengers of an airplane or ship that lands at an airport or seaport in Japan wish to enter Japan temporarily for shopping or rest, they can receive special landing permission from the immigration authority at the port of arrival even if they do not possess a visa.
In principle, applications for such special landing permission are made not by the foreigners wishing to enter Japan themselves but by the captain of their airplane or ship or by the carrier (transportation company) operating the flight or voyage. When special landing permission is granted, the foreigners concerned are not given any status of residence or period of stay, but restrictions on landing time and scope of movement are stipulated as conditions for permission. Also, special landing permission is not granted if the applicant will be returning to his or her place of departure (for example, coming from Hawaii and then returning to Hawaii).
Please note that these permits are for very short stays, they cannot be extended, and the route to be followed in transit, etc. is subject to restrictions. If foreigners wish to travel in Japan, they are recommended to acquire a transit visa or a short-term visa before coming to Japan. |
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- Permission for Landing at Port of Call
Special dispensation, called a shore pass, may be granted to foreign passengers aboard an airplane or ship that is proceeding to another destination via Japan who wish to enter Japan temporarily for shopping or rest. A shore pass permits such foreigners to enter Japan as long as they remain in the vicinity of their port of call (in principle, the municipality in which the port of call is located) and for a period of less than 72 hours.
- Permission for Landing in Transit
This dispensation is called a transit pass. There are two types: permission for landing in transit for sightseeing and permission for landing in transit for departure at a neighboring port.
(i) Permission for landing in transit for sightseeing
Permission is granted to the foreign passengers of a ship arriving at a Japanese port of entry who wish to travel in Japan for sightseeing purposes and then rejoin the same ship at another port of entry in Japan. This permission is valid for up to 15 days.
(ii) Permission for landing in transit for departure at a neighboring port
Permission is granted to foreign passengers of an airplane or ship proceeding to another country via Japan who wish to enter Japan from their first port of call and then move to another port of call in a nearby area for departure. This permission is granted when a foreign passenger wishes to depart Japan within three days.
In principle, another port of call in a nearby area is regarded as a port that is under the jurisdiction of the same regional immigration bureau, or the immigration bureau of a neighboring region. (For example, Narita Airport to Haneda Airport or Narita to Nagoya Airport are acceptable, but Narita Airport to Kansai Airport is not allowed.)
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| Criteria of Visa Issuance |
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| In principle, Japanese visa will be issued to an applicant, when he/she fills all of the following requirements and the issuance is regarded as reasonable. |
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| a) The applicant possesses a valid passport and is entitled for the re-entry to a country of which he/she is a national or citizen or a country of his/her residence. |
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| b) All submitted documents shall be authentic, completed and satisfactory. |
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| c) The activities to be engaged in while in Japan, or the civil status or the position of the applicant, and the period of stay shall meet the requirements for the status of residence and the period of stay stipulated in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951. hereinafter referred to as "the Act") |
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| d) The applicant shall not fall under any of the items of Article 5, Paragraph1 of the Act. |
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| source: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html |
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