Visa policy of Japan

A double-entry Japanese transit visa on a Chinese passport

Visitors to Japan must obtain a visa from one of the Japanese diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. The Government of Japan currently allows citizens of 67 countries/territories to travel to Japan for tourism or business without having to obtain a visa.[1][2][3]

Visa policy map

Countries which are allowed visa-free entry to Japan

Visa exempt countries

A Japanese temporary visitor landing permission sticker issued at the Haneda Airport on a Taiwan passport

Holders of passports issued by the following 67 countries or regions are visa exempt for visits up to 901 days (unless otherwise noted):[4]

1 - Citizens of Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom may apply for an extension of stay with the Ministry of Justice for up to 6 months.
2 - For the United Kingdom, only British citizens and British National (Overseas) are eligible for visa-free entry.
3 - With biometric passports only.
4 - For holders of Taiwan passports which includes a personal identification number.
5 - only for holders of biometric Indonesian passport who were issued a Visa Waiver Registration Certificate at the Japan Embassy/Consulate in Indonesia.[5]
6 - For holders of HKSAR passport or BN(O) passport.
7 - For holders of MSAR passport.

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Iran, Morocco, Papua New Guinea, Turkmenistan, Vietnam as well as holders of only diplomatic passports of Albania, Georgia, India, Laos and Vatican City do not require a visa to visit Japan.

Special visa policy for some countries

Japan has a special visa policy for nationals of Russia, other CIS countries, and Georgia. [6] Nationals of these countries can not provide their financial guarantees and get a visa on their own - they must apply through touristic companies or residents of Japan. These additional requirements are due to the South Kuril islands dispute - all these countries were members of the USSR. (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are members of the Schengen Area and are covered under the European Union.)

In addition, Japanese MOFA has a special visa policy for nationals of China and the Philippines. [7] [8]

As of 2014 nationals of Philippines and Vietnam travelling in a group through a registered travel agency can obtain entry visas for tourist visits up to 15 days in a simplified process that requires fewer documents than before.[9]

Chinese tourists travelling on approved cruise ships do not require a visa as of April 2015. They must embark and disembark the same specified ships.[10]

Statistics

In 2014 2,871,639 Japanese visas were issued.[11] It is an increase of 54% from 2013 when 1,864,425 visas were issued and the highest number ever recorded.[12]

Most visas were applied for by nationals of the following countries:[13][14][15]

Application from Issued visas in 2014 Share Issued visas in 2013 Issued visas in 2012
 China 2,048,106 71% 971,542 1,112,407
 Philippines 163,386 6% 99,258 74,424
 Indonesia 141,321 5% 122,376 90,498
 Vietnam 96,648 3% 65,305 39,581
 India 66,696 2% 55,622 50,938
 Russia 57,606 2% 54,948 45,468
 Brazil 34,217 1% 28,697 35,049
 Thailand[16] 21,322 1% 183,684 228,528
 United States[17] 19,017 1% N/A N/A
 Republic of Korea[18] 18,861 1% 21,644 22,964
 Malaysia[19] N/A N/A 70,231 115,348
Others 204,459 7% 191,118 171.316

In 2014 most visas were issued for group sightseeing (1,100,495) and individual sightseeing (417,401). There were 18,353 multiple-entry visas for Okinawa and 1,635 multiple-entry visas for three prefectures in Tōhoku.

In 2015 19,737,409 foreign tourists visited Japan.[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
  2. ↑ http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/visa/pdf/Exemptions.pdf retrieved on 2012-04-23
  3. ↑ http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html
  4. ↑ "Visa Information - Japan". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Visa Waiver for Indonesian Nationals Based on a System of E-Passport Registration
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Japan offers visa-free cruises to Chinese tourists
  11. ↑ Statistics for the Number of Visas Issued in 2014
  12. ↑ Statistics for the Number of Visas Issued in 2013
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Visas abolished on 1 July 2013
  17. ↑ Visa exempt country.
  18. ↑ Visa exempt country.
  19. ↑ Visas abolished on 1 July 2013
  20. ↑ 2015 Foreign Visitors & Japanese Departures, Japan National Tourism Organization
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