Visa policy of Japan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Twofortnights (talk | contribs) at 10:55, 3 January 2018 (that link quite clearly states the same thing - no more special regime since 1 Jan). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

A single-entry Japanese temporary visitor visa (New design since 2016)
A double-entry Japanese transit visa on a Chinese passport (Old design)

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 68 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
The Japanese temporary visitor landing permission stickers and departed stamps issued at the Narita Airport and Naha Airport on a British passport

Holders of passports issued by the following 66 countries or regions are visa exempt for visits up to 901 days (unless otherwise noted):[1][2]

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 Nationals (Overseas) are eligible for visa-free entry.
3 - With biometric passports or machine readable passports only.
4 - With biometric passports in compliance with ICAO standards only.
5 - For holders of Taiwan passports which includes a personal identification number.
6 - For holders of HKSAR passport.
7 - For holders of MSAR passport.

Holders of passports pre-registered at the Japan Embassy/Consulate issued by these 2 countries can visit without a visa:[4][5]

Non-ordinary passports

  Japan
  Visa free access for diplomatic and service category passports
  Visa free access for diplomatic passports

Holders of diplomatic or service category passports of Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Morocco, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Samoa, Turkmenistan, Vietnam as well as holders of only diplomatic passports of Albania, Bangladesh, Georgia, India, Mongolia, Ukraine and Vatican City do not require a visa to visit Japan.

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the "JPN" code on the reverse that it is valid for travel to Japan can enter visa-free for business trips for up to 90 days.[1]

ABTCs are issued to nationals of:[29]

Special visa policy for some countries

Japan had a special visa policy for nationals of some former Soviet countries who could not provide their financial guarantees and get a visa on their own but instead they had to apply through an approved travel agency or be invited by a resident or a citizen of Japan.[30] These requirements were lifted for citizens of Russia on 1 January 2017,[31] Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on 5 June 2017,[32][33] Armenia on 1 September 2017,[34] Azerbaijan on 1 December 2017[35] and Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine on 1 January 2018.[36][37]

In addition, Japanese MOFA has special visa policies for nationals of China and the Philippines. Nationals of these countries also must apply through an accredited travel agent or be invited by a Japanese citizen or a resident of Japan.[38][39]

As of 2014 nationals of the 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.[40] Moreover, nationals of India, the Philippines and Vietnam can obtain multiple-entry visas providing that they have visited Japan and other G7 countries or they have "sufficient financial capability".[41][42]

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.[43]

Japan was reportedly set to ease visa requirements for visitors from key markets, such as India, China and Vietnam, starting in the summer of 2016.[44] A new wave of visa liberalization policies for Chinese nationals started from 17 October 2016,[45] for Indian nationals started from 1 January 2018.[46]

Entry Refusal

Admission and transit is refused to nationals of  North Korea, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight.

Statistics

In 2015 4,768,286 Japanese visas were issued.[47] It is an increase of 66% from 2014 when 2,871,639 visas were issued and the highest number ever recorded.[48]

Most visas were applied for by nationals of the following countries:[49][50][51]

Application from Issued visas in 2015 Share Issued visas in 2014 Share Issued visas in 2013 Issued visas in 2012
 China 3,780,773 79% 2,048,106 71% 971,542 1,112,407
 Philippines 225,676 5% 163,386 6% 99,258 74,424
 Indonesia 162,273 3% 141,321 5% 122,376 90,498
 Vietnam 139,236 3% 96,648 3% 65,305 39,581
 India 74,088 2% 66,696 2% 55,622 50,938
 Russia 47,813 1% 57,606 2% 54,948 45,468
 Brazil 38,798 1% 34,217 1% 28,697 35,049
 Thailand[52] 20,857 1% 21,322 1% 183,684 228,528
 South Korea[53] 20,399 0% 18,861 1% 21,644 22,964
 United States[54] 19,349 0% 19,017 1% N/A N/A
 Malaysia[55] N/A N/A N/A N/A 70,231 115,348
Others 239,026 5% 204,459 7% 191,118 171.316

In 2015 most visas were issued for group sightseeing (1,957,498) and individual sightseeing (1,126,209). There were 62,052 multiple-entry visas for Okinawa and 10,500 multiple-entry visas for three prefectures in Tōhoku.

Most visitors arriving to Japan were from the following countries of nationality:[56][57][58][59]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
  3. ^ VISA/Residing in Japan
  4. ^ Visa Waiver for Indonesian Nationals Based on a System of E-Passport Registration
  5. ^ Japan-UAE Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Working Dinner
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/tunisia/data.html
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ [3]
  10. ^ [4]
  11. ^ Under Visa Agreement on 1958 [5]
    Previous visa-free agreement was applied from 1 Sep 1928 until the Anschluss 1938 under Visa agreement on 1927 [6]
  12. ^ [7]
  13. ^ [8]
  14. ^ "UK Treaties Online".
  15. ^ Under Agreement concerning Reciprocal Waiving of Passport Visas on 1 September 1966
  16. ^ http://www.hugtakasafn.utn.stjr.is/hugtak.adp?id=61867
  17. ^ Under visa agreement on 16 August 1974
  18. ^ Under visa agreement on 19 November 1975
  19. ^ [9]
  20. ^ ブルガリアへの入国・滞在に必要な手続き, Entry into Bulgaria: Necessary procedure for stay, Bulgarian Embassy in Tōkyō Template:Ja
  21. ^ [10]
  22. ^ [11]
  23. ^ [12]
  24. ^ [13]
  25. ^ [14]
  26. ^ Was applied under Visa exemption agreement on 1974
  27. ^ [15]
  28. ^ a b [16]
  29. ^ ABTC Summary
  30. ^ Nationals of Russian, CIS countries, or Georgia who wish to come to Japan for a short-term stay
  31. ^ [17]
  32. ^ [18]
  33. ^ [19]
  34. ^ [20]
  35. ^ [21]
  36. ^ http://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_001844.html
  37. ^ http://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_001786.html
  38. ^ Nationals of China who wish to come to Japan for a short-term stay
  39. ^ Nationals of Philippines who wish to come to Japan for a short-term stay
  40. ^ Japan eases visa requirements for Vietnamese going on organized tours
  41. ^ Application Procedures for Multiple Visa for Nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam
  42. ^ Application Procedures for Multiple Visa for Nationals of India
  43. ^ Japan offers visa-free cruises to Chinese tourists
  44. ^ Japan to ease visa rules this summer
  45. ^ Japan to relax visa rules for Chinese visitors
  46. ^ [22]
  47. ^ Statistics for the Number of Visas Issued in 2015
  48. ^ Statistics for the Number of Visas Issued in 2014
  49. ^ [23]
  50. ^ [24]
  51. ^ [25]
  52. ^ Visas abolished on 1 July 2013
  53. ^ Visa exempt country.
  54. ^ Visa exempt country.
  55. ^ Visas abolished on 1 July 2013
  56. ^ 2016 Foreign Visitors & Japanese Departures
  57. ^ 2015 Foreign Visitors & Japanese Departures, Japan National Tourism Organization
  58. ^ Visitors & Japanese Departures, Japan National Tourism Organization
  59. ^ Visitors & Japanese Departures, Japan National Tourism Organization

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Visa_policy_of_Japan&oldid=818409928"