Today we’re going to talk about visas, specifically one that is easier to obtain and allows you to discover Japan for the first time: the tourist visa, also known as the short-term stay visa (短期滞在ビザ).

As of now, over 70 countries can visit Japan with this visa, which only requires a valid passport with more than 6 months of validity.

How can I get this visa?

If you meet the requirement mentioned above, you only need to book your flight, arrive in Japan, and show your passport at Immigration. You will receive the visa on the spot.

Which countries are eligible and how long can I stay in Japan with this visa?

In general, the maximum stay with this visa is 90 days. So, which countries benefit from this?

Europe: Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, North Macedonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Montenegro (Starting from September 1st, 2025)

Asia: Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (Starting from September 1st, 2025)

America: Canada, United States, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru (Starting from July 1st, 2025) Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay.

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.

Africa: Lesotho, Mauritius, Tunisia.

There is also a list of privileged countries that can extend the initial 90-day period up to 180 days:

Mexico, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Some other countries have shorter durations:

• 30 days: Brunei, Qatar
• 15 days: Indonesia, Thailand

For those who can stay 90 days, there's another rule: over the span of 1 year, you can stay up to 180 days total, but non-consecutively, in maximum stays of 90 days.

Example:

• July 1 to September 29, 2025 (90 days)
• Leave and return October 1 to December 30 (another 90 days)

After that, you can’t re-enter until July 1, 2026, because you’ve completed the maximum allowed within a year.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more visa tips or if you’re planning your trip to Japan!