Visiting Japan & Visa

Foreign nationals who meet ALL of the criteria below are no longer required to obtain a visa.
 

U.S. citizen or foreign nationals of visa exemption countries (See "the list of visa exemption countries and regions") Short-term stay (less than 90 days) Purpose of the visit is either business affairs, visiting Relatives/acquaintances, tourism *The visa exempt measure does NOT apply to COE: Certificate of Eligibility holders, who intend to stay more than 90 days or for activities to undertake revenue.

(New! 2023/3/17)  From March 17, 2023, applicants for a long-term stay visa may submit a copy of Certificate of Eligibility (COE) instead of an original one. 

(New! 2023/3/8) The consulate doesn't accept any inquiries regarding the status of your application. We will contact applicants only if additional documentation is required. 

(New! 2023/1/20) Due to the high volume of visa applications, all visas will be issued only by mail after February 1, 2023. Applicants cannot receive a visa in person at the consulate office. For more details, please refer to “How to Apply for a VISA”.