Japan has the most versatile passport in the world – and that’s a solid fact. The annual Henley Passport Index places the Japanese passport joint first with Singapore in terms of the number of countries it can be used to enter without any sort of visa application. In total, there are 119 Japanese passport visa-free countries.
This stunning score makes the Japanese passport the most powerful in the world. However, this still doesn’t mean you can use it to get in everywhere on earth without additional paperwork.
Navigating the lists of countries that require a visa can be complicated, so we’ve grouped the different countries of the world in terms of ease of access for Japanese citizens.
On this page, you’ll find the full list of countries where no form of visa is required, as well as additional lists covering both eVisas (Electronic Visas) or those where you can get Visas on Arrival (VoAs) at some ports of entry.
We’ve also researched how long you can remain in each country too, all of which should make planning your travels much more straightforward. Read on to learn more!
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What’s the List of Japanese Passport Visa-Free Countries?
There are currently 119 countries – well over half the world – which admit Japanese citizens without a visa. Here’s the full list, along with details of how long you are permitted to remain there.
Visa-Free Country |
Eligible to Visit for (in Months Unless Stated Otherwise) |
|---|---|
| Albania | 3 |
| Andorra | 3 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 |
| Argentina | 3 |
| Armenia | 6 |
| Austria | 3 |
| Bahamas | 3 |
| Barbados | 6 |
| Belarus | 1 |
| Belgium | 3 |
| Belize | 3 |
| Bolivia | 3 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 |
| Botswana | 3 |
| Brazil | 3 |
| Brunei | 14 days |
| Bulgaria | 3 |
| Canada | 6 |
| Chile | 3 |
| China | 15 days |
| Colombia | 6 |
| Costa Rica | 3 |
| Croatia | 3 |
| Cyprus | 3 |
| Czechia | 3 |
| Denmark | 3 |
| Dominica | 6 |
| Dominican Republic | 3 |
| Ecuador | 3 |
| El Salvador | 3 |
| Estonia | 3 |
| Eswatini | 1 |
| Fiji | 4 |
| Finland | 3 |
| France | 3 |
| Gambia | 1 |
| Georgia | 12 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Greece | 3 |
| Grenada | 3 |
| Guatemala | 3 |
| Guyana | 3 |
| Haiti | 3 |
| Honduras | 3 |
| Hungary | 3 |
| Iceland | 3 |
| Indonesia | 1 |
| Ireland | 3 |
| Israel | 3 |
| Italy | 3 |
| Jamaica | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | 1 |
| Kiribati | 1 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2 |
| Laos | 15 days |
| Latvia | 3 |
| Lesotho | 3 |
| Liechtenstein | 3 |
| Lithuania | 3 |
| Luxembourg | 3 |
| Malaysia | 3 |
| Maldives | 1 |
| Malta | 3 |
| Marshall Islands | 3 |
| Mauritius | 3 |
| Mexico | 6 |
| Micronesia | 1 |
| Moldova | 3 |
| Monaco | 3 |
| Mongolia | 1 |
| Montenegro | 3 |
| Morocco | 3 |
| Myanmar | 3 |
| Namibia | 3 |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Nicaragua | 3 |
| North Macedonia | 3 |
| Norway | 3 |
| Oman | 14 days |
| Palau | 1 |
| Panama | 6 |
| Paraguay | 3 |
| Peru | 6 |
| Philippines | 1 |
| Poland | 3 |
| Portugal | 3 |
| Qatar | 1 |
| Romania | 3 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3 |
| Saint Lucia | 6 weeks |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 |
| San Marino | 3 |
| Sao Tome & Principe | 2 weeks |
| Senegal | 3 |
| Serbia | 3 |
| Singapore | 1 |
| Slovakia | 3 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| South Africa | 3 |
| Spain | 3 |
| Suriname | 3 |
| Sweden | 3 |
| Switzerland | 3 |
| Taiwan | 3 |
| Tajikistan | 1 |
| Thailand | 1 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 3 |
| Tunisia | 3 |
| Turkey | 3 |
| Ukraine | 3 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 6 |
| United States of America | 3 |
| Uruguay | 3 |
| Uzbekistan | 1 |
| Vanuatu | 1 |
| Vatican City | 3 |
| Venezuela | 3 |
| Vietnam | 15 days |
The remaining 80 or so countries in the world still need a visa to enter if you’re Japanese.
What Are the eVisa Eligible Countries for Japanese Passport Holders?
The good news is that there is an expanding list of countries that allow you to prepare in advance and obtain an e-Visa (Electronic Visa) online before you travel. This is always the quickest option if it’s available.
To get an e-Visa, you’ll always have to complete the documentation with the correct details of your flight and stay, as well as some personal information. There will always be a processing fee. At Byevisa we specialise in this process and can help you get it right.
Japanese citizens are able to visit the following 32 destinations with an eVisa.
eVisa Country Eligible |
Eligible to Visit for (in Months Unless Stated Otherwise) |
|---|---|
| Angola | 1 |
| Australia | 3 |
| Azerbaijan | 1 |
| Bahrain | 14 days |
| Benin | 30 days |
| Cambodia | 1 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 3 |
| Djibouti | 1 |
| Egypt | 1 |
| Ethiopia | 3 |
| Gabon | 3 |
| Guinea | 3 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 3 |
| India | 2 |
| Kenya | 3 |
| Kuwait | 3 |
| Madagascar | 3 |
| Malawi | 3 |
| New Zealand | 3 |
| Oman | 1 |
| Pakistan | 1 |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 |
| Russia | 16 days |
| Rwanda | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 |
| South Korea | 3 |
| South Sudan | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 |
| Tanzania | 3 |
| Uganda | 3 |
| Zambia | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 |
What Countries Are Japanese Citizens Eligible to Visit with a Visa on Arrival (VoA)?
A Visa on Arrival (VoA) is an entry permit obtained at the actual border of a country, usually when you get off the plane. There’s usually a fee involved, though, and you may have to wait in long queues at customs to submit the paperwork. Japanese passport holders are able to use this system for the following 21 eligible countries.
Visa on Arrival Country |
Eligible to Visit for (in Months Unless Stated Otherwise) |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 1 |
| Cabo Verde | 1 |
| Comoros | 45 days |
| Iran | 1 |
| Iraq | 2 |
| Jordan | 1 |
| Lebanon | 1 |
| Maldives | 1 |
| Marshall Islands | 3 |
| Mauritania | 1 |
| Mozambique | 1 |
| Nepal | 3 |
| Samoa | 2 |
| Seychelles | 3 |
| Sierra Leone | 1 |
| Solomon Islands | 3 |
| Somalia | 1 |
| Timor-Leste | 1 |
| Togo | 7 days |
| Tonga | 1 |
| Tuvalu | 1 |
Make the Most of the Visa-Free Countries for Japan’s Passport!
So there you have it – the full list of visa-free countries for the Japanese passport!
Once upon a time in history, Japan was known as the most ‘closed’ country in the world to visitors, but as you can see that era is very long passed! These days, out of the nearly 200 countries in the world, Japanese citizens can get access to an incredible 172 using an eVisa, VoA or no visa at all.
Of the other countries that require an embassy visit, most are in some less accessible parts of Africa. In fact, travel to every country in Oceania, Europe, or South America falls within one of the easier categories. Except Cuba, the whole of North America is also open to citizens from Japan on the same visa-free basis. No wonder Japan ranks so high in the Henley Passport Index!
With the Japanese passport being so powerful, what’s holding you back from making this year the one you take the trip of a lifetime?
