Japan’s entry requirements are straightforward for most Western visitors. Here is the complete checklist of what you need, what is optional, and what you no longer need in 2026.
Japan’s entry process was streamlined significantly in 2022 and 2023 as the country reopened to international tourism. The current requirements for visitors from most Western countries are simple: a valid passport, a completed arrival card, and a customs declaration. This guide covers the complete picture.
Quick answer: Most Western visitors need a valid passport, a completed arrival card (recommended: digital via the Visit Japan Web), and a customs declaration: no visa, no health declaration, no vaccination proof. Register on the Visit Japan Web before your flight to speed through immigration.
Passport
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Japan does not formally require 6 months of remaining validity, but airlines often do. Check your carrier’s policy before booking. If your passport expires within 6 months of your departure date for Japan, renew it first.
Visa
Citizens of around 70 countries can enter Japan visa-free for stays of up to 90 days for tourism. This includes the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and all EU member states. See the full Japan visa guide for the complete list of countries and nationalities that require a visa.
Visit Japan Web – Strongly Recommended
Visit Japan Web is Japan’s digital pre-arrival registration system. It digitizes the arrival card and customs declaration into QR codes, which are scanned at the dedicated digital lanes at Narita and Haneda. Registration is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. It takes 15 minutes online before your flight, and meaningfully speeds up immigration on busy arrival mornings.
Register at vjw-lp.digital.go.jp. See the full Visit Japan Web guide for step-by-step instructions.
Arrival Card
All visitors must complete a Japan arrival (disembarkation) card at immigration. This covers your personal details, your accommodation address in Japan, the purpose of your visit, and your departure date. It can be completed digitally via Visit Japan Web or on the paper form distributed on the flight.
Customs Declaration
All visitors must complete a customs declaration covering goods, currency over 1 million yen equivalent, and restricted items. Can be submitted digitally via the Visit Japan Web or on paper. See the Japan customs declaration guide for what must be declared and the Japan what not to bring guide for prohibited items.
Health Requirements – No Longer Applicable
Japan lifted all COVID-related entry requirements in 2023. No vaccination proof, no negative test, no health declaration is required to enter Japan. Any articles stating otherwise are out of date.
Medications
Japan has strict medication rules that catch visitors off guard. Some common Western medications, particularly Adderall and other amphetamine-based ADHD drugs, are absolutely prohibited. Others require advance import permits. Read the Japan medicine rules guide before packing any prescription medication.
Departure Tax
Japan charges a 3,000-yen departure tax per person (up from 1,000 yen, effective July 2026). This is automatically included in your airline ticket; you do not pay it separately at the airport.
At Japanese Immigration – What to Expect
Join the queue for foreign nationals’ immigration at Narita or Haneda. Present your passport and arrival card (paper or QR code). Biometrics (fingerprints and photographs) are taken from all visitors on first entry. The process typically takes 2 to 5 minutes. After immigration and baggage collection, proceed to customs. Most tourists use the green (nothing to declare) lane.
Then see the Narita Airport to Tokyo guide or the Haneda Airport to Tokyo guide for transport into the city.
