Visit Japan Web is Japan’s pre-arrival registration system. It is not mandatory, but it makes immigration significantly faster. Here is how it works, who should use it, and how to register.
Visit Japan Web(VJW) is an online system operated by Japan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs that allows visitors to pre-register their arrival card, customs declaration, and, where applicable, duty-free purchases before boarding their flight. It replaced the paper forms once filled out on the plane and is now the standard digital entry process for Japan.
The question most travellers ask, Do I have to use it? The short answer is no, paper forms are still accepted at Japanese airports. But completing the Visit Japan Web before you fly saves meaningful time at immigration and is particularly useful on busy arrival days when the immigration hall is crowded.
Quick answer: Visit Japan Web is not mandatory in 2026, but it is strongly recommended. The registration takes around 15 minutes online before your trip. At immigration, showing your QR code moves you through the digital lanes faster than paper forms. Register at vjw-lp.digital.go.jp.
What Visit Japan Web Actually Does
VJW digitizes three forms that Japan has historically processed on paper at the border:
- Arrival card (disembarkation card): Basic information about yourself, your itinerary, and your purpose of visit. Required for all visitors regardless of nationality.
- Customs declaration: Declaring what you are bringing into Japan, goods, currency above certain thresholds, and restricted items. See the Japan customs declaration guide for the full details on what needs to be declared.
- Duty-free purchase record: For visitors who made purchases in Japan under the consumption tax exemption scheme, which is relevant mainly on departure rather than arrival.
Once registered, you receive a QR code for each form. At Narita, Haneda, and other major airports, dedicated digital immigration lanes read QR codes directly, bypassing the paper-form queue.
Is Visit Japan Web Mandatory?
No. As of 2026, Visit Japan Web registration is optional for all nationalities. Paper arrival cards and customs declaration forms are still distributed on the plane and accepted at all Japanese airports. You will not be refused entry for not using VJW.
However, during peak arrival periods, long-haul flights landing at Narita or Haneda on busy weekend mornings, the digital lanes move noticeably faster than the paper-form queues. For most international visitors, the 15 minutes of pre-registration is worth it.
Who Needs to Use this site? Japan Web.
Everyone arriving in Japan can use VJW; it is not restricted by nationality. It is particularly useful for:
- Visitors on long-haul flights who want to minimize immigration wait time
- Travellers arriving at Narita or Haneda during peak morning arrival windows (typically 8 am to 11 am)
- Anyone who has checked baggage and wants to clear customs quickly
- Travellers who find filling out forms on a plane inconvenient
Visitors arriving at smaller regional airports (Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo New Chitose) may find the paper process just as fast, as immigration lanes are less congested.
How to Register on the Visit Japan Web
- Step 1: Go to vjw-lp.digital.go.jp and create an account using your email address.
- Step 2: Enter your passport details, flight information, and accommodation address for your first night in Japan.
- Step 3: Complete the arrival card section with your address in Japan (hotel name and address is fine), the purpose of your visit (tourism), and your planned departure date.
- Step 4: Complete the customs declaration and answer the questions about the goods you are carrying. Most tourists will declare nothing. See the customs declaration guide and the “what not to bring to Japan” guide for items that require a declaration.
- Step 5: Save the QR codes to your phone. Take screenshots of th; you may not have internet access at immigration.
The process takes around 15 minutes. You can register up to several weeks before your flight and update information if your plans change.
At the Airport: How It Works
On arrival at Narita or Haneda, follow the signs for the Visit Japan Web or digital lanes at immigration. Show your QR code to the officer or scan it at the automated gate. Customs QR codes are displayed at the customs desk upon exiting baggage claim.
If you forgot to register or prefer paper forms, they are distributed on the plane and processed in the standard immigration lanes. The process is slightly slower but perfectly functional.
Visit Japan Web vs K-ETA
Visit Japan Web covers arrival registration for Japan. Korea has a separate system, the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), which has been suspended for most Western nationalities as of 2026. If you are travelling to both countries on the same trip, see the Korea visa guide for the current K-ETA status.
Japan Entry Rules in 2026
Most Western visitors can enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. See the full Japan visa guide for the complete list of visa-exempt countries, any 2026 updates to entry requirements, and what to do if your country requires a visa.
Japan also introduced an updated departure tax of 3,000 yen per person in July 2026 (up from 1,000 yen). This is automatically included in your international airline ticket; you do not pay it separately at the airport.
