VISA & Borders Q&A -Most popular-

2023/5/8

Q1: I am Greek. Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
A1: Greeks are NOT required a visa for a short term stay up to 90 days and for purposes without remuneration, such as company missions, business meetings, conferences, acquaintance/relative visits  or tourism.
Greeks who intend stay for a long-term (more than 90 days) and/or to carry out an activity with remuneration in Japan, should obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” through their host person/organization in Japan at the local Immigration Bureau (Ministry of Justice) of the host’s base prior to applying for a visa at the Embassy.

 

Q2: I am a foreign national other than Greek. Do I need a visa to enter Japan?
A2:  Foreign nationals with a so-called “short-term visa exemption” as on the LIST HERE are NOT required a visa for a stay up to 90 days and for purposes without remuneration, such as company missions, business meetings, conferences, acquaintance/relative visits  or tourism.
However, foreign nationals other than Greeks on the above LIST, who intend to stay for a long-term (more than 90 days) and/or to carry out an activity with remuneration in Japan, should obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” through their host person/organization in Japan at the local Immigration Bureau (Ministry of Justice) of the host’s base prior to applying for a visa at the Embassy.
Foreign nationals NOT on the LIST HERE, who do NOT grant a so-called “short-term visa exemption”, MUST obtain a visa for any kind of purpose and length of stay in Japan. Moreover, in case they intend to stay for a long-term (more than 90 days) and/or to carry out an activity with remuneration in Japan, they should obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” through their host person/organization in Japan at the local Immigration Bureau (Ministry of Justice) of the host’s base prior to applying for a visa at the Embassy.


Q3: Does my passport need to have a minimum validity period to enter Japan?
A3: No. No minimum validity period of passport is required to enter Japan.
 

Q4: Are there COVID-19 related measures at the borders of Japan?
A4:
 As of 29th April 2023, 0 a.m. local time in Japan, the measure of presenting a COVID-19 booster vaccination certificate or a PCR negative test result at the Japanese borders has been lifted.
All travellers are recommended to register to "Visit Japan Web" for immigration and toll declaration prior to their journey (not obligatory). 
Login to “Visit Japan Web” here: https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/.
The “Visit Japan Web” is an online service for entry procedures, which include immigration and toll declarations. The immigration register applies to new entries of foreign nationals only and not to re-entering foreign nationals or Japanese nationals.
     After registration to Visit Japan Web, a QR code is issued, with which the procedures at Japanese airport can be faster.
CLICK HERE for further details of border measures.

Consular Section
Embassy of Japan in Greece
Ethnikis Antistaseos 46, 152 31 Halandri
Tel: 210 670 9910 /11
Monday-Friday, 09.00-16.00, except holidays
consular@at.mofa.go.jp