Visa requirements for Japanese citizens are the rules and conditions each Japanese traveler must meet when making a trip abroad. Luckily, Japanese citizens can enjoy being holders of the strongest passport for international travels in the whole world. Having visa-free access to 112 countries, eVisa option when visiting 35 countries, a Visa on Arrival in 41 countries, and only 25 countries requiring an Embassy-issued visa, Japanese passport holders can travel the world pretty much stress-free. All short-term visa types, i.e., eVisas, Visas on Arrival, and visa-free entry, allow citizens of Japan to stay abroad for different periods of time; however, usually, the maximum stay can be up to 90 days long. The exact length of the stay depends on the selected destination and the specific visa type chosen. When it comes to the purpose of usage, short-term visas listed above can be used for leisure, business, and transit. While the Embassy-issued visas may be used for both short and long-term stays abroad, depending on which specific Embassy visa type should one apply for. These types of visas can also serve for working, studying, or joining a significant other abroad. Find further information on the main visa types applicable for Japanese citizens upon making international travels. Electronic visa An electronic visa is a document that allows people to enter a country in order to pursue business, tourism, or other activities. These visas are issued electronically by the Embassy of the country in question; therefore, are available entirely online. List of countries offering eVisas for Japanese citizens Angola Australia Azerbaijan Bahrain Benin Cambodia Canada Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Ivory Coast Kenya Kuwait Madagascar Malawi New Zealand Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia South Sudan Sri Lanka Tajikistan Tanzania Uganda USA Vietnam Zambia Zimbabwe 35 countries make it possible for citizens of Japan to get their visas online without visiting an Embassy once. The only thing travelers must do is complete three online application steps that include filling the application form, covering the issuing fee, and checking their email box for the approved document. eVisas usually get processed within 72 hours from submitting the form online and, once approved, allow its holder to stay abroad for either 30, 60, or 90 days. Japan citizens can enjoy all leisure, business, or transit-related travels using the eVisa system, e.g., going on a relaxing getaway, going on a safari trip, meeting with family and friends, doing business abroad, attending meetings, trade fairs, conferences, seminars, or simply taking a layover while reaching another final destination abroad. Visa on Arrival Visas on Arrival are a way to get into countries where you do not have to have a pre-arranged visa. It is possible to get this type of visa at some borders, airports, and seaports when you arrive in the host country. However, this type of visa is also often connected with the need to wait in long lines after arrival and stress connected with traveling unprepared. List of countries offering a Visa on Arrival for Japanese citizens Angola Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Cambodia Comoros Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Guinea-Bissau India Iran Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Madagascar Malawi The Maldives The Marshall Islands Mauritania Mozambique Nepal Pakistan Palau Papua New Guinea Rwanda Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone The Solomon Islands Somalia Sri Lanka Tanzania Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Tuvalu Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe 41 countries offer a Visa on Arrival option for Japanese citizens to use upon visiting their territory. This means that citizens of Japan do not need to handle their travel authorization documents prior to the planned trip but after arriving at the selected destination instead. Now to get a Visa on Arrival, travelers need to follow through with a few steps. The first one should be completed before departing, and that is to check if there are any required supporting documents to prepare. Some countries may require foreign travelers to validate the purpose of their visit with a few documents, such as hotel bookings for the stay, a return ticket, or proof of having sufficient funds for the trip. If there are any documents required, Japan passport holders should make sure to prepare them before departing. The next step takes place after arrival and consists of going to the closest border control checkpoint to ask for a Visa on Arrival application form to fill. The application form should then be carefully completed with appropriate and correct information and, later on, submitted to the borders officials. The following steps may include payment of the visa issuing fee, which is often required to be done in cash and in local currency. Lastly, Japanese citizens should simply wait for their travel authorization documents to be issued before they get entry to the country they want to visit. Approved Visa on Arrival serves perfectly for short-term trips relating to leisure, business, or transit, including vacation, family visits, attending conferences, taking part in trade fairs, or simply taking a stop-over in one of the VoA countries. Embassy visa An Embassy visa is a document that allows individuals to travel into the country for which it was issued. Embassy visas are the traditional paper travel authorization documents that require travelers to go through often complicated and lengthy application processes. List of countries that require Japanese citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival Afghanistan Algeria Bhutan Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon The Central African Republic Chad The Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo Cuba Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ghana Liberia Libya Mali Nauru Niger Nigeria North Korea Sudan Syria Turkmenistan Yemen Only 25 countries still make it obligatory for citizens of Japan to present a valid Embassy-issued visa upon their arrival. That is why Japanese passport holders should prepare and handle their visas a few weeks before departing to any of the above-listed countries. When it comes to the actual application process for Embassy visas, it may differ depending on the specific Embassy visa type selected, especially in regards to the required documents. However, generally, Embassy-issued visas require travelers to collect a number of supporting documents validating the planned trip abroad, fill an application form, and submit the complete paperwork at an Embassy or Consulate of the country to be visited. There may be additional steps, such as taking a visa interview or covering the fees for visa issuing, but that depends on the specific Embassy visa type selected. When it comes to the processing time, it may take even up to a few weeks; that is why Embassy visa applications should be submitted well ahead of the planned departure date. Visa-free countries 112 countries currently grant Japanese citizens a visa-free entry. Visiting any of these destinations is as effortless as possible since there is no need to handle any type of visa for the stay. Check list of visa-free countries for Japanese citizens. Even though there is no need to handle a visa and the process of visiting visa-free destinations is quite simple, there still may be some documents to collect prior to the planned trip. These may include proof of having hotel bookings for the stay, a valid passport/ID, proof of having sufficient funds for the trip, or a copy of a return ticket home. Traveling visa-free is dedicated for short-term visits abroad that relate to leisure, business, or transit. This means that Japanese citizens can easily explore the above-listed destinations, whether that would be for up to even a three-month stay or a one-day transit trip, visa-free travel allows them to visit these countries easily, even if your reason for the trip is handling business duties abroad!