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Japan Visa-Free Entry for British Citizens

British citizens can visit Japan visa-free for 90 days and extend their stay in Japan to up to 6 months in total.

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Japan Visa for British citizens

Visa-free for tourism, business meetings and family visits of up to 90 days.

visa free

British citizens can visit Japan without a visa for 90 days and extend the stay to 6 months in Japan.

Visa-free stay

90 days, up to 6 months

Extend past 90 days at a regional immigration bureau.

Entry fee

Free

No visa application is needed.

Departure tax

¥3,000

Charged when you leave, usually in your ticket.

Paid work

Not allowed

Visa-free stays do not cover paid activities.

Longer stays

Extension possible

Apply before your 90 days run out.

Arrival forms

Visit Japan Web

Fill in immigration and customs forms online.

Biometrics

Fingerprints and photo

Taken at the immigration check when you land.

Insurance

Highly recommended

Japan advises travel medical insurance for visitors.

Check Your Japan Entry Rules

Check your passport, your stay plan and Visit Japan Web before you fly to Japan.

Get started for free

Start with a free eligibility check. You pay after you fill in the application form.

Last checked in October 2026. Sources: Exemption of visa for short-term stay (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan), Visit Japan Web (Digital Agency), Japan's international tourist tax is increasing (JNTO)

Japan Visa documents for British citizens

Passport Valid for Your Stay

Valid for the whole time you are in Japan, with one blank page for the landing stamp. Six months of validity is not required.

Return or Onward Ticket

Immigration may ask to see it. Arrange to leave Japan within your permitted stay, or within the extended stay if granted.

Short-Term Purpose

Tourism, business meetings, conferences or visiting relatives or friends. Income-earning activities need a visa.

Extension Before Day 90

To stay beyond 90 days, apply to a regional immigration services office in Japan before your permitted stay expires.

Arrival Card and Customs Form

Every foreign visitor submits the ED card. Register it with the customs declaration on Visit Japan Web or fill in paper forms.

Japan Visa application steps for British citizens

Your journey to the Japan in 4 easy steps.

Check Your Passport

It must be valid for your whole stay in Japan, with one blank page for the landing stamp. Japan has no 6-month rule.

Plan Your Stay

You get 90 days on landing. For up to 6 months in total, apply for an extension in Japan before the 90 days end.

Use Visit Japan Web

Register your arrival card (ED card) and customs declaration on Visit Japan Web, the free government service, or use paper forms.

Show Your Passport

At immigration you give fingerprints and a face photo. Keep a return or onward ticket ready, as officers may ask for it.

Japan Visa cost for British citizens

No hidden fees. Pay only for what you need.

We are not affiliated with any government or embassy. Visa decisions are made solely by the consulate.

Estimates only - not legal advice or a guarantee. Total cost may include third-party fees beyond the government fee and our services.

Entry requirements check

Government fee

Service fee

No visa or pre-travel approval needed
90 days on landing, up to 6 months with extension
Passport and return ticket check
Visit Japan Web arrival checklist

Check Entry Rules

Which Japan Visa do you need?

Visa exemption

Free entry for tourism, business meetings and family visits of up to 90 days. Paid work is not allowed. The ¥3,000 departure tax is usually included in your ticket.

Visit Japan Web

A Digital Agency website for arrival procedures. Register your immigration and customs details before you land and show the 2D code at the airport.

Work, study or long stays

Paid work, study or stays over 90 days need a visa from a Japanese embassy, usually with a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

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Japan Visa FAQ for British passport holders

Do British citizens need a visa for Japan?

No, not for short stays. British citizens can enter Japan without a visa for tourism, business meetings, conferences or visiting relatives or friends, with no income-earning activities. You get 90 days on landing, and under a bilateral arrangement you can stay up to 6 months in total by obtaining an extension of your period of stay in Japan before the 90 days expire. There is nothing to apply for before you travel.

Is there a cost or waiting time to enter Japan visa-free?

Entering Japan visa-free costs nothing and there is no application to process before you travel. Visit Japan Web, the government service for the arrival card and customs declaration, is free too. An extension beyond 90 days is a separate procedure with the Immigration Services Agency in Japan. One cost to plan for is the International Tourist Tax of 3,000 yen per departure from Japan since 1 July 2026, normally collected with your air or ship ticket.

How can British citizens stay in Japan for 6 months?

Japan grants 90 days when you land. To stay longer, up to 6 months in total, apply for an extension of the period of stay at a regional immigration services office in Japan before your 90 days expire. The visit must remain a short-term stay with no income-earning activities. Without an approved extension you must leave Japan within 90 days, and immigration may ask to see a return or onward ticket when you arrive.

What do I need to enter Japan visa-free?

A passport valid for your whole stay, with one blank page for the landing stamp; Japan has no 6-month validity rule. Be ready to show a return or onward ticket. At immigration you give fingerprints and a face photo unless you are exempt by law, and you submit the arrival card (ED card). You can register it with the customs declaration in advance on Visit Japan Web, or fill in paper forms. Visa exemption does not guarantee entry: the immigration inspector decides.

Do I need JESTA or another travel authorisation for Japan?

No, not at the moment. In 2026 Japan passed a law creating JESTA, an online travel authorisation for visa-exempt short-term visitors, but it starts only on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029, and it is not required yet. For now you need no approval before you fly. The Immigration Services Agency recommends registering your arrival card and customs declaration on Visit Japan Web for a smoother arrival.

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