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🇬🇧United Kingdom
🇯🇵JapanGB-JP

United Kingdom to Japan visa requirements

No visa needed for temporary visitor stays up to 6 months. Immigration normally grants 90 days on arrival; apply in Japan before expiry if you need the extra 90 days. British Citizens using ordinary UK passports may enter Japan visa-free as Temporary Visitors for tourism, business meetings, conferences, short study, and family visits for up to 6 months. In practice, immigration normally grants 90 days on arrival; anyone wishing to stay beyond 90 days must apply for an extension of period of stay at a Regional Immigration Bureau before the original permission expires. The exemption does not cover British Overseas Citizen, British Subject, British Overseas Territories Citizen or Convention Travel Document holders. The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay (no 6-month rule). Visit Japan Web is the recommended way to pre-register immigration and customs declarations digitally; paper forms are still accepted. JESTA, Japan's planned electronic travel authorization, is targeted for fiscal year 2028 and is not required in 2026.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Visa-free entry (Temporary Visitor)
Maximum stay
Up to 6 months visa-free; 90 days granted on arrival, extension +90 days required for stays over 90 days
per entry
Entries
Multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
Free; extension fee JPY 6,000 at an immigration office if approved (JPY 5,500 online where available)
consular fee only
Processing time
On arrival
standard track
Validity
Per entry; JESTA not active yet
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check passport validity
Your British Citizen ordinary passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Keep blank space for immigration stamps. No 6-month rule applies.
· valid for stay
/02
Book travel and stay
Have a return or onward ticket, accommodation address, and funds evidence handy. Officers may verify your trip plans.
· return ticket· hotel address
/03
Fill in Visit Japan Web
Submit immigration and customs declarations online before arrival if you want to use the digital lane. Save the QR codes on your phone.
· VJW QR codes
/04
Arrive and clear immigration
Present your passport, scan QR codes (or hand in paper forms), give fingerprints and a photo, and receive a 90-day landing permission stamp.
· biometrics· 90-day stamp
/05
Extend if needed (UK reciprocity)
British Citizen ordinary passport holders can apply for a 90-day extension at a Regional Immigration Bureau before the original 90 days expire. Budget JPY 6,000 for an in-person approval; online procedures are JPY 5,500 where available.
· +90 days· JPY 6,000
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items
Personalized checklist
United Kingdom -> Japan · Visa-free entry (Temporary Visitor)
0 / 12 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredBritish Citizen ordinary passport
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
Valid for the entire stay, with blank space for stamps
RequiredConfirmed return or onward ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
May be requested by airline or immigration
RequiredAccommodation address
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
Hotel booking or host address with phone number
RecommendedVisit Japan Web registration
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Immigration + customs QR codes (recommended)
RequiredFunds evidence
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
Cash, cards, or bank statements
RecommendedTravel insurance
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Strongly recommended; Japan's healthcare costs are high
RequiredMedication declarations
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
Yakkan Shoumei needed for certain prescriptions (codeine, Adderall, etc.)
ConditionalCash declaration
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
If carrying over JPY 1,000,000 or equivalent
ConditionalExtension docs (if extending)
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
Application form, photo, and JPY 6,000 fee if approved at an immigration office
RequiredCustoms declaration
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Via VJW or paper form on arrival
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesJapan MOFA — Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)Embassy of Japan in the UK — Visa: General InformationEmbassy of Japan in the UK — Visa FAQ
Application link included: Japan MOFA — Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeTemporary visitor activities up to 6 months; initial landing permission is normally 90 days
Visit Japan WebFreeRecommended digital pre-registration
90-day extension (UK)JPY 6,000 at office / JPY 5,500 online where availableAvailable to British Citizens and a small group of other nationalities under bilateral arrangements
JESTA (future)TBDTargeted FY2028 launch, not required in 2026
Overstay penaltiesDetention + banStrictly enforced
Total estimateFree — JPY 6,000incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Visa-free arrival
Minutes
Standard airport entry with biometrics and Visit Japan Web QR codes.
Paper form fallback
Minutes
Disembarkation and customs cards on the plane if you skip VJW.
90-day extension
Varies
Apply at a Regional Immigration Bureau before the original stamp expires; fee is paid if approved.
Work/study/long-stay visa
5-10 working days+
Required for stays beyond 180 days; apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate before travel.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Suspected visa run
Repeated 90-day visa-free stays — especially with short hops to Korea or Taiwan — get flagged. Officers can refuse entry without a hearing.
Medium
/02
Insufficient funds or plans
No return ticket, no accommodation, or vague itinerary can trigger secondary inspection and refusal.
Medium
/03
Past Japanese overstays
Any previous overstay or removal weighs heavily on future entries.
Medium
/04
Criminal history
Convictions, especially drug-related, can cause refusal even with no visa requirement.
Low
/05
Prohibited items at customs
Bringing fresh meat, certain plants, or unapproved medications (Adderall, some codeine drugs) can lead to confiscation or detention.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Customs
Declare cash over JPY 1,000,000 equivalent and avoid bringing restricted fresh food, meat, plants, or controlled medicines.
/02
Immigration
Fingerprints and a photo are normally collected on arrival. Visit Japan Web can speed up immigration and customs forms.
/03
Connectivity
Tourist SIMs, eSIMs, and pocket WiFi rentals are widely available at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and major city pickup points.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Codex
Reconfirmed Japan-UK visa exemption against MOFA and Embassy sources; clarified the up-to-6-month rule as 90 days on arrival plus extension and updated the extension fee after Japan's April 2025 fee revision.
2026-05-27
United Kingdom to Japan route verified
Confirmed 90-day visa-free entry, 90-day extension option (UK reciprocity), Visit Japan Web pre-registration, JESTA not yet required.
2025-04-01 · major
JESTA launch accelerated to FY2028
Japan brought forward its electronic travel authorization from the original 2030 target to fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 - March 2029).
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do I need a visa for Japan?—
No. British Citizens using ordinary passports can enter Japan visa-free as Temporary Visitors for up to 6 months. Immigration normally grants 90 days on arrival, and you must apply in Japan before expiry if you need the extra 90 days.
How does the 90-day extension work?+
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?+
Do I need JESTA?+
Can I work or study on visa-free entry?+
Do I need 6 months on my passport?+
/11 — Passport tools

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