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Heads up — Japan immigration bill passedJapan passes immigration bill — residency fee caps up to ¥300,000, JESTA pre-entry system coming→
🇰🇷SOUTH KOREA
🇯🇵JAPANKR-JP

Do South Korea passport holders need a visa to visit Japan?

Visa-free up to 90 days. Visit Japan Web makes airport entry faster. South Korean ordinary passport holders enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business meetings, and family visits. 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 remain accepted. JESTA, Japan's planned electronic travel authorization, is targeted for fiscal year 2028 and is not required in 2026. The Japan-Korea visa-free arrangement is one of the busiest air corridors in the world.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
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.
South Korea (PR)Living in South Korea as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
Visa-free entry (Temporary Visitor)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days per entry
per entry
Entries
Multiple
from issue date
Visa fee
Free
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 Korean passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. One blank page is needed for the entry stamp.
· valid for stay
/02
Book travel and stay
Have a confirmed return or onward ticket and accommodation address handy. Officers may verify your trip plans.
· return ticket· hotel address
/03
Fill in Visit Japan Web
Submit immigration and customs declarations online up to 2 weeks before arrival. QR codes are scanned at HND, NRT, KIX, FUK, NGO, CTS, OKA, and other airports.
· VJW QR codes
/04
Arrive and clear immigration
Present 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
Plan for the 90-day cap
You cannot work or switch to another visa from inside Japan. For longer stays, employment, or study, apply for the appropriate visa at the Japanese embassy in Seoul or consulate in Busan, Jeju, etc.
· no in-country status change
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
Korean passport
Valid for the entire stay, 1 blank page
Confirmed return or onward ticket
Required at boarding and immigration
Accommodation address
Hotel booking or host address with phone number
Visit Japan Web registration
Immigration + customs QR codes (recommended)
Funds evidence
Cash, cards, or bank statements
Travel insurance
Recommended; Japan's healthcare costs are high
Medication declarations
Yakkan Shoumei needed for certain prescriptions
Cash declaration
If carrying over JPY 1,000,000 or equivalent
Disembarkation card (paper)
If skipping VJW
Customs declaration
Via VJW or paper form on arrival
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa-free entryFreeTourism, business, family visits up to 90 days
Visit Japan WebFreeRecommended digital pre-registration
JESTA (future)TBDTargeted FY2028 launch, not required in 2026
Tourist visa (if needed)Around KRW 30,000Only for travelers ineligible for visa-free
Overstay penaltiesDetention + banStrictly enforced
Total estimateFree — Freeincl. 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.
Work/study/long-stay visa
5-10 working days+
Required for stays beyond 90 days; apply at the Japanese embassy in Seoul.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Suspected visa run
Korean travelers making frequent short hops to Japan can be questioned about residency intent. The shared land/sea corridor means this is more scrutinized than most pairs.
Low
/02
Insufficient funds or plans
No return ticket, no accommodation, or vague itinerary can trigger secondary inspection and refusal.
Low
/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 visa-free privilege.
Low
/05
Prohibited items at customs
Bringing fresh meat, certain plants, or unapproved medications 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
2026-05-27
South Korea to Japan route verified
Confirmed 90-day visa-free entry, 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. Korean ordinary passport holders enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism, business, or visiting family.
Is Visit Japan Web mandatory?+
Do I need JESTA?+
Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days?+
Do I need 6 months on my passport?+
Can I take the Busan-Fukuoka ferry?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the South Korea passport

🇰🇷⇄
Compare the South Korea passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇰🇷◐
South Korea visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇰🇷▤
South Korea passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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