🇿🇦South Africa

🇯🇵JapanZA-JP

South Africa to Japan visa requirements

Q: What is the easiest way to get a Japan tourist visa from South Africa?

The JAPAN eVISA, applied for online at evisa.mofa.go.jp, is the easiest route for tourism if you reside in South Africa and hold an ordinary passport. It is a single-entry short-term stay visa for up to 90 days.

Q: How long can I stay in Japan as a tourist?

Up to 90 days per visit on a short-term stay (temporary visitor) visa.

Q: Can I use the eVISA to visit relatives or for business?

No. The eVISA is for tourism only. For visiting relatives, business or academic activities you must apply for a paper visa at the embassy or consulate.

Q: Do I need to print the eVISA?

No. You must display the live Visa Issuance Notice page on your phone with an internet connection at the airport — screenshots and printouts are not accepted.

South African ordinary passport holders need a visa for Japan. For tourism, applicants residing in South Africa can normally use the JAPAN eVISA: a single-entry short-term stay visa for up to 90 days, applied for online. South Africa is not on Japan's visa-exemption list, so South African ordinary passport holders need a visa for short visits. For tourism, applicants who reside in South Africa are eligible for the JAPAN eVISA — an online single-entry short-term-stay visa for stays of up to 90 days, available to ordinary passport holders traveling by air or eligible scheduled international ferry. Applicants who prefer or are not eligible for the eVISA, or who are visiting relatives/friends, traveling for business/academic purposes, transiting, or seeking any non-tourism purpose, must apply through the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction, such as the Embassy of Japan in Pretoria or the Consulate in Cape Town. A single-entry visa is valid for entry for 3 months from issue. MOFA's standard visa processing time is 5 working days from the day after receipt when there is no problem with the application, while the Embassy's temporary-visitor page says accepted paper applications may be issued within two working days. Official document lists require a valid passport, visa form, photo, flight itinerary, proof of ability to pay travel expenses, and itinerary in Japan; they do not state a blanket six-month passport-validity or two-blank-page rule for this short-stay visa. At the airport, eVISA holders must display the live Visa Issuance Notice on a device with internet access; PDF files, screenshots, and printouts are not accepted.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-20

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.

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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-20

Visa type

eVISA / Temporary Visitor's Visa (short-term stay, tourism)

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days

per entry

Entries

Single entry

from issue date

Visa fee

R365 single-entry consular fee in South Africa (effective 1 April 2026)

consular fee only

Processing time

MOFA standard: 5 working days; accepted paper applications in South Africa may be issued within 2 working days

standard track

Validity

Valid for entry within 3 months of issuance

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm passport and purpose

Use a valid South African ordinary passport. The eVISA route is for tourism only; visiting relatives/friends, business, academic, transit, work, or long-stay purposes require the appropriate embassy/consulate process.

· Valid ordinary passport· Tourism only

/02

Choose your pathway

If you reside in South Africa and are traveling for tourism, use the JAPAN eVISA website. If you are not eligible for the eVISA or have a non-tourism purpose, apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over where you live.

· eVISA for eligible tourism· Embassy for other purposes

/03

Create an account and apply on the JAPAN eVISA website

Register at evisa.mofa.go.jp, complete the application, and prepare the required documents such as a valid passport, recent photo, flight itinerary, proof of funds, and itinerary in Japan.

· evisa.mofa.go.jp

/04

Pay the consular fee

Pay online for the eVISA where prompted, or pay the local consular fee for a paper application. The South Africa single-entry visa fee is R365 from 1 April 2026.

· R365 single-entry

/05

Receive the visa issuance notice

MOFA's standard processing time is 5 working days from the day after receipt if there is no issue. Once approved, eVISA applicants receive a digital Visa Issuance Notice; paper applicants collect the passport with the visa sticker.

· 5 working days

/06

Show the eVISA at the airport

At check-in and on arrival in Japan, log in and display the official Visa Issuance Notice page on your phone with an internet connection. Screenshots or PDF printouts are not accepted.

· Display on phone· No screenshots

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items

Personalized checklist

South Africa -> Japan · eVISA / Temporary Visitor's Visa (short-term stay, tourism)

0 / 12 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredValid South African ordinary passport

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredCompleted JAPAN eVISA application (or embassy visa form)

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

required

RequiredRecent colour passport photo (taken within 6 months)

Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route

required

RequiredFlight itinerary with arrival and departure details

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredDaily itinerary / schedule of activities in Japan

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredAccommodation details for the stay

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredProof of ability to pay travel expenses, such as bank statement or balance certificate

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

required

RequiredVisa fee payment (online or at embassy/consulate)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredSmartphone with internet to display the eVISA notice on arrival

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Use the current form from the official or designated application channel.

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 sourcesMOFA Japan — The JAPAN eVISA system (May 15, 2026)MOFA Japan — VISA general information MOFA Japan — Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) (September 1, 2025)

Application link included: MOFA Japan — The JAPAN eVISA system (May 15, 2026)

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Single-entry visa feeR365Embassy of Japan in South Africa consular fee, effective from 1 April 2026

Multiple-entry visa feeR730Only if applying for a multiple-entry visa (not the standard tourist eVISA)

Transit visa feeR85Applies to transit visas only

Total estimateR365 — R730incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

JAPAN eVISA (online)

~5 working days

Online application for tourism by eligible residents; single-entry, up to 90 days. Recommended for South African-resident tourists.

Embassy / Consulate (paper)

May be issued within 2 working days after acceptance

In-person temporary visitor's visa at the Embassy in Pretoria or Consulate in Cape Town; required for non-tourism visits such as visiting relatives/friends or business.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

South Africa is not visa-exempt for Japan

South Africa is not on Japan's short-term visa-exemption list, so South African ordinary passport holders need a visa.

High

/02

Tourism stays only

The eVISA is strictly for tourism; visiting relatives, business or academic activities require an embassy visa.

High

/03

Single-entry only

The standard tourist eVISA is single-entry, so you cannot re-enter Japan on the same visa after leaving.

Medium

/04

Invalid or temporary passport

Official visa criteria require a valid passport, and the Embassy page says temporary passports are not accepted.

Medium

/05

Unable to display digital notice on arrival

Travellers who only have a screenshot or printout instead of the live eVISA notice page can be refused boarding/entry.

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

2026-06-20

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-20

Codex rechecked South Africa to Japan route

Re-verified Japan MOFA and Embassy of Japan in South Africa sources; added checked-date, updated 2026 consular fees to R365/R730/R85, clarified residence-based eVISA eligibility and tourism-only scope, corrected processing/document wording, and removed the unsupported six-month/two-blank-page passport claim.

2026-05-30

South Africa to Japan route verified

Confirmed via the Embassy of Japan in South Africa and Japan's MOFA that South African ordinary passport holders require a visa, that South Africa is an eligible JAPAN eVISA country, and that the tourist eVISA is single-entry for stays up to 90 days. Fees and processing times verified.

/09 — The questions