Do UK citizens need a visa for Japan?
No visa for a short stay. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the United Kingdom for visa exemption, and the stay granted when you land is 90 days. You do not apply before you travel.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa needed? | No, for a short stay that does not include paid work. GOV.UK describes the same trip as permission given on arrival, with no application before travel. |
| Maximum stay | 90 days on landing. The bilateral arrangement allows up to 6 months in total. To stay past 90 days you must apply to a Regional Immigration Bureau before the 90 days end. |
| Cost | Free. There is no visa fee for this exemption. |
| How to apply | Nowhere, for a stay of up to 90 days. The Japan eVISA is for people who are not visa-exempt. British citizen passport holders on a short holiday do not use it. |
| Passport validity | GOV.UK says the passport must be valid for the length of your stay. No extra months are required. You need a blank page for the stamp. |
| Other documents | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the exemption does not cover paid work. A longer stay, work, or study needs the visa for that purpose. |
| Official link | Use the authority’s own website. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications. · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: visa exemption (opens in a new tab) |
How to apply
- Confirm your passport is a British citizen passport and will still be valid on the day you leave Japan.
- Do not buy a Japan eVISA for a normal holiday. The foreign ministry says people who are exempt from a short-stay visa do not need one.
- On arrival you receive landing permission, normally for 90 days. There is no fee for that permission.
- If you need more than 90 days, apply for an extension at a Regional Immigration Bureau before the 90 days end. GOV.UK says the extension is another 90 days and that the passport must cover it. Paid work remains unlawful without the correct visa.
Six months, granted as 90 days
The foreign ministry’s note for the United Kingdom says the bilateral exemption allows stays of up to 6 months, but anyone staying more than 90 days must apply to extend at the Ministry of Justice (a Regional Immigration Bureau) before the permitted stay expires. The period stamped on landing for the United Kingdom is 90 days.
GOV.UK says you can ask for a multiple-entry landing permission when you arrive, and that overstaying risks arrest, detention, and a heavy fine.
Recent changes
- Checked against GOV.UK Japan entry requirements and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption list, updated by the ministry on 1 September 2025. · source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
Do I need a Japan eVISA?
No, for a short stay without paid work. The foreign ministry says visa-exempt nationalities do not apply for the eVISA.
Can I work on this stay?
No. The exemption is for tourism, business visits, and seeing family or friends that do not include paid work. GOV.UK says working without the correct visa is illegal.
Can I stay longer than 90 days?
Only if a Regional Immigration Bureau extends your stay before the 90 days end. The foreign ministry says the UK arrangement can run to 6 months in total. GOV.UK describes the extension as another 90 days.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Japan entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: exemption of visa (short-term stay) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: visa overview (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.