JapanPassport · 2026

About Japan Passport

Ranking second globally, the Japanese passport grants citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations worldwide. This means Japanese travelers can explore the world with remarkable ease, skipping embassy queues and diving straight into discovery. As one of the strongest passports in the world, it reflects the country's solid diplomatic relationships and international reputation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan provides up-to-date information on visa requirements and exemptions, helping travelers stay informed before they head overseas. Japan's passport consistently ranks among the most powerful passports in the world, holding the top position from 2018 to 2024.

Whether traveling for business, leisure, or study, Japanese citizens can visit Europe visa-free and enter the United States or Canada with a simple online authorization instead of a full visa.

Visa-Free Countries for Japan Passport Holders

​As of April 2025, Japanese citizens enjoy visa-free access to numerous countries and territories worldwide.

1. Albania

2. Andorra

3. Angola

4. Anguilla

5. Antigua and Barbuda

6. Argentina

7. Armenia

8. Aruba

9. Austria

10. Bahamas

11. Barbados

12. Belarus

13. Belgium

14. Belize

15. Bermuda

16. Bolivia

17. Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba

18. Bosnia and Herzegovina

19. Botswana

20. Brazil

21. British Virgin Islands

22. Brunei

23. Bulgaria

24. Cayman Islands

25. Chile

26. China

27. Colombia

28. Cook Islands

29. Costa Rica

30. Croatia

31. Curacao

32. Cyprus

33. Czechia

34. Denmark

35. Dominica

36. Dominican Republic

37. Ecuador

38. El Salvador

39. Estonia

40. eSwatini

41. Falkland Islands

42. Faroe Islands

43. Fiji

44. Finland

45. France

46. French Guiana

47. French Polynesia

48. French West Indies

49. Georgia

50. Germany

51. Gibraltar

52. Greece

53. Greenland

54. Grenada

55. Guam

56. Guatemala

57. Guyana

58. Haiti

59. Honduras

60. Hong Kong (SAR China)

61. Hungary

62. Iceland

63. Iran

64. Iraq

65. Ireland

66. Italy

67. Jamaica

68. Kazakhstan

69. Kiribati

70. Kosovo

71. Kyrgyzstan

72. Laos

73. Latvia

74. Lesotho

75. Liechtenstein

76. Lithuania

77. Luxembourg

78. Macao (SAR China)

79. Madagascar

80. Malawi

81. Malaysia

82. Malta

83. Mauritius

84. Mayotte

85. Mexico

86. Micronesia

87. Moldova

88. Monaco

89. Mongolia

90. Montenegro

91. Montserrat

92. Morocco

93. Mozambique

94. Namibia

95. Netherlands

96. New Caledonia

97. Nicaragua

98. Niue

99. North Macedonia

100. Northern Mariana Islands

101. Norway

102. Oman

103. Palestinian Territory

104. Panama

105. Paraguay

106. Peru

107. Philippines

108. Poland

109. Portugal

110. Reunion

111. Romania

112. San Marino

113. Sao Tome and Principe

114. Senegal

115. Serbia

116. Singapore

117. Slovakia

118. Slovenia

119. South Africa

120. South Korea

121. Spain

122. St. Kitts and Nevis

123. St. Lucia

124. St. Maarten

125. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

126. Suriname

127. Sweden

128. Switzerland

129. Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)

130. Tajikistan

131. Thailand

132. Trinidad and Tobago

133. Tunisia

134. Türkiye

135. Turks and Caicos Islands

136. Ukraine

137. United Arab Emirates

138. Uruguay

139. Uzbekistan

140. Vanuatu

141. Vatican City

142. Venezuela

143. Vietnam

144. Zambia

Visa on Arrival (VOA) Countries for Japan Passport Holders

1. Azerbaijan

2. Bahrain

3. Bangladesh

4. Burundi

5. Cambodia

6. Cape Verde Islands

7. Comoro Islands

8. Djibouti

9. Egypt

10. Ethiopia

11. Guinea-Bissau

12. India

13. Indonesia

14. Jordan

15. Kuwait

16. Lebanon

17. Malawi

18. Maldives

19. Marshall Islands

20. Myanmar

21. Nepal

22. Palau Islands

23. Qatar

24. Rwanda

25. Samoa

26. Saudi Arabia

27. Sierra Leone

28. Solomon Islands

29. Somalia

30. St. Helena

31. Tanzania

32. Timor-Leste

33. Tonga

34. Tuvalu

35. Zimbabwe

Countries Offering E-Visas to Japanese Citizens

1. Benin

2. Burkina Faso

3. Cameroon

4. Cuba

5. Equatorial Guinea

6. Gabon

7. Guinea

8. Mauritania

9. Pakistan

10. Papua New Guinea

11. Russian Federation

12. Syria

13. Togo

14. Uganda

Countries Offering ETA for Japanese Citizens

1. American Samoa

2. Australia

3. Canada

4. Israel

5. Kenya

6. New Zealand

7. Puerto Rico

8. Seychelles

9. Sri Lanka

10. United Kingdom

11. United States

12. US Virgin Islands

How Long Is a Japanese Passport Valid?

Japanese passports come in two types, both issued to ordinary citizens, and the colour indicates their validity:

• Red passport (10-year validity): Issued to Japanese citizens aged 20 and above.

• Blue passport (5-year validity): This passport is issued to citizens of any age, but it is the only option for those under 18.

This system helps ensure that younger travellers, whose appearance may change more quickly, have regularly updated passport photos for smoother identification.

When renewing a passport, any remaining time from your previous one won’t carry over—it’s always a fresh issue. For full details and requirements, visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

What Does a Japanese Passport Look Like?

• The Japanese passport has a clean and elegant design.

• It comes in two colours:

  • Deep red for 10-year validity

  • Blue for 5-year validity

• Both versions have a sleek, matte finish.

On the cover, you'll see a golden chrysanthemum crest, Japan’s national emblem and a symbol of the Imperial family. Below it are the words “JAPAN PASSPORT” in gold. At the bottom, a small symbol shows a biometric passport, meaning it has a microchip for secure identification.

Inside the passport:

• There's a formal message from Japan’s Foreign Minister.

• It politely asks other countries to let the passport holder travel freely and to offer help if needed.

• This message is a traditional diplomatic request made on behalf of all Japanese citizens.

Inside the Info Page of a Japanese Passport

This page contains all your key identity details:

• Photograph of the passport holder (biometric-compatible).

• Type: P – indicates it's a passport.

• Country code: JPN – Japan.

• Passport number: Located in the top right (e.g., XS1234567).

• Surname (e.g., GAIMU) and Given name (e.g., SAKURA).

• Nationality: JAPAN.

• Date of birth: The Format used is DD MMM YYYY (e.g., 20 FEB 1979).

• Registered Domicile: A Japanese administrative area (e.g., KANAGAWA).

• Sex: M or F.

• Date of issue: (e.g., 01 JAN 2006).

• Date of expiry: (e.g., 01 JAN 2011).

• Authority: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

• Signature of bearer (Handwritten).

• Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ): Located at the bottom, this is scanned at immigration. It consists of two lines of letters and numbers used for automated reading.