Japan opens e-visa system to foreign tourists
Japan has announced that its electronic visa (e-visa) system is now open to tourists from a number of countries around the world
Nationals and residents of Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, or the US can now apply for e-visas via the country’s e-visa website.
The change came into effect on 23 July, and the e-visas allow a single entry for up to 90 days, for the purpose of short-term tourism.
Residents of China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, and South Korea can also apply for an e-visa, but only via an “accredited agency”. Additionally, Chinese nationals are limited to periods of stay of either 15 or 30 days, while those from Vietnam are exclusively permitted to stay 15 days.
E-visas are only eligible to individuals travelling by plane who have an “ordinary passport”.
However, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that “during the application process, the applicant may be requested to appear in person at the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over the place of the applicant’s residence for an interview”.
Japan also launched a digital nomad visa for workers earning at least US$68,200 per annum earlier this year.