Travelers must pay fee, pass screening before visiting popular destination under new rule

Visitors must apply for the "single-entry short-term stay visa for the purpose of tourism for a period of up to 90 days" online prior to their trip, according to a government website.

The applications require passport and personal information, travel itinerary and accommodation details.

"It normally takes five working days for Japanese overseas establishment to examine and issue a visa after receipt of a complete application," the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMFA) states.

"Meanwhile, it may take longer during periods of high demand, or if the case requires further clarification," JMFA adds.

The e-VISA application launched in December.

It will be fully implemented by the end of March 2029, according to local outlets.

In 2025, 42.7 million international people visited Japan, according to the government's tourism statistics.

Manual passport stamping is being replaced by automatic digital registration.