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How long can you stay in Japan without a visa?

Visa days · Asia-PacificChecked Updated

Japan 90 days

Visa days
90days on landing, no visa

U.S. citizens can visit Japan without a visa for a short stay. The period granted on landing is 90 days for most exempt countries.12

For
The exemption covers transit, tourism, business without paid activities, conference or study.1
Depends on
The exemption depends on your nationality, not on where you live, and a U.S. green card does not change it.3
Fewer days
Some countries get fewer days: 15 for Thailand and Indonesia, 30 for Brunei and Qatar.2
Six months
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have 6-month arrangements. To stay past 90 days, those nationals apply to extend before the permitted stay ends.45
Longer stays
A stay of more than 90 days needs a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) instead of the visa exemption.6
Countries
Japan has visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions.7

Questions people ask

How long can a U.S. citizen stay in Japan without a visa?

U.S. citizens can visit Japan without a visa for a short stay. The period granted on landing is 90 days for most exempt countries.12

What can I do on the visa exemption?

The exemption covers transit, tourism, business without paid activities, conference or study.1

Does a green card change the exemption?

The exemption depends on your nationality, not on where you live, and a U.S. green card does not change it.3

Do all countries get 90 days in Japan?

Some countries get fewer days: 15 for Thailand and Indonesia, 30 for Brunei and Qatar.2 Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have 6-month arrangements. To stay past 90 days, those nationals apply to extend before the permitted stay ends.45

What if I want to stay in Japan more than 90 days?

A stay of more than 90 days needs a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) instead of the visa exemption.6

Sources

7 official pages, each with its exact words
  1. Embassy of Japan in the USA, Visa Information · Embassy of Japan in the United States of America (us.emb-japan.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words Short-term stay (less than 90 days) AND Transit, tourism, business (without paid activities), conference, or study purpose
  2. MOFA Japan, Exemption of Visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words The period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, "30 days" for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.
  3. Embassy of Japan in the USA, Visa Information · Embassy of Japan in the United States of America (us.emb-japan.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words The Visa Waiver Program applies based on your nationality, NOT on your U.S. residence status (including green card).
  4. MOFA Japan, Exemption of Visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.
  5. MOFA Japan, Exemption of Visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words For nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements
  6. Embassy of Japan in the USA, Visa Information · Embassy of Japan in the United States of America (us.emb-japan.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words COE (Certificate of Eligibility) holders (stay in Japan more than 90 days)
  7. MOFA Japan, Exemption of Visa · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp) · read 26 Oct 2026
    Exact words Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions listed in the table below.
Checked against Embassy of Japan in the United States of America (us.emb-japan.go.jp) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (mofa.go.jp) on 26 Oct 2026 Updated 26 Oct 2026

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