UK passport to Japan
UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Japan for up to 90 days for tourism or business. You can't work. You get permission to stay, free, when you arrive.
The rules
- What you need
- No visa
- How long you can stay
- Up to 90 days per visit, which you can extend in Japan to 6 months. You can apply at an immigration office in Japan to extend your stay to up to 6 months in total. Your passport must stay valid for the extra time.
- Your passport
- Your passport must be valid for your whole stay. There's no extra 6-month rule. Have one blank page for the entry stamp.
- Arrival card
- Disembarkation Card for Foreigner. Fill in an arrival card for immigration and a customs declaration. You can do both online before you fly with Visit Japan Web, which is free and optional, or on paper when you arrive. Official site
Quick answers
Do UK citizens need a visa for Japan?
No. UK citizens don't need a visa to visit Japan for up to 90 days for tourism or business. You can't work. You get permission to stay, free, when you arrive.
How long can UK citizens stay in Japan?
Up to 90 days per visit, which you can extend in Japan to 6 months. You can apply at an immigration office in Japan to extend your stay to up to 6 months in total. Your passport must stay valid for the extra time.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Japan?
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay. There's no extra 6-month rule. Have one blank page for the entry stamp.
Do I need an arrival card for Japan?
Yes. Fill in an arrival card for immigration and a customs declaration. You can do both online before you fly with Visit Japan Web, which is free and optional, or on paper when you arrive.
Things that could change this
- Are you taking any medicines with you, including cold, flu, allergy or pain remedies?If yes: Check your medicines before you packJapan bans some common medicines, including Adderall and other amphetamines, Vicks inhalers, and some cold and allergy remedies with pseudoephedrine. Medicines with more than 1% codeine need a narcotics permit: apply at least 14 days before you travel. Without paperwork you can bring up to 1 month's supply of prescription medicine and 2 months' supply of non-prescription medicine. For more, get an import certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) online before you fly.
Good to know
Departure tax is ¥3,000. Japan charges an International Tourist Tax of ¥3,000 each time you leave, up from ¥1,000. Your airline or cruise line collects it. The old ¥1,000 rate applies if your ticket was issued on or before 30 June 2026. Children under 2, and transit passengers who leave within 24 hours, don't pay.
Have an onward ticket. You can be refused entry if you can't show a return or onward ticket for a date within your permitted stay.
Carry your passport. You must carry your passport with you at all times in Japan. Police can ask to see it.
JESTA pre-travel check planned for 2028. Japan plans to bring in JESTA, an online pre-travel authorisation like the US ESTA, in its financial year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029). There's no start date, fee or application site yet. You don't need anything now.
Checked 26 October 2026 against Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Embassy of Japan in the UK, Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Japan Customs and GOV.UK.
See the 5 official sources
- Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
- Visa: Temporary Visitor Visa (Embassy of Japan in the UK)
- 入国審査時には「外国人入国記録」をご提出ください (Please submit the ED card at immigration) (Immigration Services Agency of Japan)
- Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles (Japan Customs)
- Japan travel advice: Entry requirements (GOV.UK)