Japan passport visa free countries 2023

Japanese passport holders enjoy a hassle-free travel experience to a vast number of countries worldwide without the need for a visa. With each new year comes updated visa policies and agreements, which means it’s time to take a look at the 2023 full list of visa-free countries for Japanese passport holders.

In this article, I will be providing you with the updated list of countries that Japanese passport holders can visit without a visa in 2023.

Table of Contents

2023 Full List of Visa-Free Countries for Japanese Passport Holders

This comprehensive list offers detailed information on the destinations that citizens of Japan can visit without a prior visa, including lists of visa-free countries, visa-on-arrival countries, and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) countries. Additionally, this guide provides details on travel destinations that require a prior visa for Japan passport holders, including both electronic visas (eVisas) and regular visas.

As of May 2023, Japanese Passport Holders can travel visa-free to 193 countries and territories:

Albania
American Samoa
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Bonaire
Eustatius and Saba
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde Islands
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoro Islands
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
eSwatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao (SAR China)
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau Islands
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Rwanda
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Helena
Kitts and Nevis
Lucia
Maarten
Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Türkiye
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
US Virgin Islands
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Countries that Issue eVisa (Online Visa) to Japanese Passport Holders

The following 6 countries issue eVisas for Japanese passport holders:

Angola
Benin
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Kenya
Uganda

The process for obtaining an eVisa is similar to that of a traditional visa, but it can be done entirely online without visiting a visa application centre. This includes the payment for the visa. Once your visa application is approved, you will receive an email with a confirmation of your visa status and a document to print out and carry with you when crossing the border. While the visa will be registered online, some border officers may require a physical copy of the permit, so it’s important to keep the printed copy with you while travelling.

Countries that Issue Visa on Arrival to Japanese Passport Holders

If you are a Japanese citizen, you can get a visa on arrival for the 40 countries listed below:

Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Burundi
Cambodia
Cabo Verde
Comoros
Egypt
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
India
Iran
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mozambique
Nepal
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Saint Helena
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Tuvalu
Zambia
Zimbabwe

After entering a country that offers visa on arrival (VOA), you can apply for it at a designated section of the airport. A VOA is a type of visa that is issued upon arrival in the country, rather than being obtained beforehand.

Countries With Visa Requirements for Japanese Passport Holders

You need a valid visa to enter the following 29 countries with a Japanese passport:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Bhutan
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Ivory Coast
Cuba
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ghana
Guinea
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Nauru
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Russia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Gambia
Turkmenistan
Yemen

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) 10 Destinations

American Samoa
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
Norfolk Island
Pakistan
Puerto Rico
Sri Lanka
United States of America
S Virgin Islands

Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in the World

Japan – 193 countries
Singapore – 192 countries
Germany and South Korea – 191 countries
Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain – 190 countries
Austria and Denmark – 189 countries
France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden – 188 countries
Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland United Kingdom and the United States – 187 countries
Czech Republic, Greece, Malta and Norway – 186 countries
Australia and Canada – 185 countries
Hungary – 184 countries

Why Japan Passport is Powerful

According to the Henley Passport Index, the Japanese passport has held the title of the most powerful passport in the world, granting visa-free access to 193 countries. Japan has consistently ranked highly in terms of passport power, allowing its citizens to travel across the world with few restrictions, and this ranking is largely due to the country’s strong diplomatic relationships, stable economy, and low crime rate. This ranking has been for 5 consecutive years. Additionally, Japan has strict immigration policies and thorough vetting procedures, which further enhance the reputation and power of its passport.

The Henley Passport Index, calculated by global investment firm Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association, scores passports based on the number of visa-free destinations they provide access to. According to the Index, each passport receives one point for each place where a visitor’s permit, visa, or ETA can be obtained on arrival, and the index compares visa-free access to 227 countries. This scoring system gives users a practical overview of their passport’s power.

Japan Passport Requirements

The Japan Passport Application Form must be properly filled. This form comes in 2 versions: a 5-year passport form and a 10-year passport form. Minors less than 17 years old may only apply for the 5-year passport.
A passport photograph (45mm x 35mm, taken within 6 months) must be attached to the application form.

N.B: If you are a minor (under 17 years old), your custodian or guardian must sign the ‘Legal Representative Signature’ section at the back of the passport application form. If your custodian or guardian is unable to sign the form in person due to distance, you can submit a letter of consent that contains their signature. Additionally, if someone else is submitting the passport application on behalf of the applicant (such as a spouse, relative within the second degree, or agent), there are still sections that the applicant must fill out themselves by hand. Therefore, it is important to ensure that these sections are filled out by the applicant. If a proxy is submitting the application, they must bring their own identity card.

3. In case your Japanese passport has already expired, you will need to provide a certified copy of the family register (known as the original Koseki Tohon), issued within the last six months, from your ward or office.

4. To prove that you are legally residing in Nigeria, you will need to provide a document such as a valid Nigeria visa stamped on your Japanese passport, a valid CERPAC card, or a valid Nigerian passport if you are a Nigerian citizen.

Processing Time

The processing time for the passport application is approximately 4 weeks to 6 weeks. Please note that new passports are issued in Japan and then sent to Nigeria.

Collection of Passports

The new Japanese passports can only be collected by the applicant who is in possession of the application receipt and has paid the fee. This must be done within 6 months from the date of issuance. If the passport is not collected within this time frame, it will become invalid. Below are the fees for Japan passport:

As at 1st April 2023;