Visa Requirements
Do American citizens need a visa for Japan?
Official Requirement
Visa-free
for United States citizens travelling to Japan
US passport holders can enter Japan without a visa for tourism, business, or transit stays of up to 90 days. No pre-approval or ESTA equivalent is required.
Checked 19 September 2026
We are not a government authority. Requirements change without notice. Always verify with the official consulate link before travel.
No visa needed for this trip
United States passport holders can enter Japan for short visits without a visa. Check that your passport stays valid for the whole stay, carry proof of onward travel, and confirm the current entry conditions on the official source before you fly.
Official Japan entry requirements →
Mount Fuji
The short answer
American citizens do not need a visa to enter Japan for stays of up to 90 days. No visa is needed before travelling to Japan for a short tourist or business visit. The fee is none. No visa is required for a short-term stay. Conditions: short-term stay only. Japan has a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with the United States, and the period granted on landing permission is 90 days. This covers tourist and short business visits only, not work, study or residence, and a border officer makes the final decision on entry in every case. Entry rules change without notice, so the requirement is read again from the official source on a schedule and the date above is the last time that happened. This was last checked on 19 September 2026.
At a glance
Key facts for American citizens visiting Japan
- Requirement
- Visa-free
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days
- Fee
- None. No visa is required for a short-term stay.
- Conditions
- Short-term stay only. Japan has a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with the United States, and the period granted on landing permission is 90 days.
- Official source
- Official source for this route →
Step by step
How American citizens enter Japan
Confirm your visit is a short-term stay. The exemption covers short-term visits only.
Travel without applying for a visa. Japan and the United States have a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement.
Expect 90 days to be granted on landing permission.
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Practical Info
Travel Essentials
Questions
What American citizens ask about entering Japan
No, not for a short-term stay. Japan has a reciprocal visa exemption arrangement with the United States, so no visa is required and there is no visa fee.
The period of stay granted upon landing permission is 90 days. A longer stay needs a different status, which this page does not cover.
Short-term stays only. The arrangement is set out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan under the heading Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay).
There is no visa fee, because no visa is required for a short-term stay. Any other charges are a matter for your airline or your accommodation.
Changes to this route
No changes recorded since the first check on 19 September 2026.
Full change history for this route →