Entering Japan on a UK, French or German passport
Checked against 21 official sources, most recently on . 12 minute read.
What to know first
British, French and German citizens do not need a visa to visit Japan as tourists. You will normally be given up to 90 days when you land. British and German citizens can then apply in Japan to extend their stay to up to six months in total; French citizens do not have this arrangement. Your passport only needs to be valid for your whole stay. Carry proof that you are leaving Japan, expect to give fingerprints and a photo at the airport, and note that the departure tax rose to ¥3,000 on 1 July 2026.
Next step: Check your passport expiry date against your return date, save your onward ticket offline, then work through the Japan arrival checklist.
On this page
Which entry route fits your trip?
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tourist trip of up to 90 days | No visa. Bring a passport valid for your whole stay (France: until your return date) and a booked exit within 90 days, saved offline. |
| UK or German citizen staying more than 90 days | Enter normally, then apply at the nearest immigration office in Japan before your permitted stay expires, for up to six months in total. The extension is a separate decision and is not guaranteed. |
| French citizen staying more than 90 days | France has no six-month arrangement: get the right visa before you travel, and ask the Embassy of Japan in France. |
| Aged 18–30 and want to work | Apply for a working holiday visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country before you travel. You cannot switch from a tourist entry inside Japan, and paid work as a tourist is illegal. |
| Travelling with a child | Each child needs their own passport. If only one parent is travelling, carry a signed consent letter from the other parent and a copy of their passport. |
| Also hold Japanese nationality | No official statement says which passport to show when entering and leaving Japan, so ask a Japanese embassy or consulate before you travel. |
| Changing planes or arriving on a cruise | Airside transit means no immigration and, if you leave within 24 hours, no departure tax. A cruise landing permission is applied for by your cruise line and covers sightseeing for up to 30 days (7 days if the ship calls at only one Japanese port). |
Sources for this section: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay), Note 8 (dated 1 September 2025) · Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Working Holiday Programmes (dated 1 April 2026)
UK, France and Germany compared
Visa for tourism? United Kingdom: No; France: No; Germany: No.
Stay normally granted on arrival: United Kingdom: Up to 90 days; France: Up to 90 days; Germany: Up to 90 days.
Extension inside Japan: United Kingdom: Yes, up to 6 months in total; France: No six-month arrangement; Germany: Yes, up to 6 months in total.
Passport validity: United Kingdom: Valid for the whole stay; France: Valid until your return date; Germany: Valid for the whole stay.
Watch out for: United Kingdom: British Overseas Citizen, British Subject and British Overseas Territories Citizen passports are not covered; France: Non-standard passports: ask the Embassy of Japan in France; Germany: ID card not accepted; children's passport (Kinderreisepass) accepted.
Paid work allowed? United Kingdom: No; France: No; Germany: No.
Working holiday scheme: United Kingdom: Yes (age 18–30); France: Yes (age 18–30); Germany: Yes (age 18–30).
Sources for this section: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay), Note 8 (dated 1 September 2025) · UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026) · France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon · Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Working Holiday Programmes (dated 1 April 2026)
How long can you stay?
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) lists France, Germany and the UK as visa-exempt for short stays of up to 90 days. Germany and the UK carry Note 8 on that list, which covers countries with bilateral arrangements allowing stays of up to six months (the others are Austria, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico and Switzerland). France has no such note.
You will not be given six months at the airport. The Embassy of Japan in the UK says British and German citizens get a maximum of 90 days on arrival, and anyone who wants a further 90 days must apply at the nearest immigration office in Japan. MOFA's Note 8 adds that you must apply before your permitted stay expires. The UK government (FCDO) adds that your passport must stay valid for the extra period. An extension is a separate decision and is not guaranteed, so plan around 90 days unless you are ready for that process.
A short-stay (Temporary Visitor) entry covers tourism, visiting relatives or friends, attending conferences and short business trips such as meetings or market research. It does not cover paid work. The German Foreign Office also warns that you may not string several visa-free stays together to get around these limits; anyone who tries risks being refused entry.
Sources for this section: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay), Note 8 (dated 1 September 2025) · Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026) · UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026) · Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026)
Passport validity
None of the official sources for these three nationalities asks for "six months remaining" on your passport.
UK: The FCDO says your passport must be valid for the length of your stay, and you need a blank page for the entry stamp.
France: France Diplomatie and JNTO's French guide say it must be valid until your return date.
Germany: The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) says it must be valid for the intended stay. Standard, provisional (vorläufiger Reisepass) and children's passports are accepted; the ID card (Personalausweis), including the provisional one, is not.
The FCDO warns that you will be refused entry if you try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen, even if you later found it. It also tells travellers to check with their airline or travel company that their documents meet its requirements, so if your passport expires soon after your return flight, ask before you book.
Sources for this section: UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026) · France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon · JNTO, Passeport et formalités (French) · Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026)
Do you need an onward or return ticket?
Official sources word this differently, which is why advice online conflicts.
The Embassy of Japan in the UK advises bringing a return ticket and evidence of sufficient funds to show at immigration.
France Diplomatie says you must hold a ticket out of Japan when you enter; JNTO's French guide says short-stay visitors must be able to show a planned departure.
The German Foreign Office says some airlines refuse boarding without a return or onward ticket within 90 days. It notes that this goes beyond the legal requirement, but still tells you to check with your airline.
Our reading: the check you are most likely to meet is at airline check-in in Europe, but a Japanese immigration officer can also ask. Either way, the fix is the same: have a booked exit from Japan within your permitted stay, saved offline.
Sources for this section: Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026) · France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon · JNTO, Passeport et formalités (French) · Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026)
JESTA: what is confirmed and what is not
JESTA is Japan's planned electronic travel authorisation, similar in idea to the US ESTA or the UK ETA. As of 8 October 2026, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) confirms:
The amendment to the Immigration Control Act that creates JESTA was passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026.
The target is introduction during Japan's fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029).
The ISA has not yet published a start date, fee, validity period or official application website. We will update this page when it does.
There is nothing to apply for today. Based on the official target, JESTA is not expected to affect trips before April 2028. Any website that charges you to "pre-register" for JESTA is not the Japanese government.
Sources for this section: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 2026 Immigration Control Act amendment (JESTA) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Immigration Policy Discussion Group report summary (JESTA target)
The departure tax (International Tourist Tax)
Everyone leaving Japan by plane or ship pays the International Tourist Tax, whatever their nationality.
Amount: ¥3,000 per departure from 1 July 2026 (previously ¥1,000).
Older tickets: the old ¥1,000 rate applies to certain carriage contracts concluded before 1 July 2026, even if you fly later. The Tourism Agency's leaflet describes these as eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026. The ¥3,000 rate applies instead if, for example, you set an open ticket's departure date, or change your departure date, on or after 1 July 2026 (National Tax Agency Q&A, questions 19 and 20).
Exempt: children under two, and transit passengers who leave within 24 hours of arriving, among others listed by the National Tax Agency.
How you pay: Your airline or cruise line normally adds it to your fare, so you rarely pay it separately.
It has nothing to do with tax-free shopping; for that, see Japan's tax-free refund in 2026.
Sources for this section: Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax (updated 21 May 2026) · Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax leaflet (English) · National Tax Agency of Japan, International Tourist Tax (Japanese)
At immigration: fingerprints, photo and questions
Foreign nationals aged 16 and over give fingerprints and a facial photograph on arrival. Exemptions include under-16s, special permanent residents and diplomatic or official visitors. A Japanese embassy notice states that anyone required to give this data who refuses will not be allowed to enter and will be ordered to leave Japan.
The officer may ask:
Why you are visiting and for how long
Where you are staying (keep your first address offline)
When and how you are leaving
Occasionally, whether you have enough money for the trip
The Embassy of Japan in the UK says permission to enter "remains at the discretion of the immigration authorities". Short answers that match your bookings are what matter.
Visit Japan Web can speed up arrival, but it is free and optional; see is Visit Japan Web free?.
Sources for this section: Embassy of Japan in Greece, biometric procedures at landing (Japanese) · Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Articles 6, 14 and 14-2 (e-Gov, Japanese) · Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026)
Children and dual nationals
Children need their own passport (France Diplomatie), and do not give fingerprints if they are under 16. The German Foreign Office knows of no special Japanese entry rules for minors but points to its general guidance on consent letters. Our advice: if a child is travelling with only one parent, carry a signed consent letter from the other parent and a copy of their passport.
Dual nationals: If you also hold Japanese nationality, Japan's Nationality Law requires you to choose one nationality. Since 1 April 2022, the deadline is your 20th birthday if you became a dual national before turning 18, or two years from the date you became one if that happened at 18 or later (Ministry of Justice). We found no official MOFA, Ministry of Justice or embassy statement on which passport a dual national should show when entering and leaving Japan (as of 8 October 2026), so ask a Japanese embassy or consulate before you travel.
If you hold two European passports, our advice is to use the same one for the whole journey, from check-in to departure. The FCDO reminds British citizens that they must carry a valid British passport (or a certificate of entitlement) to return to the UK.
Sources for this section: France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon · Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026) · Ministry of Justice of Japan, 国籍の選択について (Choice of nationality, Japanese) · UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026)
Working holiday vs tourist entry
All three countries have working holiday arrangements with Japan (France and Germany since 2000, the UK since 2001). According to MOFA, they are generally for people aged 18 to 30 whose main aim is a holiday, and you apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country.
Length of stay: United Kingdom: Up to 1 year; France: Up to 1 year, no extension; Germany: Up to 1 year.
Annual places: United Kingdom: 6,000 per fiscal year; France: 1,800 per year; Germany: No annual limit.
Can you take part twice? United Kingdom: Yes, from 1 December 2024; France: Not stated; Germany: Yes, from 1 January 2025, with a return home in between.
Where to apply: United Kingdom: While living in the UK; France: Consulate covering your area of residence in France; Germany: In Germany only.
Sources: MOFA; Embassy of Japan in the UK; Consulate-General of Japan in Marseille; Japan–Germany exchange of notes (2010); Consulate-General of Japan in Munich.
A working holiday visa is issued before you travel. There is no official route to switch from a visa-free tourist entry to a working holiday inside Japan: MOFA says applications go to the embassy or consulate in your country, the Munich consulate says German applications can only be made in Germany, and UK applicants must live in the UK when applying. Arriving as a tourist and picking up casual work is illegal; the FCDO says this applies "no matter how informal or temporary the work".
Sources for this section: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Working Holiday Programmes (dated 1 April 2026) · Embassy of Japan in the UK, Working Holiday Visa (dated 17 December 2025) · Consulate-General of Japan in Marseille, Visa vacances-travail (French) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan–Germany exchange of notes amending the working holiday arrangement (19 May 2010, Japanese/German) · Consulate-General of Japan in Munich, Working-Holiday-Visum (German) · UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026)
Transit and cruise arrivals
Airside transit: If you change planes without leaving the international area, you do not go through immigration. If you leave Japan within 24 hours of arriving, you also do not pay the departure tax. For connections that involve a domestic flight, see international to domestic flight connections.
Layovers: UK, French and German travellers can simply enter Japan normally during a layover. Japanese law also provides a special "landing permission at a port of call" for passengers continuing to another country: it lets you go near the port or airport for up to 72 hours, and the application is made by your ship's captain or airline, not by you (Immigration Control Act, Article 14). Most visa-exempt travellers will not need it.
Cruises: Passengers on cruise ships designated by the Immigration Services Agency can receive a cruise-passenger landing permission (Immigration Control Act, Article 14-2). Your captain or cruise line applies for it. It covers sightseeing only, for up to 30 days (7 days if the ship calls at only one Japanese port), and you must return to the ship before it sails from each port. Officers can ask for fingerprints and a photo for this permission too. If you start or end your trip on the cruise and stay on land separately, normal visa-exempt entry applies. Ask your cruise line which procedure covers your sailing.
Sources for this section: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Articles 6, 14 and 14-2 (e-Gov, Japanese) · National Tax Agency of Japan, International Tourist Tax (Japanese)
Worked example: a British traveller on a 14-day holiday
The trip: a British citizen on a standard British passport, 14 days of sightseeing, return flight booked, ticket issued on 20 August 2026.
Visa: none needed for tourism. The officer normally grants up to 90 days on arrival, so the 14-day trip is well inside it; no extension is needed.
Passport: it must be valid for all 14 days, with a blank page for the entry stamp. There is no six-month validity rule.
Before boarding: the return booking is saved offline, because the airline in Europe is the check most travellers meet; the first hotel's address and phone number are saved too.
On arrival: as an adult (16 or over), the traveller gives fingerprints and a facial photograph and answers short questions that match the bookings. Visit Japan Web is free and optional.
Departure tax: the ticket was bought on 20 August 2026, after the change on 1 July 2026, so ¥3,000 applies, normally added to the fare. The old ¥1,000 rate applies only to certain carriage contracts concluded before 1 July 2026.
Result: no visa, nothing to apply for under JESTA (not expected before 1 April 2028), and the only fee is the ¥3,000 already in the fare.
Sources for this section: UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026) · Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026) · Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax (updated 21 May 2026)
Pre-departure checklist
Passport valid for every day in Japan, plus a blank page (UK)
A passport, not an ID card (Germany), and a covered passport type (UK)
Onward or return ticket within 90 days, saved offline
First night's address and phone number, saved offline
A bank card or two as evidence of funds
A passport for each child; consent letter if one parent is not travelling
Customs declaration ready (Visit Japan Web or paper form)
Departure tax: is yours an eligible ticket issued on or before 30 June 2026?
Staying more than 90 days? UK/German: find your nearest immigration office in Japan. French: you need a visa before you travel; ask the Embassy of Japan in France.
Travel insurance: see do you need travel insurance for Japan?
Common mistakes
Expecting six months on arrival. UK and German travellers get up to 90 days; staying longer means applying for an extension in Japan.
Assuming French citizens can extend the same way. France does not have the six-month arrangement.
Flying one-way with no exit plan. Some airlines refuse boarding without a return or onward ticket.
Paying a website for JESTA. It does not exist yet.
Bringing a German ID card instead of a passport. It is not accepted.
Doing "a bit of work" as a tourist. Even short, informal paid work is not allowed.
Sources for this section: Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026) · UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026)
Questions about this guide
Do I need a visa for a two-week holiday in Japan?
No, not on a standard British, French or German passport. You normally get up to 90 days on arrival.
Does my passport need six months' validity?
No. It must be valid for your stay (French guidance: until your return date). Your airline may have its own rules, so check with it if your passport expires soon after your trip.
Do I need JESTA?
No. There is no JESTA system to apply to yet. Japan is aiming to introduce it during its fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029), and the start date, fee and application site have not been announced.
I bought my flight in May 2026 but fly in November. Do I pay ¥1,000 or ¥3,000?
The ¥1,000 rate applies to certain carriage contracts concluded before 1 July 2026, which the Tourism Agency's leaflet describes as eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026. If a change means a new ticket is issued, ask your airline which rate applies.
Can I extend my stay in Japan?
UK and German citizens can apply at an immigration office in Japan before their 90 days end, for up to six months in total. Approval is not automatic. French citizens do not have this arrangement and should get the right visa before travelling if they plan to stay longer than 90 days.
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay), Note 8 (dated 1 September 2025)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Working Holiday Programmes (dated 1 April 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan–Germany exchange of notes amending the working holiday arrangement (19 May 2010, Japanese/German)
- Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026)
- Embassy of Japan in the UK, Working Holiday Visa (dated 17 December 2025)
- Embassy of Japan in Germany, Visa and Consular Service (dated 19 August 2026)
- Consulate-General of Japan in Munich, Working-Holiday-Visum (German)
- Consulate-General of Japan in Marseille, Visa vacances-travail (French)
- Embassy of Japan in Greece, biometric procedures at landing (Japanese)
- Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Articles 6, 14 and 14-2 (e-Gov, Japanese)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 2026 Immigration Control Act amendment (JESTA)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Immigration Policy Discussion Group report summary (JESTA target)
- Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax (updated 21 May 2026)
- Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax leaflet (English)
- National Tax Agency of Japan, International Tourist Tax (Japanese)
- Ministry of Justice of Japan, 国籍の選択について (Choice of nationality, Japanese)
- JNTO, Passeport et formalités (French)
- UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026)
- France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon
- Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026)
- National Tax Agency: International Tourist Tax Q&A, questions 19 and 20
Read next
- Your first steps after landing in JapanFollow a practical arrival sequence from immigration and baggage to internet access, money and your first hotel.
- Using the official Visit Japan Web servicePrepare your arrival information through the official service and understand where it fits into airport procedures.
- Connecting to a domestic flight in JapanFollow the journey from international arrivals to your next flight, including baggage collection and terminal transfers.
- Tax-free shopping in Japan in 2026Understand the shopping process and the planned November rules transition, including relevant dates and required documents for your purchase.
- Do you need travel insurance for Japan?Compare the financial risks of your trip with the protection you already have before looking at new policies.
Sources and how this guide was checked
Published · Based on official sources · no affiliate links
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay), Note 8 (dated 1 September 2025)
What this confirms: Lists France, Germany and the UK as visa-exempt for short stays of up to 90 days; Note 8 covers the six-month arrangements for Germany and the UK.
Last checked - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Working Holiday Programmes (dated 1 April 2026)
What this confirms: Lists Japan's working holiday partners, the general age range of 18 to 30, and that applications go to an embassy or consulate in your own country.
Last checked - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan–Germany exchange of notes amending the working holiday arrangement (19 May 2010, Japanese/German)
What this confirms: Japan–Germany exchange of notes amending the working holiday arrangement, used for the German annual-place figure.
Last checked - Embassy of Japan in the UK, Temporary Visitor Visa (dated 30 June 2026)
What this confirms: Says British and German citizens get a maximum of 90 days on arrival, describes the further 90-day extension at an immigration office, and advises carrying a return ticket and evidence of funds.
Last checked - Embassy of Japan in the UK, Working Holiday Visa (dated 17 December 2025)
What this confirms: Gives the UK working holiday terms: up to 1 year, 6,000 places per fiscal year, taking part a second time from 1 December 2024, and that applicants must live in the UK.
Last checked - Embassy of Japan in Germany, Visa and Consular Service (dated 19 August 2026)
What this confirms: The Embassy of Japan in Germany's visa and consular information page, checked for the German visa-exempt stay.
Last checked - Consulate-General of Japan in Munich, Working-Holiday-Visum (German)
What this confirms: Says German working holiday applications can only be made in Germany, and describes taking part a second time from 1 January 2025 after returning home.
Last checked - Consulate-General of Japan in Marseille, Visa vacances-travail (French)
What this confirms: Gives the French working holiday terms: up to 1 year with no extension and 1,800 places a year, applied for at the consulate covering your area of residence in France.
Last checked - Embassy of Japan in Greece, biometric procedures at landing (Japanese)
What this confirms: Explains that foreign nationals give fingerprints and a facial photograph on landing, who is exempt, and that anyone who refuses will not be allowed to enter.
Last checked - Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Articles 6, 14 and 14-2 (e-Gov, Japanese)
What this confirms: Articles 6, 14 and 14-2 of the Immigration Control Act: biometrics on landing, landing permission at a port of call and cruise-passenger landing permission.
Last checked - Immigration Services Agency of Japan, 2026 Immigration Control Act amendment (JESTA)
What this confirms: Confirms the Immigration Control Act amendment creating JESTA, passed on 29 May 2026 and promulgated on 5 June 2026; no start date, fee or application site is given.
Last checked - Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Immigration Policy Discussion Group report summary (JESTA target)
What this confirms: Gives the target of introducing JESTA during Japan's fiscal year 2028.
Last checked - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax (updated 21 May 2026)
What this confirms: Confirms the International Tourist Tax of ¥3,000 per departure from 1 July 2026 and the transitional rule for tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026.
Last checked - Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), International Tourist Tax leaflet (English)
What this confirms: English leaflet: the old rate applies to eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026.
Last checked - National Tax Agency of Japan, International Tourist Tax (Japanese)
What this confirms: Lists who is exempt, including children under two and transit passengers leaving within 24 hours, and says carriers normally collect the tax with the fare.
Last checked - Ministry of Justice of Japan, 国籍の選択について (Choice of nationality, Japanese)
What this confirms: Gives the deadlines for choosing a nationality since 1 April 2022: your 20th birthday, or two years after becoming a dual national at 18 or later.
Last checked - JNTO, Passeport et formalités (French)
What this confirms: JNTO's French guide: the passport must be valid until your return date, and short-stay visitors must be able to show a planned departure.
Last checked - UK FCDO, Japan entry requirements (updated 28 August 2026)
What this confirms: UK government advice: a passport valid for your stay with a blank page, refusal of entry with a passport reported lost or stolen, and no paid work, however informal.
Last checked - France Diplomatie, Conseils aux voyageurs: Japon
What this confirms: French government advice: a passport valid until your return date, a ticket out of Japan on entry, and a passport for each child.
Last checked - Auswärtiges Amt, Japan: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Stand 8 October 2026, unchanged since 7 July 2026)
What this confirms: German government advice: a passport valid for the intended stay, ID cards not accepted, airline practice on onward tickets, and no chaining of visa-free stays.
Last checked - National Tax Agency: International Tourist Tax Q&A, questions 19 and 20
What this confirms: The ¥3,000 rate applies instead if, for example, you set an open ticket's departure date, or change your departure date, on or after 1 July 2026 (National Tax Agency Q&A, questions 19 and 20).
Last checked
About this guide
No visa for UK, French or German tourists: up to 90 days on arrival, passport valid for your stay, onward ticket, JESTA status and ¥3,000 departure tax.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. This is travel guidance, not legal advice: the immigration officer at your port of entry makes the final decision.
How we checked this
Entry checks by nationality
Rows apply to standard British, French and German passports. The immigration officer at your port of entry decides.
If columns are cut off, scroll sideways. Keyboard: focus the table, then use Left/Right Arrow keys.
| Question | What we found | Where it comes from | What this means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| How long can I stay without a visa? | Up to 90 days on arrival for UK, French and German tourists. | MOFA visa exemption list and Embassy of Japan in the UK | Plan around 90 days; an extension is a separate decision. |
| Can I extend to six months? | UK and German citizens can apply at an immigration office in Japan before their permitted stay ends; France has no such arrangement. | MOFA Note 8 and Embassy of Japan in the UK | French citizens planning more than 90 days need the right visa before travelling. |
| Does my passport need six months' validity? | No. It must be valid for your stay (France: until your return date). | FCDO, France Diplomatie and the German Foreign Office | If it expires soon after your trip, check your airline's own rules before booking. |
| Do I need JESTA? | No. The law creating it passed in 2026, with introduction targeted for fiscal year 2028; there is nothing to apply for yet. | Immigration Services Agency | Ignore any website that charges you to pre-register for JESTA. |
| Which departure tax applies to my ticket? | ¥3,000 per departure from 1 July 2026; ¥1,000 applies to certain carriage contracts concluded before 1 July 2026 (eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026). | Japan Tourism Agency and National Tax Agency | If a change means a new ticket is issued, ask your airline which rate applies. |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- MOFA, the Immigration Services Agency, the Japan Tourism Agency, the National Tax Agency, the Ministry of Justice, Japanese embassies and consulates, JNTO and the UK, French and German governments, checked 8 October 2026. The immigration officer at your port of entry makes the final decision.
- Latest update
- : Added a worked example and a “your situation, what to do” table, using only facts already in this guide. No facts were rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Worked example and situation table
Added a worked example and a “your situation, what to do” table, using only facts already in this guide. No facts were rechecked, so the review date is unchanged.
- First published
Published entry rules for UK, French and German passport holders: stay length, extensions, passport validity, onward tickets, JESTA status and the departure tax, checked against official sources on 8 October 2026.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.