Japan - Immigration

Japan Immigration Procedures for Yacht Crew

All visitors require a passport valid for the duration of their visa.

Do I Need a Visa?

Many nationalities will be given a 90-day visa on arrival.

Immigration officials will record fingerprints and take ID pictures prior to issuing visas on arrival.

A full list of the countries whose citizens are exempt from a visa for a short-term stay can be found at www.mofa.go.jp/

Citizens of other countries require a visa in advance of arrival. See https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html#section3 for details.

Crew members on superyachts can now get crew passes that only expire when the boat or the crew member leaves Japan (in the past, crew passes were limited for 14 days). Special advance paperwork is required in order to organise this and local immigration should be notified as early as possible because this is a relatively new policy, so many immigration offices/officials are unaware of it.

How Long Can I Stay?

Citizens of Brunei, Indonesia, and Thailand are allowed 15 days.

Nationals of the U.K, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Mexico are allowed to stay for 6 months if the appropriate extension is filed prior to the lapse of the first 90 days.

A foreign boat can be left in Japan indefinitely, with no special paperwork or fees required. As a result, foreign cruisers often leave their boat in Japan while they go to Korea or some other country at the end of their 90-day visa and then return to get a new 90-day visa. Similarly, many foreign cruisers leave their boat in Japan over the winter and then return the following spring to continue cruising Japan and/or to go to North America.

Last updated: January 2025

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs