Visa and Travel Information

2025/3/31

The Embassy in Washington DC only accepts visa applications and visa inquiries from Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia residents. For residents of other states, please refer to the List of Embassy/Consulates in the U.S.

 
Step #1
    Determine if you need a visa to go to Japan: Who needs a visa?
Step #2
Step #3
    Prepare all the required documents: Types of Visas & Documents
Step #4
    Visit the Embassy of Japan and submit all the documents: Application Drop-off Hours
Step #5
    Visit the Embassy of Japan to pick up the visa and pay the visa fee: Pick-up/payment Hours & Fees
Step #6
    Check the current border restrictions on entering Japan: Information on Border Measures
 
 

Visa Information

Who needs a visa?

  • The Visa Waiver Program applies based on your nationality, NOT on your U.S. residence status (including green card).
  Types of Travel Visa Requirements
U.S. Citizens
  • Short-term stay (less than 90 days) AND
  • Transit, tourism, business (without paid activities), conference, or study purpose
 NOT Required
  • COE (Certificate of Eligibility) holders (stay in Japan more than 90 days),
  • News media related activities,
  • Attending depositions, or 
  • Diplomatic/official mission or transit
 Required
Non-U.S. Citizens Visa Exemption Countries and Regions (List)
  • Short-term stay (less than 90 days) AND
  • Transit, tourism, business (without paid activities), conference, or study purpose
 NOT Required
Non-Visa Exemption Countries and Regions Required
 

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General Rules for Visa Application

DMV residents only
  • The Embassy in Washington DC only accepts visa applications and visa inquiries from Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia residents.
  • For residents of other states, please refer to the List of Embassy/Consulates in the U.S.
5 business days
  • It takes at least 5 business days to have your visa issued. We do NOT have expedited services.
No mail application
  • Applicants need to visit the Embassy in person (a single-entry short-term tourism visa can be applied by online). The Embassy will NOT accept any applications by mail.
No B-1/B-2 visa holder
  • We do not accept any applications from U.S. B-1 and B-2 visa holders, including online applications.
Visa validity
  • Single Entry Visa is only valid for 3 months. You must enter Japan within this time frame. Therefore, we will NOT accept any visa applications more than 3 months before your departure date.
Proxy/Authorization Form
  • In principle, applicants need to visit the Embassy in person, however, if it is not possible, applicants (including minors) may authorize a proxy.
  • To authorize a proxy for application drop off/pickup, the applicant MUST fill out Authorization Form and have the proxy submit the original form to the Embassy along with his/her ID card (electronic signatures are invalid).
  • Applications for diplomatic/official visas submitted by a representative of their organizations do NOT need to submit authorization forms.
Your passport
  • We will keep passports while processing visa applications (excluding online applications).
  • No 6 months rules. As long as your passport is valid during the time of your stay in Japan, it should not be a problem.
  • Your passport must have at least 1.5 blank pages left.
 

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Application Procedure & Processing Time

  • In general, it takes 5 business days to issue a visa. (ex., If you apply on Monday, you can pick up a visa next Monday. Our holidays are not counted as business days.)
  • It may take more than one month depending on the visa. We recommend that you apply for a visa approximately 1.5 months before your departure date. We do NOT have expedited services.

processing time
 

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Types of Visas & Application Documents

  • Please click on the applicable box below to see application documents on each visa.
  • If you intend to stay in Japan more than 90 days, please click on the "COE Holders" box.
 
Short-term Tourism/Business/Study Transit Diplomatic/Official/Laissez-Passer COE holders SOFA members Deposition Other

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Application drop-off/pick-up & payment Hours

Embassy map
  • No appointment required.
  • Parking spaces are not available at the Embassy. Please use nearby parking spaces or public transportation.
  • Please check our holidays before visiting.
  • In case of adverse weather conditions, Embassy of Japan follows the guideline of U.S. Federal Government. When the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announces federal agencies in the Washington, D.C. area are "closed" or "delayed", Embassy of Japan along with VISA section will be closed/delayed accordingly.
  • The Embassy will NOT accept any applications by mail.
Location Embassy of Japan Consular Section:
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20008
Application Drop-off Hours Monday-Friday 9:15am - 12:00pm
VISA Pick-up/payment Hours Monday-Friday  1:30pm - 4:00pm
 

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Fees

Cash Only
  • US citizens are exempt from visa fees. (Some countries and regions are also exempt from visa fees. Please check the Visa Fee Exempt list to find out if your visa fee is waived. )
  • We accept CASH only. We DO NOT accept personal checks and credit cards.
Type of Visa (For applications on and after April 1st, 2024) Fees
Single Entry Visa $20
Double and Multiple Entry Visa $40
Transit Visa (Including Double-Entry Transit) $5
Indian Passport Holder Single, Double, or Multiple Entry Visa $6
Transit Visa $1
Extension of Re-entry Permit
(Only available for "Re-entry Permit" not for "Special Re-entry Permit")		 $20
 

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Information on Border Measures

Visiting Japan

  • After April 29, 2023, pre-registration for quarantine procedures on Visit Japan Web are no longer required, however, you can still use Visit Japan Web to pre-register for "Immigration", "Customs" and "Tax-free Shopping Service" (Optional).
  • For information about traveling with minor(s), please read our FAQ. 
Visit Web Japan

Guide for when you are ill

Prevention Measures Bringing Animal Products Bringing Pets Electronic Customs Decleration Gate Travel Insurance Unmanned Aircraft Registration Visa Fee Exemption for Miyagi/Fukushima/Iwate Visitors Tax Free Shop Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Immigration Bureau, the Ministry of Justice of Japan

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Staying in Japan

Foreign national coexistence policies (Immigration Services Agency)

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Contact

Frequently Asked Questions
 
JAPAN VISA INFORMATION HOTLINE
(TOLL FREE CALL)		 1-202-499-1468
WebRTC
  • English and Vietnamese: 24 hours/7 days a week
  • Russian and Ukrainian: Mon-Fri, 12 PM-9 PM (JST)
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan 81-3-3595-2176
  • Available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
  • 9 AM-9 PM (JST)
The Embassy of Japan in USA (202) 238-6800
  • Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-12:30 PM, 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
 

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Recommended Information

Visa Hotline
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Consular Section: Embassy of Japan, 2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Office Hours:Application Drop-off/ M-F 9:15am-12:00pm Visa Pick-up/ M-F 1:30pm-4:00pm
  • Contact Us:202-238-6800/ M-F 9:00am-5:00pm
  • Japan Visa Information Hotline (Available in English/Vietnamese/Russian/Ukrainian)1-202-499-1468 Domestic call fee applies, 24hours, 7days/week

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