Japan visa 2026: requirements, duration, JESTA

Japan visa 2026: requirements, duration, JESTA

French citizens, and most EU nationals, benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays of less than 90 days in Japan, one of the most generous windows granted by any Asian country. No prior online application is required in 2026. Here are the exact requirements, the document list, and the special cases.

Tourist stay without visa (≤ 90 days)

On arrival, the immigration officer stamps a temporary 90-day permit. It’s free and automatic for French passport holders.

Conditions to meet

• 📘 Passport: valid for the entire length of stay. No 6-month buffer requirement after return, unlike Thailand or Vietnam.
• ✈️ Return or onward ticket: printed or on a phone, checked by some airlines at check-in in France.
• 💰 Financial means: no fixed amount published, but the officer can ask for proof of funds if the purpose of the stay looks unclear.
• 🚫 No prior deportation: a previous denial of entry or an entry ban makes entry under this status impossible.

These rules are set by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Check the latest updates on isa.go.jp or with the Embassy of Japan in Paris.

Documents to present on arrival

Keep these accessible when landing at Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Kansai (KIX) or any other Japanese international airport.

1. Passport valid for the entire stay : an ID card is not accepted, only the passport counts.
2. Disembarkation card : handed out on the flight or available at a kiosk on arrival, to fill before immigration.
3. Onward ticket : return flight or ticket to a third country, printed or on a phone.
4. First accommodation address : hotel, ryokan or declared Airbnb, requested on the disembarkation card.
5. Customs declaration : filled in advance via the Visit Japan Web app to speed up customs.

The upcoming JESTA system

Japan is preparing an electronic travel authorization called JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization), modeled on the European ETIAS or the US ESTA. The Japanese government is targeting a launch around 2028.

For 2026 in practice:

• No paid prior online step is required for French or EU nationals.
• The visa exemption works exactly as before the JESTA announcement.
• Beware of third-party sites already offering a paid “JESTA registration”: these are scams, the system doesn’t exist yet.

Statuses for a longer stay or another purpose

Beyond 90 days, or to study, work, or join a Japanese spouse, a residence status must be requested before departure.

Japan Working Holiday

A bilateral France-Japan agreement reserved for 18-30 year-olds (up to just under 31 in some application windows).

• Duration: up to 18 months
• Price: free
• Quota: around 1,500 spots per year, two application windows (usually January and July)
• Where: Embassy of Japan in Paris

Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa

The most common work visa for qualified expats.

• Duration: 1, 3 or 5 years, renewable
• Price: ¥3,000 (~€19)
• Requirement: certificate of eligibility (COE) obtained by the Japanese employer before the application

Student visa

For Japanese language schools (often 6 to 24 months) or a full university program.

• Duration: length of studies
• Price: ¥3,000 (~€19)
• Requirement: letter of acceptance from the institution, proof of funds

Spouse of Japanese national visa

• Duration: 6 months, 1 or 3 years depending on the file
• Price: ¥3,000 (~€19)
• Requirement: translated and registered marriage certificate

How to apply from France

All visa applications (outside the tourist exemption) go through the Embassy of Japan in Paris or one of the regional consulates.

🏛️ Embassy of Japan in Paris

7 avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris. Applications by appointment, collection 5 to 7 working days later.

• Full paper file required (form, photo, supporting documents)
• Payment in cash or card depending on the counter
• No online service for long-stay visas, unlike the Working Holiday which may require an interview

📍 Regional consulates

Branches exist in Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg for some procedures. Check beforehand whether your application can be processed there, as some visas remain centralized in Paris.

⚠️ Caution: no paid third-party service is needed for the tourist exemption. Sites charging for a “Japan authorization” before 2028 are not official.

Special cases

Traveling with a minor

A minor traveling with a single parent doesn’t need a specific exit authorization for Japan, but one is still required to leave France (CERFA form n°15646) if the child travels without both parents.

Transit

Transit within the international zone without passing immigration requires no formality. If you need to collect luggage and clear a security check between two flights, the standard tourist exemption applies.

Dual nationality

Present the passport that gives you the most favorable exemption. For a French-Japanese dual national, entry must be made under the Japanese passport if you hold one, as Japanese law does not recognize adult dual nationality the same way France does.

Entry refusal on arrival

Rare but possible: damaged passport, prior deportation history, missing return ticket, or suspicion of a non-tourist purpose (luggage inconsistent with a short stay, for example). In case of refusal, you’ll be sent back to the boarding country at the carrier’s or traveler’s expense depending on the case.

Other practical info Japan

• Vaccines : none mandatory, WHO recommendations
• Currency (¥ Yen) : cash still king, IC card essential
• Time difference : +7h / +8h from Paris
• Airports : Narita, Haneda, Kansai
• Safety : one of the safest countries in the world
• Budget : how much to plan per day

Page written by Marie L., Southeast Asia and Japan specialist, editor-in-chief of L’Heure du Voyage. 12 years of experience, regular stays in Tokyo since 2015. Updated: July 28, 2026. Verified by 2 experts.