If you stay airside and do not pass through Japanese immigration, no visa is needed to transit through Japan. If you want to head into town, nationals of the 74 visa-exempt countries and regions can simply enter as visitors. Others may get a short transit landing permit, good for 72 hours at most, or must apply for a visa.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Sources: Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Immigration Services Agency (ISA), the Japanese Immigration Control Act and its Enforcement Regulations, Japan Customs and the Embassy of Japan in Australia. Your airline has the final word on what you need to board.
No visaAirside transit without passing immigration
74Visa-exempt countries and regions
72 hoursLongest transit stay ashore
24 hoursDeparture tax exemption for transit
Japan visa transit rules: two different situations
The most important question is whether you will cross the immigration line.
| Your situation | Visa needed? | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Change planes and stay airside | No | You stay outside Japan’s border |
| Visa-exempt national, heading into town | No | Normal visa-free entry (usually up to 90 days) |
| Other national, short stopover near the airport | Possibly not | Short shore stay, 72 hours at most, granted at the officer’s discretion |
| Other national, travelling overland to depart from another port | Possibly not | Transit shore stay (up to 15 or 3 days, depending on the case) |
| Any national, long stopover or not eligible for the above | Yes | Short-term visa from a Japanese Embassy or Consulate |
Staying airside
The Embassy of Japan in Australia states that if you remain in the airport transit area and do not pass through passport control, you need neither a visa nor an exemption to transit. This is the normal case when you connect between two international flights at the same airport and your bags are checked through.
Watch out for airport changes. If you land at Narita and depart from Haneda, or need to collect and re-check luggage, you must pass immigration and customs, so you are entering Japan.
Visa-exempt nationals who leave the airport
If your passport is on MOFA’s visa exemption list (74 countries and regions as of the page dated 1 September 2025, including the US, UK, all EU states, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), a stopover is just a short visa-free visit. The normal rules apply: valid passport, no paid work, and a stay within your visa-free limit (usually 90 days; 30 days for Brunei and Qatar, 15 days for Indonesia and Thailand). Use our Japan visa checker to confirm your nationality.
Special landing permissions for transit passengers
Japan’s immigration law includes simplified landing permissions for passengers and crew who are only passing through. ISA’s own overview describes them as exceptions that allow a short, temporary landing with restrictions on time and area.
Landing permission at the port of call (Article 14)
This is what travellers often call a “shore pass”. According to ISA, it is for foreign passengers travelling to another country via Japan who want to land temporarily near the airport or seaport during a connection, for example for shopping or rest. It is valid for 72 hours at most. It does not apply if Japan is your final destination.
The Enforcement Regulations require the applicant to hold:
- a ticket for onward travel from Japan to the destination (or a letter of guarantee in its place)
- a valid passport that allows entry to the destination country
You also give fingerprints and a photo. In practice the application is handled at the airport, and approval is at the discretion of the immigration officer.
Landing permission for transit (Article 15)
ISA describes two cases:
- a passenger on a ship calling at two or more Japanese ports lands at one port, travels overland for sightseeing and rejoins the same ship at another port (up to 15 days)
- a passenger travelling via Japan to another country lands at the port where they arrived and leaves from another nearby port on a different ship or aircraft (up to 3 days)
Crew landing permission (Article 16)
Foreign crew of ships and aircraft can receive a crew landing permission for changing vessels or rest, lasting 7 or 15 days at most. A multiple crew landing permit also exists for crew who land frequently, for example on regular shipping routes. This is applied for by the ship’s captain or the carrier, not by the crew member.
| Permission | Who it is for | Maximum period |
|---|---|---|
| Port of call (Art. 14) | Transit passengers landing near the port | 72 hours |
| Cruise ship tourist (Art. 14-2) | Passengers of designated cruise ships | 7 or 30 days |
| Transit (Art. 15) | Ship passengers touring overland; passengers changing to another port | 15 or 3 days |
| Crew (Art. 16) | Ship and aircraft crew | 7 or 15 days |
Departure tax for transit passengers
Japan charges an International Tourist Tax of ¥3,000 per departure from 1 July 2026 (previously ¥1,000). Japan Customs lists transit passengers who leave Japan within 24 hours of arrival as exempt, along with children under 2. If your stopover is longer than 24 hours, expect the tax to be included in your ticket.
What JESTA will change for transit
Japan’s new travel authorization, JESTA, was created by a law passed on 29 May 2026. The government aims to launch it in fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 to March 2029). It is not required today.
ISA’s official summary says JESTA will cover visa-exempt short-stay visitors, cruise passengers landing for sightseeing, and some transit passengers. Two points from official documents are worth knowing:
- The bill outline published by ISA makes JESTA-type authorization a condition for applying for the port-of-call, cruise and transit landing permissions described above.
- In the Diet, ISA also said JESTA will cover people passing through Japan without landing, but the details have not been finalised.
So it is not yet clear which airside transit passengers will need approval. Airlines will have to report bookings to ISA and must not board travellers that ISA says should not enter. Check our JESTA eligibility guide and planned JESTA process for updates. No official JESTA website exists yet; ISA has said it is considering a go.jp address for the official site.
Transit checklist
- Confirm both flights leave from the same airport and your bags are checked through.
- Check whether your nationality is visa-exempt.
- If you are not visa-exempt and want to head into town, carry your onward ticket and a passport valid for your destination.
- For stopovers over 24 hours, expect the ¥3,000 departure tax.
- If you enter Japan, prepare the customs declaration (paper or Visit Japan Web).
If you will pass through customs, see our Japan customs declaration guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a transit visa for Japan if I stay in the airport?
No. If you stay in the international transit area and do not pass immigration, a visa or exemption is not required.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Japan?
Yes, if you are a national of a visa-exempt country, you can enter as a normal visitor. Other nationals may apply for a short shore stay of 72 hours at most, at the immigration officer’s discretion, or must get a visa first.
What is a shore pass in Japan?
It is the common name for the port-of-call landing permission under Article 14 of Japan’s immigration law. It lets transit passengers land near the airport or port for 72 hours at most. It does not apply if Japan is your final destination.
Do transit passengers pay Japan’s departure tax?
Transit passengers who leave Japan within 24 hours of arrival are exempt from the International Tourist Tax. Longer stopovers are normally taxed at ¥3,000.
Will I need JESTA to transit through Japan?
Possibly. ISA says JESTA will cover some transit passengers, including some who do not land, but the details are not final. JESTA is not required today.
Sources
- ISA: Overview of Japan’s immigration control system, special landing permissions (PDF, Japanese)
- Japanese Law Translation: Enforcement Regulations of the Immigration Control Act
- Embassy of Japan in Australia: Transit visa and transit information
- MOFA: Exemption of visa (short-term stay)
- ISA: Summary of the amended law (PDF, Japanese)
- ISA: Outline of the amendment bill (PDF, Japanese)
- ISA: Handling of multiple landing permits for foreign crew members (PDF)
- Japan Customs: International Tourist Tax (Japanese)