16 VISA-FREE Countries for Japan Visa or PR Holders (2025)

If you have come to this article and do not have a Japan visa, I urge you to check out the Japan Visa Guide to learn about various Japanese visas for tourists, their eligibility and requirements. 

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Which Japan visas are eligible?

The following Japan visas can be used.

• Tourist visa (tourist, business, visitor)
• Student visa (student, training, cultural, etc.)
• Working visa (work, artist, journalist, etc.)
• Professional visa (highly skilled, start-up, etc.)
• Spouse/child/dependent/long-term resident visas
• Residence card

Refer to each country below to see which Japanese visas are accepted. Most countries require the visa to be multiple-entry and some require the visa to have been used once to enter Japan. 

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Are Japan eVisas accepted?

At this moment, Japan eVisas are not accepted. Immigration officers in most countries aren’t aware of the fact that Japan also issues eVisas. Even if they are, they may not know how to verify the authenticity of those eVisas. 

The proof of a Japan eVisa is the Visa Issuance Notice, which doesn’t contain much information. Japanese immigration also does not accept Japan eVisa prints instead, they require you to show a real-time version of the eVisa using the Japan eVisa app on your phone. I don’t think immigration in other countries is aware of this app or the real-time version. 

If you qualify for a regular sticker visa and also for an eVisa, get the regular sticker visa, especially if you plan to travel to any of the following countries.

Moreover, regular Japanese sticker visas for many nationalities are multiple-entry and valid for 5 years. As a visa traveler, you want long-term visas. 

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What are the VISA-FREE Countries for Japan Visa or PR in 2025?

The VISA-FREE countries you can visit with Japan visa or residence card in 2025 are:

• Asia
  1. Japan (of course!)
  2. Malaysia (temporarily suspended)
  3. Philippines
  4. Singapore
  5. Taiwan
• Europe
  6. Armenia
  7. Georgia
  8. Montenegro
• Middle East
  9. Jordan
  10. Oman
• Africa
  11. Egypt
  12. Morocco
• North America
  13. Mexico
• Central America
  14. Nicaragua
  15. Panama
• Caribbean
  16. Cuba

Now, let’s look at each of these countries in detail. 

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Asia

01. Japan (of course!)

• Includes: All Japanese Islands, including Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
• Excludes: Japanese disputed territories – Northern Territories (Kuril Islands), Takeshima Islands (Liancourt Rocks/Dokdo) and Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu/Tiaoyutai)

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02. Malaysia (temporarily suspended)

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  • Bangladesh
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry (or used single-entry) Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 120 hours (5 days)
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Transit Without Visa (TWOA) at the VOA counter
  • TWOA is free of charge, valid for 120 hours (5 days), single-entry only
  • TWOA is available at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA1 and KLIA2 terminals) only
  • TWOA is available only if flying with Malaysian Airlines, AirAsia or Malindo Air
  • Must be in transit to reach Japan as the final destination. Must hold a confirmed onward eTicket or original boarding pass to Japan within 120 hours. (Exception for longer-term pass holders such as work visa, student visa, etc., who can depart to any third country)
  • Issuing of TWOA is at the discretion of the immigration offices at Kuala Lumpur Airport
• Official source: High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi, India

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03. Philippines

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. China
  2. India
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 7 days (China) or 30 days (India)
• Additional requirements:
  • Japan visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
  • Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the departure date
• Official source: Embassy of the Philippines in India

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04. Singapore

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  • China
  • India
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry Japan visas, except transit
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 96 hours (4 days)
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to obtain the Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) upon arrival
  • Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
  • Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
  • Japan visa or residence card must be valid for at least 1 month at the time of arrival
• Official source: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

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05. Taiwan

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. Cambodia
  2. India
  3. Indonesia
  4. Laos
  5. Myanmar
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid/expired USED multiple or single-entry Japan visas, except transit
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 14 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for the Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC) online
  • TAC is free of charge, valid for 90 days, and multiple-entry
  • The Japan visa must have been USED to enter Japan before
  • If using an EXPIRED Japan visa or residence card, it must have expired in the last 10 years only
• Official source: Bureau of Consular Affairs of Republic of China (Taiwan)

RELATED: 55 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2025

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Europe

06. Armenia

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. Algeria
  2. Bahrain
  3. Belize
  4. Bhutan
  5. Bolivia
  6. Brunei
  7. Cambodia
  8. Colombia
  9. Costa Rica
  10. Cuba
  11. Egypt
  12. Fiji
  13. Grenada
  14. Guatemala
  15. Guyana
  16. Haiti
  17. Honduras
  18. India
  19. Iraq
  20. Jamaica
  21. Kiribati
  22. Laos
  23. Malaysia
  24. Maldives
  25. Marshall Islands
  26. Micronesia
  27. Mongolia
  28. Morocco
  29. Myanmar
  30. Nauru
  31. Nicaragua
  32. Palau
  33. Papua New Guinea
  34. Paraguay
  35. Philippines
  36. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  37. Saint Lucia
  38. Samoa
  39. Saudi Arabia
  40. Solomon Islands
  41. Suriname
  42. Timor-Leste
  43. Tonga
  44. Trinidad and Tobago
  45. Tunisia
  46. Turkmenistan
  47. Tuvalu
  48. Vanuatu
  49. Venezuela
  50. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 21 or 120 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL or Armenia e-Visa (for Egypt, India and Iraq passport holders)
  • VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

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07. Georgia

• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 90 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Japan visa or residence card must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
  • Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period
• Official source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

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08. Montenegro

• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements: Japan visa or residence card must be valid for the intended period of the stay
• Official source: Government of Montenegro

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Middle East

09. Jordan

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. Afghanistan
  2. Angola
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Belize
  5. Benin
  6. Botswana
  7. Burkina Faso
  8. Burundi
  9. Cambodia
  10. Cameroon
  11. Central African Republic
  12. Chad
  13. Comoros
  14. Congo
  15. Cote d’Ivoire
  16. Cuba
  17. Congo, Dem. Rep. Of
  18. Djibouti
  19. Equatorial Guinea
  20. Eritrea
  21. Ethiopia
  22. Gabon
  23. Gambia
  24. Ghana
  25. Guinea
  26. Guinea Bissau
  27. Iran
  28. Iraq
  29. Lao
  30. Liberia
  31. Libya
  32. Madagascar
  33. Mali
  34. Mauritania
  35. Mongolia
  36. Mozambique
  37. Myanmar
  38. Namibia
  39. Nepal
  40. Niger
  41. Nigeria
  42. Pakistan
  43. Palestine
  44. Papua New Guinea
  45. Philippines
  46. Senegal
  47. Sierra Leone
  48. Somalia
  49. South Sudan
  50. Sri Lanka
  51. Sudan
  52. Syria
  53. Tanzania
  54. Timor-Leste
  55. Togo
  56. Uganda
  57. Vietnam
  58. Yemen
  59. Zambia
• Permitted Japan visas: None
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 90 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for the Jordan e-Visa
  • The Japan residence card must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Official source: Jordan E-Visa

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10. Oman

• Eligible Nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. Albania
  2. Armenia
  3. Azerbaijan
  4. Bhutan
  5. Costa Rica
  6. Cuba
  7. El Salvador
  8. Guatemala
  9. Honduras
  10. India
  11. Kyrgyzstan
  12. Laos
  13. Maldives
  14. Mexico
  15. Morocco
  16. Nicaragua
  17. Panama
  18. Peru
  19. Tajikistan
  20. Turkmenistan
  21. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 10 or 30 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Oman 26M or 26N Tourist Visa online
  • 26M eVisa fee is 20 OMR, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
  • 26N eVisa fee is 5 OMR, valid for 10 days, single-entry only
• Official source: Foreign Ministry of Oman

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Africa

11. Egypt

• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA) at all international airports
  • VOA fee is 25 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
  • Japan visa must have been used to enter Japan at least once
• Official source: IATA Travel Centre

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12. Morocco

• Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but you are eligible to apply for the Morocco e-Visa
  • E-Visa fee is 770 MAD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only
  • Japan visa or residence card must be valid for at least 90 days from the day of arrival
• Official source: Morocco E-Visa Portal

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North America

13. Mexico

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: Up to 180 days
• Additional requirements: Japan visa must be valid for the entire stay in Mexico
• Official source: National Institute of Migration, Mexico

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Central America

14. Nicaragua

• Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only
  1. Afghanistan
  2. Albania
  3. Armenia
  4. Bangladesh
  5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  6. Botswana
  7. Cameroon
  8. Congo, Dem Rep of
  9. Congo, Rep of
  10. Eritrea
  11. Haiti
  12. India
  13. Iraq
  14. Kenya
  15. Laos
  16. Liberia
  17. Libya
  18. Mali
  19. Mongolia
  20. Nepal
  21. Nigeria
  22. Pakistan
  23. Sierra Leone
  24. Somalia
  25. Sri Lanka
  26. Sudan
  27. Syria
  28. Timor-Leste
  29. Yemen
  30. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: None
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa on Arrival (VOA)
  • VOA fee is 50 USD, payable in USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
  • Besides the VOA fee, there is a 10 USD tourist card fee, a 2 USD land border migration fee (for land border only) and 1 USD municipality taxt (for land border only) (payable in USD only)
• Official source: IATA Travel Centre

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15. Panama

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements:
  • Japan visa must have been used at least once to enter Japan before
  • Japan visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
  • Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of 500 USD
• Official source: Embassy of Panama in the USA

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Caribbean

16. Cuba

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: Valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas – tourist, student and work only
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Duration of stay: 30 days
• Additional requirements: Must hold a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista), which can be obtained from
  • Cuban Embassies and Consulates
  • Authorized airlines at the time of check-in
  • Travel agencies specialized in Cuba tours
• Official source: IATA Travel Centre

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Change history

Date	Changes
16-Jun-2025	Countries updated: (1) Philippines (duration of stay for Indians is now 30 days)
22-May-2025	Countries added: 1. Cuba (accepts Japan visa or PR) 2. Nicaragua (accepts Japan PR) Countries updated: 1. Armenia (added e-Visa eligibility) 2. Oman (eligible countries list updated) 3. Taiwan (removed Vietnam from the eligible list)

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There you have it! 16 VISA-FREE countries for Japan visa or residence card. Bookmark it and refer to it when you plan your trips.

If you know a country that accepts a Japanese visa, let me know in the comments below. If you have used a Japanese visa to travel to any of these countries, let me know your experience. 

Credits: Maps are made with mapchart.net