14 VISA-FREE Countries You Can Visit With Japan Visa or PR [2024 Edition]

Japan visa is growing in popularity, partly due to the Japanese passport. Because the Japanese passport has become such a strong passport in recent years, Japan’s visa is gaining trust as a strong visa. 

Japan visa may not be as strong as a US or Canada visa, but it’s still powerful enough. As of 2024, there are 14 VISA-FREE countries you can visit with Japan visa or residence card.

In this article, you will learn about these 14 countries, who can enter these countries and what visas are permitted. 

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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What are the VISA-FREE Countries for Japan Visa or Residence Card Holders?

The VISA-FREE countries you can visit with Japan visa or residence card in 2024 are:

• Asia
  1. Japan
  2. Malaysia
  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. Panama

This list changes often. Please bookmark this article so you can refer to it when you’re planning your trip. 

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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. 

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. 

Proof of Japan eVisa is the Visa Issuance Notice which doesn’t include 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 any other immigration has any idea about 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 below 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. 

Without further ado, 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 (currently 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
• Entry granted: 120 hours (5 days)
• Entry rules:
  • 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 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: Indian passport holders only
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Entry granted: 14 days
• Entry rules:
  • 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
• Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain 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
  6. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid/expired used/unused multiple or single-entry Japan visas, except transit
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Entry granted: 14 days
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online
  • ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multiple-entry
  • 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)

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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. Indonesia
  20. Iraq
  21. Jamaica
  22. Kiribati
  23. Laos
  24. Malaysia
  25. Maldives
  26. Marshall Islands
  27. Micronesia
  28. Mongolia
  29. Morocco
  30. Myanmar
  31. Nauru
  32. Nicaragua
  33. Palau
  34. Papua New Guinea
  35. Paraguay
  36. Philippines
  37. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  38. Saint Lucia
  39. Samoa
  40. Saudi Arabia
  41. Solomon Islands
  42. Suriname
  43. Timor-Leste
  44. Tonga
  45. Trinidad and Tobago
  46. Tunisia
  47. Turkmenistan
  48. Tuvalu
  49. Vanuatu
  50. Venezuela
  51. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Entry granted: 21 or 120 days
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
  • VOA fee is 3,000 AMD, valid for 21 days, single-entry (OR) 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry
  • Japan visa must be a STICKER in the passport (eVisa prints are not accepted)
• 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
• Entry granted: 90 days
• Entry rules:
  • 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
• Entry granted: 30 days
• Entry rule: Japan visa or residence card must be valid for the intended period of the stay
• Official source: Government of Montenegro

RELATED: 53 countries you can travel VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2024

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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
• Entry granted: 90 days
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for Jordan eVisa
  • 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. Belarus
  5. Bhutan
  6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  7. Costa Rica
  8. Cuba
  9. El Salvador
  10. Guatemala
  11. Honduras
  12. India
  13. Kazakhstan
  14. Kyrgyzstan
  15. Laos
  16. Maldives
  17. Mexico
  18. Morocco
  19. Nicaragua
  20. Panama
  21. Peru
  22. Tajikistan
  23. Turkmenistan
  24. Uzbekistan
  25. Vietnam
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Entry granted: 10 or 30 days
• Entry rules:
  • 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: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police

RELATED: 18 countries you can visit VISA-FREE with an Australian visa or PR in 2024

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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
• Entry granted: 30 days
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL 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: Egypt Tourism Department

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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
• Entry granted: 30 days
• Entry rules:
  • Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for 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

RELATED: 13 VISA-FREE Countries You Can Visit with New Zealand Visa or PR in 2024

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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
• Entry granted: Varies depending on the itinerary
• Entry rule: 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. Panama

• Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
• Permitted Japan visas: All valid USED multiple-entry Japan visas
• Permitted Japan PRs: Valid Japanese residence card
• Entry granted: 30 days
• Entry rules:
  • 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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There you have it! 14 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 Japan visa, let me know in the comments below. If you have used a Japan visa to travel to any of these countries, let me know your experience.