Do Belgians need a visa for Japan?
No. Belgians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days.
Belgium is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.
The rule for Belgian passports
What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Belgium.
- Short-stay visa
- Not needed
- Visa-free stay
- 90 days
- Japanese missions
- 1
- Visa for a short stay
- Not required
- Longest stay granted
- 90 days
- Passport
- Valid ordinary passport
- What a short stay covers
- Tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. No paid work.
- Group on the ministry's list
- Europe
- List last revised
- 1 September 2025
The official wording
MOFA: visa exemption listThe period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, “30 days” for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.
Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
MOFA(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)
VISA
Embassy of Japan in BelgiumBelgian nationals … you do not need a visa if your period of stay in Japan is 90 days or less and if you are not going to be engaged in income-earning activities
VISA
Other passports from Europe
| Passport | Short-stay visa | Visa-free stay |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not needed | 90 days |
| France | Not needed | 90 days |
| Germany | Not needed | 90 days |
| Italy | Not needed | 90 days |
| Spain | Not needed | 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Not needed | 90 days |
Passport conditions
A valid passport is the starting point for every traveller.
You must hold a valid passport to enter Japan (Immigration Control Act, Article 3).
The foreign ministry's list attaches no extra passport condition to Belgium.
Working, studying or staying longer
Visa-free entry covers short stays only.
Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.
Digital nomad status
Belgium is on the Immigration Services Agency's list for Japan's digital nomad status: remote work from Japan for up to 6 months, with no extension.
At the airport in Japan
The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.
On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.
JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation
Not yet. JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors. The Immigration Services Agency gives its start only as a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.
Living in Belgium with another passport
Visa applications go by where you live, not only by nationality.
You can apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country or in the country where you live. You cannot apply while travelling in a third country.
The foreign ministry's eVISA list does not include residents of Belgium, so applications go to the embassy or consulate, or to the channel it names.
What the Embassy of Japan in Belgium says
Embassy of Japan in BelgiumWhen applying for a visa, the applicant must submit the necessary documents to the Consular Service in person. … Currently, an appointment is necessary to apply for a visa at our services.
VISA
Embassy of Japan in BelgiumAfter application, if all the submitted documents prove to be in order, the visa procedure takes five working days . … Some specific visa procedures may take longer and, if this should be the case, you will be informed of this fact when you submit your documents.
VISA
Embassy of Japan in Belgiumyou are strongly advised to apply for your visa at least one month before your departure
VISA
Belgium and Japan in numbers
64,189 visitors from Belgium came to Japan in 2025, 31st among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 36.4% on 2024.
Japanese embassy for Belgium
The missions the foreign ministry lists for Belgium. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.
This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.
Frequently asked questions
Do Belgians need a visa for Japan?
No. Belgians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Belgium is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.
How long can Belgians stay in Japan without a visa?
Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Belgium on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.
Can Belgians work in Japan on a visa-free stay?
No. A short stay does not include paid work. The Immigration Services Agency says Temporary Visitors cannot work in Japan in principle, apart from short business trips.
Do Belgians need JESTA to enter Japan?
Not yet. The law creating JESTA passed on 29 May 2026. It starts on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.
Read more
Sources for this page
Show all 15
- Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- VISAMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- VISAEmbassy of Japan in Belgium
- 外国人の入国の要件 (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Digital Nomad: eligible countries and regions (PDF)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Specified visa: Designated activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- 入国審査時には「外国人入国記録」をご提出ください (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 外国人の上陸手続 (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 令和8年入管法等改正法について (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- 改正法の概要：JESTA（電子渡航認証制度）の創設 (Japanese, PDF)Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Frequently Asked QuestionsMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Visitor arrivals by nationality and month: 2025 (finalised)Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
- Websites of Japanese Embassies, Consulates and Permanent MissionsMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- 出入国審査・在留審査Q&A (Japanese)Immigration Services Agency of Japan