Do Malaysians need a visa for Japan?

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Malaysia.

Short-stay visa

Not needed

Visa-free stay

90 days

Passport

ePassport

Japanese missions

3

Visa for a short stay

Not required with the passport below

Longest stay granted

90 days

Passport

ICAO-standard ePassport (visa advised without one)

What a short stay covers

Tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. No paid work.

Group on the ministry's list

Asia

List last revised

1 September 2025

Other passports from Asia

The exemption for Malaysia depends on the kind of passport you hold.

You must hold a valid passport to enter Japan (Immigration Control Act, Article 3).

MOFA: note 3 to the list

For nationals of Malaysia (since July 1, 2013), visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to Japan.

Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

An ePassport carries an IC chip and shows the ePassport symbol on its front cover.

MOFA: visa exemption list

ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards has ePassport’s symbol on the front cover of the passport.

Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

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

Malaysia 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.

• Digital nomad visaEligible countries and requirements

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.

• Visit Japan Web: QR codes for immigration and customsStep by step
• What you cannot bring into JapanMeat, fruit, medicine and more
• Plugs and voltage: Malaysia and JapanDo you need an adapter?
• Tax-free shopping in JapanThe refund system from 1 November 2026

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.

• JESTA: what is decided so farDates, who it covers, what is not yet set

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 Malaysia, so applications go to the embassy or consulate, or to the channel it names.

What the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia says

Embassy of Japan in Malaysia

Receive appointment email from the Embassy. … Visit the Embassy of Japan to submit all the documents at visa counter on the date set by the Embassy.

Visa to Japan

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia

636,575 visitors from Malaysia came to Japan in 2025, 13th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 25.6% on 2024.

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Malaysia. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.

• Embassy of Japan in MalaysiaOfficial website
• Consular Office in Kota KinabaluOfficial website
• Consulate-General in PenangOfficial website

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.