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Do Maltese citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Maltese citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Malta 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.

Updated

90days visa-free
Since 2026working holiday programme

No visa for short stays

The rule for Maltese passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Malta.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 2026
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 MaltaHowever, Japan and Malta have the visa waiver agreement which allows citizens of Malta to enter Japan without a visa for up to 90 days (only for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities).Consular Service

Other passports from Europe

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Europe (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
FranceNot needed90 days
GermanyNot needed90 days
ItalyNot needed90 days
MaltaNot needed90 days
SpainNot needed90 days
United KingdomNot needed90 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 Malta.

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.

Working holiday visa

Japan has run a working holiday programme with Malta since 2026. Visas issued per year: 100. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2026
Visas per year
100
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Malta.

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Malta says

Embassy of Japan in MaltaThe Embassy of Japan in Italy is accredited to Malta. … Applications for visas from residents of Malta are accepted at the Embassy of Japan in ItalyConsular Service

Japanese embassy for Malta

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Malta. 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 Maltese citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Maltese citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Malta 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 Maltese citizens stay in Japan without a visa?

Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Malta on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.

Can Maltese citizens 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. A working holiday visa is the route for young Maltese nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Maltese citizens 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.

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026