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Do Portuguese citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Portugal 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 2015working holiday programme
57,391visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for Portuguese passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Portugal.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 2015
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 PortugalThe citizens of Portugal and other countries on the "Reciprocal Visa Waiver Agreements with Japan" do not require a visa for temporary visits up to 90 days for the purposes of tourism or other unpaid activities as long as they hold a valid passport.Visto de Estada Temporária (Short-term stay visa)

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
PortugalNot 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 Portugal.

What the Embassy of Japan in Portugal says

Embassy of Japan in PortugalMake sure that your trip to Japan completes before the expiry date. … We do not require a minimum period of validity for entering Japan.FAQ (English)

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 Portugal since 2015. Visas issued per year: no limit. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2015
Visas per year
No limit
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Portugal.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Portugal says

Embassy of Japan in PortugalPlease note that visa applications are to be submitted to the Embassy of Japan located in Lisbon. … The Honorary Consul in Porto does not provide consular services. … The applicants need to make an appointment by phone or emailVISTOS PARA O JAPÃO / VISA FOR JAPAN
Embassy of Japan in PortugalNormally it takes five working days to issue a visa. In some cases, however, it may take longer.Requerimento de Visto / Visa application
Embassy of Japan in PortugalWe cannot accept a visa application submitted more than 3 months before the date of arrival in Japan.Visto de Estada Temporária (Short-term stay visa)

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Portugal

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Portugal (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryIndia5.00 EUR Source1 July 2026
Single entryOther countries90.00 EUR Source1 July 2026

Portugal and Japan in numbers

57,391 visitors from Portugal came to Japan in 2025, 33rd among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 35.7% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Portugal

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Portugal. 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 Portuguese citizens need a visa for Japan?

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

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

Can Portuguese 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 Portuguese nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Portuguese 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.

How long must a Portuguese passport be valid for Japan?

The Embassy of Japan in Portugal states: “Make sure that your trip to Japan completes before the expiry date. … We do not require a minimum period of validity for entering Japan.”

Related items

Sources for this page

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