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Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Swiss citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Switzerland 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
89,640visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for Swiss passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Switzerland.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Japanese missions
2
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 SwitzerlandA visa is not required for Swiss passport holders and passport holders of the Principality of Liechtenstein who wish to enter Japan for a period of 6 months or less for the following purposes: … visiting relatives (a spouse, blood relatives and relatives by affinity of up to the third degree) … visiting acquaintances (including friends) tourism (sightseeing) … In either case, it is not permitted to perform activities to undertake revenue-generating business operations or activities to receive remuneration.Short-term Stay for Swiss Passport Holders / Passport Holders of the Principality of Liechtenstein

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
SpainNot needed90 days
SwitzerlandNot 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 Switzerland.

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.

Under the bilateral arrangement with Switzerland, stays of up to 6 months are possible. To stay beyond 90 days, apply for an extension at a Regional Immigration Bureau in Japan before your permitted stay runs out.

MOFA: note 8 to the listFor nationals of those countries with visa exemptions permitting stays of up to 6 months under the bilateral visa exemption arrangements, those who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days are required to apply for an extension of the period of stay to the Ministry of Justice (Regional Immigration Bureau) before the period of permitted stay is to expire.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Switzerland says

Embassy of Japan in SwitzerlandEvery visa applicant has to bring the required visa application documents to consular section. … Please note that we don’t accept visa application documents by post and we don’t send passports by post. … Visits to Consular Section by Appointment Only.General Information to Apply for a Visa
Embassy of Japan in SwitzerlandIf your residence is in one of the following cantons, Geneva , Vaud , Valais , Ticino , please contact the Consulat du Japon à Genève (022 716 99 00)General Information to Apply for a Visa
Embassy of Japan in SwitzerlandIt takes 7 working days for visa applications to be processed.General Information to Apply for a Visa
Embassy of Japan in SwitzerlandVisa applications may not be submitted earlier than 3 months prior to arrival in Japan and later than 1 week before departure. … (Exceptions are possible for "certificate of eligibility" holders.)General Information to Apply for a Visa

Switzerland and Japan in numbers

89,640 visitors from Switzerland came to Japan in 2025, 29th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 24.2% on 2024.

Japanese embassy and consulates in Switzerland

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Switzerland. 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 Swiss citizens need a visa for Japan?

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

Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Switzerland on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025. Under the bilateral arrangement a stay of up to 6 months is possible, but you must apply for an extension in Japan before the first 90 days run out.

Can Swiss 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.

Do Swiss 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