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Do Taiwanese passport holders need a visa for Japan?

No. Holders of a Taiwanese passport that shows a personal ID number can enter Japan without a visa for a short stay of up to 90 days. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025.

Updated

90days visa-free
Since 2009working holiday programme
6,763,424visitors to Japan in 2025

Visa-free with conditions

The rule for Taiwanese passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Taiwan.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Passport
With ID number
eVISA where you live
Online
Working holiday
Since 2009
Visa for a short stay
Not required with the passport below
Longest stay granted
90 days
Passport
Passport with a personal ID number
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
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

Other passports from Asia

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Asia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
ChinaNeededNo visa-free stay
Hong KongNot needed90 days
PhilippinesNeededNo visa-free stay
South KoreaNot needed90 days
TaiwanNot needed90 days
ThailandNot needed15 days

Passport conditions

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

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

MOFA: note 4 to the listVisa exemption arrangement for Taiwan is limited to passport holders with a personal ID number.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

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 Taiwan since 2009. Visas issued per year: 10,000. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2009
Visas per year
10,000
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Allowed
MOFAStarting from 1 February, 2026, the people of Taiwan are allowed to participate in the Working Holiday Programmes twice in lifetime (two inconsecutive one-year stays in total).The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan

Apply at the Taipei or Kaohsiung office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.

Digital nomad status

Taiwan 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 Taiwan 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.

People living in Taiwan who need a visa can apply online through the JAPAN eVISA website. The eVISA is a single-entry visa for tourism of up to 90 days.

MOFAAustralia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A. All foreign nationals/people residing in these countries/regions, except those who are exempt from short-term visa, can apply for an eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA website.The JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)

Taiwan and Japan in numbers

6,763,424 visitors from Taiwan came to Japan in 2025, 3rd among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 11.9% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Taiwan

Japan has no embassy in Taiwan. The foreign ministry names the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association as the place to apply.

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 Taiwanese passport holders need a visa for Japan?

No. Holders of a Taiwanese passport that shows a personal ID number can enter Japan without a visa for a short stay of up to 90 days. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025.

How long can Taiwanese passport holders stay in Japan without a visa?

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

Can Taiwanese passport holders 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 Taiwanese nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Taiwanese passport holders 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