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Do Thai citizens need a visa for Japan?

No, if you hold an ePassport. Since 1 July 2013, Thai citizens with an ICAO-standard ePassport can enter Japan without a visa for up to 15 days. Without an ePassport you must get a visa in advance. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

Updated

15days visa-free
1,233,103visitors to Japan in 2025

Visa-free with conditions

The rule for Thai passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Thailand.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
15 days
Passport
ePassport only
Japanese missions
2
Visa for a short stay
Not required with the passport below
Longest stay granted
15 days
Passport
ICAO-standard ePassport required
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
Embassy of Japan in ThailandVisa exemption is adapted to Thai nationals who are listed below since July 1, 2013. … IC passport holder … Temporary visitor within 15 daysConsular Affairs

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 Thailand depends on the kind of passport you hold.

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

MOFA: note 2 to the listFor nationals of Montenegro (since September 1, 2025), Peru（since July 1, 2025), Paraguay (since June 1, 2025), Panama (since April 1, 2024), Brazil (since September 30, 2023), United Arab Emirates (since November 1, 2022), Thailand (since July 1, 2013) and Serbia (since May 1, 2011), visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are requested to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be refused to enter 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 listePassport in compliance with ICAO standards has ePassport’s symbol on the front cover of the passport.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

What the Embassy of Japan in Thailand says

Embassy of Japan in ThailandPassport (with more than 2 blank pages and with re-entry permit to Thailand. Please present your old passports, if any) … When entering Japan you must possess a valid passport. Your passport doesn’t have to be valid for a minimum of 6 months.Consular Affairs

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.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Thailand says

Embassy of Japan in ThailandRemarks: For visa applications to Japan, applicants need to apply at JVAC (Japan Visa Application Center) not directly at the Embassy. … JVAC accepts applications for all visa categories except for diplomatic and official visa.Consular Affairs
Embassy of Japan in ThailandApplicants who reside in the 9 northern provinces (Chiangmai, Chiangrai,Lamphun, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Prae, Nan, and Uttaradit) must apply for visa at the Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai.Consular Affairs
Embassy of Japan in ThailandIt takes at least 5 working days to process a visa. … But in some cases the Embassy will request additional documents or an interview, which will take longer.Consular Affairs

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Thailand

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryStandard rate3,340 THB Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryStandard rate6,680 THB Source1 July 2026

Thailand and Japan in numbers

1,233,103 visitors from Thailand came to Japan in 2025, 6th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 7.3% on 2024.

Japanese embassy and consulates in Thailand

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Thailand. 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 Thai citizens need a visa for Japan?

No, if you hold an ePassport. Since 1 July 2013, Thai citizens with an ICAO-standard ePassport can enter Japan without a visa for up to 15 days. Without an ePassport you must get a visa in advance. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

How long can Thai citizens stay in Japan without a visa?

Up to 15 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Thailand on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.

Can Thai 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 Thai 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 Thai passport be valid for Japan?

The Embassy of Japan in Thailand states: “Passport (with more than 2 blank pages and with re-entry permit to Thailand. Please present your old passports, if any) … When entering Japan you must possess a valid passport. Your passport doesn’t have to be valid for a minimum of 6 months.”

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