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Do Hong Kong passport holders need a visa for Japan?

No. Holders of a Hong Kong SAR passport, and holders of a British National (Overseas) passport with the right of residence in Hong Kong, can enter Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

Updated

90days visa-free
Since 2010working holiday programme
2,517,399visitors to Japan in 2025

Visa-free with conditions

The rule for Hong Kong SAR passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Hong Kong.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Passport
HKSAR or BNO
eVISA where you live
Through an agency
Working holiday
Since 2010
Japanese missions
1
Visa for a short stay
Not required with the passport below
Longest stay granted
90 days
Passport
HKSAR passport, or BNO passport with right of residence in Hong Kong
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 Hong Kong depends on the kind of passport you hold.

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

MOFA: note 5 to the listFor citizens of Hong Kong, visas are not required only for holders of Special Administrative Region (SAR) passport issued by the Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China or British National Overseas (BNO) passports who have the right of residence in Hong Kong.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)

What the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong says

Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongThere is not a “six months ’ validity requirement” for foreign passports.Q & A: Japanese Visas

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 Hong Kong since 2010. Visas issued per year: 1,500. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2010
Visas per year
1,500
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Hong Kong.

Digital nomad status

Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong 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.

For people living in Hong Kong who need a visa, the JAPAN eVISA is handled through an accredited agency. It is a single-entry visa for tourism of up to 90 days.

MOFAAll foreign nationals/people residing in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (except jurisdiction over the Consulate General of Japan in Jeju), Singapore and United Arab Emirates, except those who are exempt from short-term visaThe JAPAN eVISA system (electronic visa)
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongForeign nationals, other than the national or citizens of the countries & territories with visa exemption … are eligible to apply for an electronic visa (hereinafter referred to as a “eVISA”) for a single entry temporary visit, for the purposes of tourism, from March 1 st 2024.The Japan eVISA (Electronic Visa)
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongApplicants who are Hong Kong or Macau residents and are currently residing in Hong Kong or Macau. … excluding nationals of Brunei, Qatar, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.The Japan eVISA (Electronic Visa)

What the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong says

Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongSubmission and collection of visa applications are processed at the Japan Visa Application Centre … Except for diplomatic/official matters and humanitarian assistance.Visa (Important Notice)
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongApplicants submit their eVISA applications via the Japan Visa Application Centre website.The Japan eVISA (Electronic Visa)
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongSome nationals who wish to apply for the temporary visa may apply for a proxy application through the Accredited AgenciesVisa (Important Notice)
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongIn principle, the visa application process takes a minimum of one week from the date of submission, (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays announced by the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong).Visa information
Consulate-General of Japan in Hong KongThe earliest date of submission for an eVISA application is 3 months before the intended date of arrival in Japan. … However, applications with an intended date of arrival in Japan which is less than 2 weeks from the submission date will not be accepted.The Japan eVISA (Electronic Visa)

Hong Kong and Japan in numbers

2,517,399 visitors from Hong Kong came to Japan in 2025, 5th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was down 6.2% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Hong Kong

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Hong Kong. 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 Hong Kong passport holders need a visa for Japan?

No. Holders of a Hong Kong SAR passport, and holders of a British National (Overseas) passport with the right of residence in Hong Kong, can enter Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. Source: Japanese foreign ministry list, revised 1 September 2025.

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

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

Can Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong SAR nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Hong Kong 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.

How long must a Hong Kong SAR passport be valid for Japan?

The Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong states: “There is not a “six months ’ validity requirement” for foreign passports.”

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