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Do Irish citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Irish citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Ireland 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 2007working holiday programme
45,037visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for Irish passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Ireland.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 2007
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 IrelandIn normal circumstances, Irish passport holders are NOT required to obtain a visa if they wish to enter Japan for the purposes of travel described below for a period of 6 months or less. … For nationals of Ireland, the maximum period of stay given on arrival will be 90 days.Visiting Japan

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
IrelandNot needed90 days
ItalyNot 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 Ireland.

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 Ireland, 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)

Working holiday visa

Japan has run a working holiday programme with Ireland since 2007. Visas issued per year: 800. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2007
Visas per year
800
Age
18 to 25 when you apply (30 where both governments agree)
Second participation
Allowed
MOFAStarting from 1 January, 2025, the nationals of Germany, Ireland, and Slovakia 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 Japanese embassy or consulate in Ireland.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Ireland says

Embassy of Japan in IrelandVisa applicants must visit our office in person along with their passport, visa application forms and the other documents required according to the purpose of stay … YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT PRIOR TO APPLYING. … Please contact the Consular Section by email : consular@ir.mofa.go.jp with your full name, nationality and travel dates.Visiting Japan

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Ireland

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Ireland (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFee
Single entryGeneral90 EUR Source
Single entryIndian nationals5 EUR Source
Multiple entryGeneral181 EUR Source
Multiple entryIndian nationals5 EUR Source

Ireland and Japan in numbers

45,037 visitors from Ireland came to Japan in 2025, 36th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 36.5% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Ireland

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Ireland. 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 Irish citizens need a visa for Japan?

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

Up to 90 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Ireland 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 Irish 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 Irish nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Irish 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.

Related items

Sources for this page

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