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Do Malaysians need a visa for Japan?

No, if you hold an ePassport. Since 1 July 2013, Malaysians with an ICAO-standard ePassport can enter Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. The foreign ministry advises those without an ePassport to get a visa in advance. Source: list revised 1 September 2025.

Updated

90days visa-free
636,575visitors to Japan in 2025

Visa-free with conditions

The rule for Malaysian passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Malaysia.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Passport
ePassport
Japanese missions
3
Visa for a short stay
Not required with the passport below
Longest stay granted
90 days
Passport
ICAO-standard ePassport (visa advised without one)
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
MalaysiaNot needed90 days
South KoreaNot needed90 days
TaiwanNot needed90 days
ThailandNot needed15 days

Passport conditions

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

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

MOFA: note 3 to the listFor nationals of Malaysia (since July 1, 2013), visas are not required only for holders of ePassport in compliance with ICAO standards. Those who do not hold such ePassport are advised to obtain a visa in advance, otherwise will be strictly examined and may be refused entry to 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)

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

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia says

Embassy of Japan in MalaysiaReceive appointment email from the Embassy. … Visit the Embassy of Japan to submit all the documents at visa counter on the date set by the Embassy.Visa to Japan

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryIndian nationals25.00 MYR Source1 July 2026
Single entryOther nationals440.00 MYR Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryIndian nationals25.00 MYR Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryOther nationals880.00 MYR Source1 July 2026

Malaysia and Japan in numbers

636,575 visitors from Malaysia came to Japan in 2025, 13th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 25.6% on 2024.

Japanese embassy and consulates in Malaysia

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Malaysia. 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 Malaysians need a visa for Japan?

No, if you hold an ePassport. Since 1 July 2013, Malaysians with an ICAO-standard ePassport can enter Japan without a visa for up to 90 days. The foreign ministry advises those without an ePassport to get a visa in advance. Source: list revised 1 September 2025.

How long can Malaysians stay in Japan without a visa?

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

Can Malaysians 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 Malaysians 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