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Do New Zealanders need a visa for Japan?

No. New Zealanders do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. New Zealand 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 1985working holiday programme
136,875visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for New Zealand passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for New Zealand.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 1985
Japanese missions
3
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
Oceania
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 New ZealandVisas are no longer required for NZ citizens for short-term stays(A stay for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities) up to 90 days.Visa & Certificate

Other passports from Oceania

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Oceania (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
AustraliaNot needed90 days
New ZealandNot 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 New Zealand.

What the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand says

Embassy of Japan in New ZealandYou can travel to Japan as long as your passport is valid beyond the date you are planning to leave. … Your passport does not need to be valid for a certain period (e.g. 6 months, etc.)Visa Application Process
Embassy of Japan in New ZealandJapan does not have any regulations relating to passport validity, so long as your passport will be valid until after you leave Japan.Frequently Asked Questions

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 New Zealand since 1985. Visas issued per year: no limit. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
1985
Visas per year
No limit
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Allowed
MOFAStarting from 1 December, 2024, the nationals of Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark, and Austria are allowed to participate in the Working Holiday Programmes twice in lifetime ((1) two consecutive years of stay/two inconsecutive one-year stays in total for nationals of Canada and the United Kingdom, or (2) two inconsecutive one-year stays in total for nationals of New Zealand, Denmark and Austria).The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in New Zealand.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand says

Embassy of Japan in New ZealandBooking is not required to submit your application at the counter. … To apply at the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand, WellingtonTemporary Visitor's Visa
Embassy of Japan in New ZealandAt the Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland, you must make an online appointment in advance for consular services from 16 June 2025.Visa & Certificate
Embassy of Japan in New ZealandSend by post using courier … All Working Holiday Visa applicants must apply at the counter. … Consular Office, Embassy of Japan, PO Box 6340, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 … Consular Office of Japan, PO Box 13478, Christchurch 8140Visa Application Process
Embassy of Japan in New ZealandCurrent processing time is approx. 1-2 weeks depending on the completeness of your application. … Incomplete applications will take much longerVisa & Certificate
Embassy of Japan in New ZealandMost visas are valid for three months from the date of issue. … visa applications can be submitted from three months before the scheduled date of entry into Japan.Frequently Asked Questions

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryStandard (all other nationalities)172 NZD Source1 July 2026
Single entryIndian passport holders10 NZD Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryStandard (all other nationalities)345 NZD Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryIndian passport holders10 NZD Source1 July 2026

New Zealand and Japan in numbers

136,875 visitors from New Zealand came to Japan in 2025, 22nd among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 19.0% on 2024.

Japanese embassy and consulates in New Zealand

The missions the foreign ministry lists for New Zealand. 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 New Zealanders need a visa for Japan?

No. New Zealanders do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. New Zealand 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 New Zealanders stay in Japan without a visa?

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

Can New Zealanders 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 New Zealand nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do New Zealanders 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 New Zealand passport be valid for Japan?

The Embassy of Japan in New Zealand states: “You can travel to Japan as long as your passport is valid beyond the date you are planning to leave. … Your passport does not need to be valid for a certain period (e.g. 6 months, etc.)”

Related items

Sources for this page

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