Skip to main content

Do Polish citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Polish citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Poland 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 2015working holiday programme
95,900visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for Polish passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Poland.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 2015
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

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
ItalyNot needed90 days
PolandNot 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 Poland.

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 Poland since 2015. Visas issued per year: 500. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
2015
Visas per year
500
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Poland.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Poland says

Embassy of Japan in PolandIt is required to book the appointment at the Consulate in order to submit visa documents: 22 696 50 05. … Visa applications must be submitted in person or by proxy with written letter of authorization.Visa information
Embassy of Japan in PolandVISA PROCESSING TIME IS MINIMUM 5 WORKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF RECEIVING ALL COMPLETED DOCUMENTATION … Our office does not offer expedited services.Visa information
Embassy of Japan in PolandIt is possible to apply for a visa not earlier than 3 months before your planned trip to Japan.Visa information

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Poland

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Poland (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryOther nationals385 PLN Source1 July 2026
Single entryIndian nationals21 PLN Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryOther nationals769 PLN Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryIndian nationals21 PLN Source1 July 2026

Poland and Japan in numbers

95,900 visitors from Poland came to Japan in 2025, 27th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 50.2% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Poland

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Poland. 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 Polish citizens need a visa for Japan?

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

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

Can Polish 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 Polish nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Polish 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

Back to Japan visa

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