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Do South Koreans need a visa for Japan?

No. South Koreans do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. South Korea 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 1999working holiday programme
9,459,711visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for South Korean passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for South Korea.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
eVISA where you live
Through an agency
Working holiday
Since 1999
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
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

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 South Korea.

What the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea says

Embassy of Japan in the Republic of KoreaA valid passport is required to enter and leave Japan, but there is no minimum period of validity required. … However, we recommend that the validity period of your passport is sufficient to ensure your smooth travel.영사부 안내

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 South Korea since 1999. Visas issued per year: 10,000. It is for young people whose main purpose is a holiday, with work allowed to top up travel funds.

Programme since
1999
Visas per year
10,000
Age
18 to 25 when you apply (30 where both governments agree)
Second participation
Allowed
MOFAStarting from 1 October, 2025, the nationals of South Korea 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 South Korea.

Digital nomad status

South Korea 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 South Korea 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 South Korea 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)

The foreign ministry excludes the area covered by the Consulate-General of Japan in Jeju.

What the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea says

Embassy of Japan in the Republic of KoreaApplicants are requested to apply visa at accredited travel agents approved by the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea영사부 안내

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryGeneral136,000 KRW Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryGeneral273,000 KRW Source1 July 2026

South Korea and Japan in numbers

9,459,711 visitors from South Korea came to Japan in 2025, 1st among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 7.3% on 2024.

Japan issued 36,699 visas to South Korean nationals in 2025, 0% of all visas issued and number 10 by nationality.

Japanese embassy and consulates in South Korea

The missions the foreign ministry lists for South Korea. 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 South Koreans need a visa for Japan?

No. South Koreans do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. South Korea 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 South Koreans stay in Japan without a visa?

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

Can South Koreans 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 South Korean nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do South Koreans 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 South Korean passport be valid for Japan?

The Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea states: “A valid passport is required to enter and leave Japan, but there is no minimum period of validity required. … However, we recommend that the validity period of your passport is sufficient to ensure your smooth travel.”

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