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Do Swedish citizens need a visa for Japan?

No. Swedish citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 90 days. Sweden 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 2020working holiday programme
69,903visitors to Japan in 2025

No visa for short stays

The rule for Swedish passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Sweden.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
90 days
Working holiday
Since 2020
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 SwedenA visa is not required for Swedish passport holders who wish to enter Japan for a period of 90 days or less for the following non-paid purposes: … sightseeing, recreation, amateur sports, visiting relatives, inspection tour, participation in unpaid lectures or meetings, study, attending a conference, business contact, unpaid internship, or other similar activities.Visuminformation för svenska medborgare

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
SpainNot needed90 days
SwedenNot 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 Sweden.

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 Sweden since 2020. 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
2020
Visas per year
No limit
Age
18 to 30 when you apply
Second participation
Once in a lifetime

Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in Sweden.

Digital nomad status

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

What the Embassy of Japan in Sweden says

Embassy of Japan in SwedenVisits to the Visa and Consular Section by Appointment … Please be sure to make appointments by phone (appointments cannot be made by email). … Tel: +46-(0)8-5793-5300 … Monday–Friday: 9:30–12:00, 14:00–16:00Visits to the Visa and Consular Section by Appointment
Embassy of Japan in SwedenAll visa applications should be sent to the Visa and Consular Section by post or delivered personally to the Embassy of Japan. … we strongly advise you to send your application by registered mailHow to Apply for a Visa
Embassy of Japan in SwedenThe processing time for a visa is normally 10-15 full working days, but it might take longer depending on if additional documents are required or depending on other circumstances.Temporary Visitor Visas
Embassy of Japan in SwedenThe earliest you can apply is 3 months ahead of your planned arrival in Japan.Temporary Visitor Visas

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Sweden

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Sweden (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryGeneral1,000 SEK Source1 July 2026
Single entryIndian nationals60 SEK Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryGeneral2,000 SEK Source1 July 2026
Multiple entryIndian nationals60 SEK Source1 July 2026

Sweden and Japan in numbers

69,903 visitors from Sweden came to Japan in 2025, 30th among the markets JNTO counts separately. That was up 34.2% on 2024.

Japanese embassy for Sweden

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Sweden. 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 Swedish citizens need a visa for Japan?

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

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

Can Swedish 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 Swedish nationals who want to work while travelling.

Do Swedish 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