Japan visa for Germans: do you need one?

Visa rules for a tourist visit

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Germany in its visa exemption arrangements, with a period of stay of 90 days. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt, travel advice as of 26 October 2026) says German citizens can enter Japan visa-free for short stays of up to 90 days, except for paid research stays and internships.

The Embassy of Japan in Germany (9 October 2026) lists what counts as a short stay: tourism, business, conferences, visiting relatives or friends, language school, and unpaid internships or research. The visa exemption does not cover paid work.

You do not need to apply for anything before you travel: there is currently no electronic travel authorisation for Japan.

How long you can stay

You get up to 90 days on arrival. According to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany is one of the countries whose arrangement with Japan allows stays of up to 6 months. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for an extension at a regional office of the Immigration Services Agency before your permitted stay expires.

The Auswärtiges Amt and the Embassy of Japan in Germany mention only the 90 days and do not describe this extension. The Auswärtiges Amt says you need a visa issued before travel if you want to work, study or stay longer than 180 days, and that stringing together visa-free short stays to get around the rules for longer stays is not allowed.

What to have ready

• A Reisepass, vorläufiger Reisepass or Kinderreisepass. The Auswärtiges Amt says the Personalausweis (ID card) is not accepted.
• A passport valid for the whole of your planned stay, according to the Auswärtiges Amt.
• A return or onward ticket is not a legal requirement, but the Auswärtiges Amt notes that some airlines refuse to carry passengers without a return or onward ticket within 90 days.
• If you plan to stay more than 90 days, time to apply for the extension at an immigration office before your first 90 days run out.
• No visa fee. Japan's International Tourist Tax of JPY 3,000 is charged when you leave and is usually included in your ticket price.

The arrival form

Visit Japan Web, the free official online service for immigration and customs procedures, is optional. The Auswärtiges Amt says registering in advance is no longer necessary but can speed up entry. If you want to use it, our separate Visit Japan Web page explains how it works and how to avoid fake sites.

Recent and upcoming changes

• 1 July 2026: Japan's International Tourist Tax rose from JPY 1,000 to JPY 3,000 per departure. The JPY 1,000 rate still applies to eligible tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026, and infants under 2 are exempt (Japan Tourism Agency and National Tax Agency).
• JESTA: Japan passed a law creating JESTA, an electronic travel authorisation, on 29 May 2026. The Immigration Services Agency aims to introduce it in fiscal year 2028 (the law requires it to start by 31 March 2029), ahead of the original plan for 2030. No launch date or fee has been announced, and nothing is needed before you travel today.