Japan Grants Limited Visa-Free Access to Brunei and Qatar

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that while nationals from 74 countries and regions can enter Japan without a visa, the duration of stay varies significantly. Only citizens from Brunei and Qatar are permitted a 30-day visa-free entry, while Indonesia and Thailand have an even shorter allowance of 15 days.

Additionally, several countries, including Montenegro, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Serbia, can only enter visa-free if they possess an ePassport that meets International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. Those lacking such passports must obtain a visa prior to travel.

Notably, no African nations are included in the 74 countries eligible for visa exemption, meaning that the majority of Africans must apply for a visa through the appropriate Japanese embassy or consulate before traveling to Japan. The visa exemption list has been updated multiple times, with Montenegro being the latest addition in September 2025.