last edited Mar 10, 2026
Entry Requirements and Visa for Japan
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For French Citizens
For tourist travel, no visa is required for stays of less than 3 months. A passport valid until the planned return date is sufficient.
However, Japan also requires visitors to register their profile via the “Visit Japan Web” site to streamline arrival checks. You fill out a form, and the site generates a QR code to present at immigration, eliminating the need to complete paper forms on the plane or at the airport. Additionally, Japan allows the collection of biometric data (fingerprints, photos, etc.) for all foreign nationals entering the country.
Other Nationalities
The same rules apply to Canadians, Swiss citizens, EU nationals, and a few other nationalities.
Long Stays
For stays exceeding 90 days, a visa is required. However, tourist visas are not officially available—these are reserved for residency applications, "Digital Nomad" visas, or "Cultural Activities" visas (e.g., for language or cooking courses). Some travelers use this option, but it requires enrollment in a school or sponsorship by a "master" to support the application. This allows stays of between 6 months and 1 year.
There’s also the common "visa run," which involves leaving the country every 90 days and re-entering to secure an additional 3 months in Japan, provided you don’t exceed 180 days per year. However, while this practice is tolerated, it is not a guaranteed right. Each re-entry carries the risk of refusal by authorities with no recourse.
In Case of Violation
Japan’s legislation is strict, enforcing a "zero tolerance" policy even for overstaying by a single day. This can result in heavy fines, deportation, future entry bans, or even administrative detention in some cases.
Consulates in France
- Consulate General: 7 av. Hoche, 75008 Paris. Tel.: 01 48 88 62 00.
Consulates in the Provinces:
- Consulate in Bordeaux: Espace consulaire, 2 place de la Bourse, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex. Tel.: 05 56 79 44 44.
- Consulate in Lille: 1 place Georges Lyon, 59000 Lille. Tel.: 03 20 18 02 59.
- Consulate in Lyon: 131 bd de Stalingrad, 69100 Villeurbanne. Tel.: 04 37 47 55 00.
- Consulate in Marseille: 70 av. de Hambourg, BP 199, 13268 Marseille Cedex 08. Tel.: 04 91 16 81 81.
- Consulate in Strasbourg: Tour Europe, 20 place des Halles, 67000 Strasbourg. Tel.: 03 88 52 85 00.
- Consulate in Toulouse: 14 rue Alexandre Fourtanier, 31071 Toulouse Cedex 7. Tel.: 05 61 21 96 84.
Honorary Consulates in Overseas Territories:
- Consulate in New Caledonia: Résidence Le Motu, 22 allée des jardins de Sainte-Marie, Vallée des Colons, BP 2009, 98800 Nouméa. Tel.: 00 687 27 83 03.
- Consulate in French Polynesia: Av. Georges Clémenceau, Mama'o, BP 342, 98713 Papeete Cedex. Tel.: +689 45 45 45.