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Visit Japan Web (2026): What It Is, Do You Need It, and How to Use It

Visit Japan Web (2026): What It Is, Do You Need It, and How to Use It

Visit Japan Web is a free website from Japan's Digital Agency where you enter your immigration and customs details before you land, and get one QR code to show on arrival instead of filling in paper forms. It is optional: paper forms still work at every airport and port. It is worth doing because it speeds up the customs step, especially at the seven airports with electronic customs gates. Since 1 November 2026 it can also start the tax-free refund check when you leave Japan. It is free; Japan Customs warns that sites charging a fee to "apply" for you are not official.

What Visit Japan Web Does

Step Without it With it
Immigration (landing card) Paper card on the plane or at the airport QR code on your phone
Customs declaration Paper form Same QR code; electronic gates at 7 airports
Tax-free refund check at departure Terminal at the airport Can be started online at major airports
Cost Free Free

Do You Need It?

No, it is not required to enter Japan. You can still use the paper landing card and customs form. Visit Japan Web is recommended because:

  • one QR code covers both immigration and customs;
  • at New Chitose (Sapporo), Narita, Haneda, Chubu Centrair (Nagoya), Kansai, Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa), the customs QR code opens the electronic customs gates with face recognition;
  • you fill everything in calmly at home instead of on a tray table.

Arriving by cruise ship or ferry? Ask your operator: the online codes are designed for air arrivals, and paper forms remain the safe default at seaports.

How to Register

  1. Create an account on the official Visit Japan Web site with your email address.
  2. Register your passport: name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and expiry date. You can scan the passport with your phone.
  3. Add your trip: arrival date, airline and flight number, and the address and phone number of your first hotel.
  4. Fill in the immigration and customs sections. You can add up to 10 family members, each with their own passport details.
  5. Save the QR codes: take screenshots in case your phone has no signal or battery on arrival.

Do it a few days before you fly. You can still edit the details until arrival.

On Arrival

  1. At immigration, show the immigration QR code with your passport.
  2. At customs, scan your passport and the customs QR code at the electronic declaration terminal. Each traveller, including children, does this step individually. Customs may still check bags.

Tax-Free Shopping and Visit Japan Web

From 1 November 2026, tourists pay the consumption tax at the till and claim it back when they leave. At major international airports you can start that departure check online through Visit Japan Web before security; otherwise, scan your passport at the tax-free terminal before bag drop. Full steps: Japan tax-free shopping from November 2026.

What Comes Next: JESTA

Japan plans an electronic travel authorization, JESTA, for visa-exempt visitors, reported for fiscal 2028. It will be separate from Visit Japan Web. There is nothing to apply for yet.

FAQ

Is Visit Japan Web mandatory? No. It is optional and free. Paper immigration and customs forms are still accepted.

Is Visit Japan Web free? Yes. It is a free government service. Japan Customs warns about websites that charge a fee to register for you.

When should I register for Visit Japan Web? A few days before your flight is ideal. You can register or edit your details right up to arrival.

Can one person register the whole family? Yes. One account can hold up to 10 family members, but each person needs their own passport details and does the customs terminal step individually.

What if my QR code does not scan? Show a screenshot, increase the screen brightness, or ask the officer to process you manually. You can also fall back to paper forms.

Does Visit Japan Web help with tax-free shopping? Yes. From 1 November 2026, at major international airports you can start the tax-free refund check online before security when you leave Japan.

Sources

KIZUNA's pre-trip guide covers Visit Japan Web, IC cards and tax-free shopping in your language: before you go.

Last updated: 2026-10-31