Planning a trip to Japan is exciting. However, navigating the immigration and customs process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially in a foreign country. Fortunately, with technological improvements and the development of travel systems, the Japanese government has introduced Visit Japan Web, a digital service designed to facilitate the entry process for travelers like us. So, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler returning to Japan, Visit Japan Web can be of great help.
International travelers can use the Visit Japan Web service by creating an account with a valid email. After registering their personal information, they can enter their trip information and fill out the Immigration and Customs forms. A QR code for entry procedures is available when all the information is filled correctly.
In this guide, which includes the 2024 changes, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Visit Japan Web, from creating an account to obtaining the essential QR codes.
What is Visit Japan Web?
Visit Japan Web is an online service developed by the Japanese government to facilitate entry procedures for international travelers. It allows visitors to complete immigration and customs forms online before arriving in Japan, saving time and ensuring a smooth transition through airport procedures.
Although using the Visit Japan Web service is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to make your entry into Japan easier and faster. This service replaces the paper forms you must fill out on the airplane or when arriving at the airport.
I was never a huge fan of these forms that you have to fill out using minuscule handwriting in small fields. It is faster and way more comfortable for me to fill in the information online in advance.
How Does Visit Japan Web Work after 2024?
If you used Visit Japan Web before, you probably remember that you needed two QR codes per person: one for Immigration and one for Customs. Most people had a hard time figuring out how to retrieve both QR codes because it wasn’t very user-friendly. Luckily for all of us, this has changed on January 25, 2024!
Hey, check out these recommendations I have for you!
Before going any further, take a look at some of the recommendations I've handpicked for you. I think these are essential items you should have on your trip to Japan. You can check them out and buy them directly from Amazon.
A universal travel adapter | A 10,000 mAh power bank | A travel adapter and converter |
From this date, Visit Japan Web unified both QR codes, and you only require one for both Immigration and Customs procedures. And how does Visit Japan Web work?
To use Visit Japan Web, you need to create an account. Then you register the people traveling with you, and finally, you enter your trip details (dates, flights, address…). Once it’s done, you can fill out the forms for Immigration and Customs procedures and get your QR code required when arriving at the airport.
Japan’s waiting for you! Get your quick guide for the best trip.
Grab It Now
Since all this can be a little confusing the first time you try it, I will explain all the steps in detail and add some pictures to help you out with the process. If you prefer watching a video, you can check the one below I made for you.
You may also like:
Can I Open Tax Free Items in Japan? A Quick And Helpful Guide
Create an account
Before anything else, you must create an account to use Visit Japan Web. Here are the steps you need to do:
- Open the Visit Japan Web website: https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/
- Click on “Log in/Register” at the top of the page.
- Click on “Sign up for a new account”.
- Read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.
- Enter your email address and password.
- Click on “Create account”.
- Check your email and enter the validation code to confirm your account.
Register Your Information
Now that you created your account, you must fill in your information.
- Click “Your details”.
- Answer the yes/no questions.
- Enter your passport details and click “Next”.
- Confirm that the information entered is correct and click “Register”.
Notice that you can either enter your details manually, or you can scan your passport with the camera. However, I find it easier to enter everything manually because you usually have to try several times to scan the passport correctly, and still have to edit some information.
Yet, to use the Visit Japan Web’s QR code for tax-free, you will need to scan your passport and get a nice shot of your passport photo. But you can also benefit from tax-free without this QR code. For more information about tax-free, check out my article.
Register Family Members (if needed)
If you are traveling with family, you can register them as a family member on your Visit Japan Web account. This is mandatory for children traveling with you, but you can also register your partner, for example. People can register up to 10 family members traveling together and going through Immigration and Customs at the same time.
- Go to your Visit Japan Web account.
- Click “Details of family members traveling with you”.
- Click “Add”.
- Answer the yes/no questions.
- Enter the passport details and click “Next”.
- Confirm the information entered and click “Register”.
Repeat these steps for each family member you want to add. If you made a mistake, you can edit the information by selecting the family member and clicking the “Edit” button. However, if you want to delete a family member from your account, you have to use the trash icon in front of the concerned family member.
Register Your Trip
Now, that everyone is registered, let’s enter the trip details. For this, you will need your flight details and your first accommodation address in Japan. Just follow these steps:
- Go to your Visit Japan Web account.
- Click “Register new planned entry/return”.
- Select “Proceed to registration without copying details” and click “Next”.
- Fill in your flight details and click “Next”.
- Fill in your address in Japan and click “Next”.
- Confirm the details entered and click “Register plan”.
You can go back to your account and see that there’s now a planned entry. If you need to edit or delete it, you have to click on the planned entry and select “Edit plan” or “Delete” at the top of the page.
Fill out Immigration and Customs Forms
One of the key features of Visit Japan Web is the ability to complete immigration and customs forms online. This is the last step before you get the QR code you will be using at the airport in Japan for entry procedures. Please notice that you can fill out the forms way in advance, but remember to edit them before your trip if you change something regarding the items you will carry with you to Japan. Remember that you have to fill out the forms for every person traveling with you, otherwise, you won’t get a QR code for them. To fill out the Immigration and Customs forms, follow these steps:
Get all the cool spots and tips for a fun trip to Japan. It's free!
Get My Japan Guide
- Go to your Visit Japan Web account.
- Click on the planned trip you registered before.
- Select the applicant using the drop-down menu
- Click “Quarantine” and answer the question.
- Click “Immigration clearance and Customs declaration”.
- Fill out the basic information requested and click “Next”.
- Complete the information required about your accommodation in Japan and click “Next”.
- Select the purpose of your visit and enter the duration of your stay.
- Answer all the questions and click “Next”.
- In the end, confirm the information you entered and click “Register”.
- Go back to the entry procedure, select another applicant, and repeat the steps above for each applicant.
- When done, you can select an applicant and click “Display QR code” to get this applicant’s QR code for the entry procedures in Japan
- You have to switch applicants to get everyone’s QR code (1 QR code per person).
Remember to take a screenshot of each QR code and save it on your phone to access easily when arriving in Japan. This way, if you don’t have an internet connection when arriving, you’re still able to show your QR code for the entry procedure.
Other Questions About Visit Japan Web
Conclusion
Overall, if you’re planning a trip to Japan and find customs and immigration stuff overwhelming, Visit Japan Web is a helpful tool to simplify the immigration and customs process for travelers visiting Japan. By creating an account, filling out forms, registering family members, and obtaining QR codes online, you can speed up your entry into the country and enjoy a hassle-free travel experience.
Visit Japan Web makes entry procedures easier than ever before, especially since they unified the QR codes on January 25, 2024.
Are you ready to simplify your journey to Japan? Visit Japan Web today and take the stress out of immigration and customs!
As of 7 March 2024, I believe that the Visit Japan Web URL has changed to https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/.
Hi Frank,
Yes, it has changed, but the old URL redirects to the new one. However, I changed the URL in the post in case they remove the redirection later.
Thank you for your helpful feedback!
Ana