The European Commission has revealed its plan to digitalize the Schengen visa. This will replace the mostly paper-based application system to obtain a visa for EU and Schengen countries currently in place. This means the Schengen visa will soon be available through a simplified online application process, similar to the European Travel Information and Authorization
ETIAS Requirements for Japanese Citizens
The ETIAS travel authorization for Europe will be mandatory for Japanese passport holders from November 2023. This site offers up-to-date information on this new electronic visa waiver.
ETIAS—the Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System—is a new European travel permit for citizens of visa-exempt countries. When it is introduced in November 2023, the ETIAS for Japanese travelers will be a mandatory requirement for anyone with a Japanese passport.
The ETIAS visa waiver will cover all Schengen Area countries, which is currently over 25 nations. The travel permit will also be required for Schengen candidate countries that are in the process of joining the borderless travel zone.
The new immigration system has been designed to improve border security and fight problems such as illegal immigration and terrorist attacks.
If you’re a Japanese passport holder you will soon be able to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver for Japanese citizens using a simple online form. The travel permit is then electronically linked to your passport, which is scanned and validated at the border.
Do Japanese Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Europe?
Japanese nationals can currently travel to Europe without a visa, as they are part of the EU’s Visa Waiver Policy.
Visa waiver travelers can enter the Schengen travel zone and stay for up to 90 days, within each 180-day period. The purpose of travel can be tourism, business, or transit.
To continue enjoying visa-free travel to the Schengen Area from November 2023, you will need to obtain an ETIAS for Japanese citizens. Without this mandatory travel authorization, visa waiver arrivals will no longer be permitted to enter the Schengen zone without a visa.
The ETIAS visa waiver for Japanese passport holders will be valid for 3 years from the date of issue, and it is a multiple entry permit. This means that you can use the same travel authorization to visit numerous Schengen countries within the 3 years of validity.
Note: the ETIAS visa waiver is not a visa. To travel to the Schengen Area for more than 90 consecutive days, or to work or study, you must obtain a Schengen visa.
Countries that Japanese Nationals Can Visit With ETIAS
The ETIAS for Japanese citizens will be valid for visa-free entry into all Schengen countries.
The borderless Schengen Area includes all European Union countries (minus Ireland), plus non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) and 3 microstates (Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City).
The ETIAS visa waiver will also be required to access Schengen Area candidates, whose membership is currently pending: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.
The Schengen agreement means that all member states have a single external border. Visitors from outside the travel zone simply need 1 travel authorization to visit all of these countries.
Below you can find the list of destinations which you can visit with an ETIAS visa waiver for Japanese nationals.
ETIAS Countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Bulgaria (*)
- Croatia (*)
- Ireland (*)
- Republic of Cyprus (*)
- Romania (*)
(*) ETIAS visa waiver expected to become a requirement for these countries in 2023
Apply for an ETIAS for Citizens of Japan
The ETIAS application for Japanese citizens will be quick and straightforward to complete. The process is completely online, avoiding the need to go to an embassy or consulate to apply in person.
ETIAS processing time is very fast. Most applicants will receive their approved ETIAS visa waiver within 24 hours. However, Japanese citizens are advised to allow 72 hours, to avoid unexpected delays.
You can request an ETIAS for Japanese citizens by following 3 simple steps:
- Complete the online form
- Pay the ETIAS processing fee
- Receive the ETIAS by email
ETIAS application form for Japanese citizens
You only need to provide some basic information to complete the ETIAS application form. This includes:
- Personal details: name, date of birth, nationality, place of birth
- Passport data: passport number, issuing country, issue and expiry dates
- Travel plans: first country to visit, date of arrival
The form also asks some simple security questions to help screen passengers before they arrive.
ETIAS Visa Waiver Requirements for Japanese Citizens
You will only need a few basic items to meet the ETIAS requirements for Japanese citizens. All applicants must have:
- Japanese Passport: must meet the requirements outlined below
- Debit or credit card: to pay the ETIAS fee
- Email address: to receive your approved ETIAS
Travel to Europe From Japan
Europe is a popular destination for Japanese tourists. Some of the most visited places include:
- France: Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris
- Germany: Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich
- Italy: Rome, Venice, Milan, Sicily
- Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville
The ETIAS visa waiver for Japanese travelers will be valid for use in all Schengen countries, included those listed above.
The travel authorization is a multiple-entry permit. You can visit numerous European countries using the same ETIAS visa waiver.
Japan Tourism in Europe
Japanese citizens enjoy visa-free entry into the Schengen zone, allowing them to travel around Europe easily. The ETIAS for Japanese nationals will allow them to continue traveling around the Schengen Area without a visa.
Large numbers of Japanese tourists have continued to visit Europe throughout the years, maintaining it as one of the most popular destinations for Japanese passport holders.
In 2019, the number of Japanese arrivals in Europe jumped to 3,830,939—higher than the 4 years preceding it.
These numbers have understandably dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, however figures are slowly increasing now that travel is more accessible.
Year
Non-residents arrivals to the Schengen Area from Japan
2015
3,756,357
2016
3,110,281
2017
3,309,309
2018
3,566,325
2019
3,830,939
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