China → Japan
Short-term stay generally covers tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. for up to 90 days without remunerative activities; Chinese nationals are not on Japan's short-term visa-exemption list and must obtain a Japanese visa before travel.
Visas cannot be obtained at a Japanese port of entry; holding a visa is only one requirement for applying for landing permission, which is decided by the immigration officer.
Based on passport-specific data. · as of 2026-06-17
Official source ↗Documents that change the outcome
- Visa-free· apec_abtc · 90 days
Business travel only; the APEC Business Travel Card must show Japan pre-clearance code “JPN” on the reverse or in the virtual card and must be used with the corresponding passport. The United States and Canada are transitional ABTC members, so their cardholders do not receive additional visa-free privileges from the ABTC.
source ↗ - Visa required· jp_visa
A valid Japanese visa satisfies the visa requirement for applying for landing permission, but it does not guarantee entry; the lawful period of stay is set by the landing permission issued by the immigration officer. A single-entry visa is generally valid for three months from issuance and becomes invalid once used; a multiple-entry visa may be used during its validity period.
source ↗
Documents & how to apply
- Visa application form with photo — One white-background photo, 4.5 cm high x 3.5 cm wide, taken within 6 months before submission and attached to the form.
- Passport — The official page requires a valid passport; no specific remaining validity period is stated.
- Residence permit or other proof of residence · optional — Only for applicants whose household registration is outside the embassy's consular district.
- Employment certificate · optional — Only for applicants holding a private passport.
- Copy of employer business license or legal-person certificate · optional — Only for applicants holding a private passport.
- Copy of household register — Include the household register cover/home page and the applicant's own page.
- Letter of reason for invitation — Submitted by the inviting organization in Japan; attach an applicant list for group applications.
- Schedule of stay — Complete it in as much detail as possible.
- Letter of guarantee · optional — Usually submitted by the inviting organization in Japan; may be omitted for specified government, incorporated administrative agency, university inviter, or official-passport cases.
- Documents on the inviting organization · optional — Registered entities may submit one of several listed documents, such as corporate registration, relevant company handbook page, organization outline, or brochure; not required for national or local government inviters.
⏱ For a single-entry short-term business visa, results are generally issued on the 4th working day from the day after embassy acceptance; the tourist visa page states the 5th working day from the day after acceptance, excluding any separate travel-agency review time. 💳 145 CNY (government fee) 📍 Single-entry short-term business visas are generally filed through agencies designated by the Embassy of Japan in China, not directly by individuals; tourist visas must be filed through designated travel agencies.
Documents should generally be submitted within 3 months of issue; travel insurance is not listed as a visa document, but the Embassy recommends visitors buy travel insurance before departure.
Requirements vary by consulate — verify with the official source. official ↗
Common questions
No. China is not on Japan MOFA's short-term visa-exemption list, and MOFA lists China under nationalities requiring a visa for short-term stay. Holding a U.S. visa by itself is not a published Japanese visa-exemption condition.
Yes, for business travel only, if the ABTC has Japan pre-clearance code “JPN”. Without JPN pre-clearance, the ABTC does not replace a Japanese visa.
No, six months is not granted automatically. Japan MOFA states that the UK is among countries with visa-exemption arrangements permitting stays of up to six months, but landing permission is generally 90 days; anyone wishing to stay beyond 90 days must apply for an extension to Japan's Ministry of Justice regional immigration bureau before the permitted stay expires.
Usually no. Japan MOFA lists Hong Kong under short-term visa exemption, but only for Hong Kong SAR passports or BNO passport holders with the right of residence in Hong Kong; the usual maximum is 90 days.
Verify with official sources
Visa policy changes without notice and this page is reference information that may contain errors. Before travel, verify via the official sources below or contact the destination country's embassy / consulate / immigration authority directly; final admission is at the destination government's discretion.