🇯🇵Japan Passport
Explore where Japan passport holders can live, work, and travel. 81 countries accessible without a traditional visa application.
Quick answer
A Japan passport allows visa-free entry to 77 countries, visa-on-arrival access to 4 more, e-visa access to 11, and freedom of movement to 0 — total 81 countries accessible without a traditional visa application. Japan ranks #5 of 95 passports globally (tier-1). Most countries require a separate work visa. 4 destinations offer digital nomad visas.
Key facts
- Visa-free: 77 countries direct entry without a visa application — the strongest mobility tier.
- Visa on arrival: 4 obtain a visa stamp at the border on landing; processed in minutes typically.
- eVisa: 11 online application before travel — usually issued in days, no embassy visit required.
- Freedom of movement: 0 live and work without a visa under a treaty (e.g., EU/EEA, ECOWAS, CARICOM, Schengen).
- Mobility rank: #5 of 95 tier-1; 4 digital nomad visa pathways · 77 residency-friendly destinations.
Rank #5 of 95 · tier-1
The Japan passport ranks #5 of 95 in WhereNext's mobility index — a tier-1 mobility passport with 81 countries accessible without a prior visa application (77 visa-free, 4 visa-on-arrival, 0 via freedom-of-movement agreements). Similar-access peers include United Arab Emirates (81) and Malaysia (81). Compared with the median passport in our index, Japan uniquely unlocks South Korea, United Kingdom, United States without a traditional visa application.
Closest peers by access: United Arab Emirates (81) · Malaysia (81) · Qatar (81)
Japan Passport: Travel & Relocation Access
Japan passport holders can access 81 countries without a traditional visa application — 77 visa-free, 4 with visa on arrival, and 0 through freedom of movement agreements.
Digital nomad visas: 4 countries offer digital nomad or remote work visas accessible to Japan passport holders, including Vietnam, Philippines, Bulgaria, Slovenia.
Paths to residency: 77 countries offer residency pathways for Japan citizens, including Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and 72 more.
Related Resources
Common Questions
How many countries can I visit visa-free with a Japan passport?▾
Can I work abroad with a Japan passport?▾
Which countries offer digital nomad visas for Japan citizens?▾
Where can I get residency with a Japan passport?▾
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