Japan visa for South Africa passport holders

Before you travel, check what the official route asks for. Which route is open to you depends on your passport and your situation.

A stay can be up to 90 days, but your visa and landing permission determine the actual period granted. Residents of South Africa can apply online through JAPAN eVISA for a single-entry short-stay tourist visa.

Visit Japan Web is an optional electronic route. A customs declaration is mandatory, but paper submission remains available. Using Visit Japan Web does not establish visa eligibility.

Japan's official guidance doesn't list a prebooked ticket as a requirement for all tourists. If you apply for a visa, follow your Japanese embassy or consulate's checklist for itinerary and flight documents.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends international travel medical insurance. Its guidance doesn't list insurance as a general requirement for tourists, but some visa or entry routes can set their own conditions.

These conditions are for a regular tourist visit. Where you live, your visa status and the route you take can change what applies to you.

• Some visa exemptions depend on passport subtype, biometrics, registration or an identity number. Read your passport-specific conditions.
• Japan’s eVISA eligibility depends on residence and the application channel, as well as nationality. Existing foreign visas do not establish a general Japanese visa exemption.
• For eVISA entry, show the live visa issuance notice as instructed; screenshots and printouts are not accepted substitutes.