By The Escape desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
As of October 2026, Singapore citizens do not need a visa to visit Japan for up to 90 days as a temporary visitor, according to the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For arrival, Japan’s Digital Agency runs Visit Japan Web, a free online service where you enter your immigration and customs details before you fly and receive QR codes to scan at the airport. It is recommended, not compulsory: paper forms still work. Leaving Japan now costs a ¥3,000 departure tax (from 1 July 2026), built into your air fare. Japan plans an online travel authorisation called JESTA by fiscal year 2028, but it is not in force yet.
Japan is one of the easiest trips on a red passport. A few minutes of prep makes the arrival hall easier still.
Quick facts
- Visa: not required for Singapore citizens for short stays of up to 90 days.
- Arrival forms: Visit Japan Web (online, optional) or paper forms on the plane or at the airport.
- Departure tax: ¥3,000 per person from 1 July 2026, included in your ticket.
- JESTA: planned for introduction by fiscal year 2028; not yet required.
- Driving: you need an International Driving Permit, the original document.
- Medicines: some prescribed drugs need an import certificate from Japan’s health ministry before you travel.
What the visa-free stay covers
The exemption is for short stays as a temporary visitor: holidays, visiting friends and family, and similar short trips. Working, studying or staying beyond 90 days needs the appropriate visa or status, arranged through the Embassy of Japan in Singapore before you go. The immigration officer at the airport makes the final decision on entry, so carry your return ticket and accommodation details.
| What you need | Singapore citizen, short visit (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Visa | Not required for up to 90 days |
| Pre-travel authorisation | None yet (JESTA planned by fiscal year 2028) |
| Arrival registration | Visit Japan Web, or paper forms |
| Departure tax | ¥3,000, collected in the air or ferry fare |
| Driving | International Driving Permit (original) |
| Prescribed medication | Check whether you need an import certificate |
How to use Visit Japan Web
- Before you fly, create an account on the official Visit Japan Web service, run by Japan’s Digital Agency. It is free; beware of look-alike sites that charge a fee.
- Register your passport details and those of family members travelling with you.
- Enter your trip: arrival date, flight and where you will stay.
- Fill in the immigration section and the customs declaration.
- Save the QR codes on your phone, or screenshot them in case the airport signal is weak.
- On arrival, show the QR codes at the immigration and customs points.
If you skip it, fill in the paper forms instead. Shopping tax-free? Japan’s refund system changes on 1 November 2026: see our guide to tax-free shopping in Japan.
The departure tax and JESTA
Japan’s International Tourist Tax tripled from ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 for departures from 1 July 2026. You do not pay it at the airport: airlines and ferry companies add it to the fare. Children under two and passengers in transit who leave within 24 hours of arriving are exempt.
JESTA, the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, will require visa-exempt visitors, Singaporeans included, to apply online before travelling, much like the US ESTA. The government has said it aims to start it by the end of fiscal year 2028 (which runs to March 2029). No launch date or fee has been fixed as of October 2026. Visa-free entry itself is not changing. For how other countries’ authorisations work, see UK ETA, US ESTA and ETIAS.
The WahLiao Verdict
Book, go, enjoy: no visa is needed for a holiday. Do Visit Japan Web the night before you fly and screenshot the codes, pack your International Driving Permit if you plan to drive, and check your medicines against Japan’s rules. Entry rules change, so look at MFA’s Japan page a week before departure. And when JESTA arrives, apply only on the official site.
Questions people ask
Is Visit Japan Web compulsory?
No. It is recommended because it speeds you through immigration and customs, but paper forms are still accepted.
Do I need JESTA for my trip this year?
No. As of October 2026 JESTA has not started. Ignore any website asking you to pay for one now.
Can I stay longer than 90 days?
Not on the visa exemption. For a longer stay, check with the Embassy of Japan in Singapore before you travel.
Do I pay the departure tax at the airport?
No. The ¥3,000 is collected with your air or ferry fare.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, travel and visa information for Japan (check before you go); Embassy of Japan in Singapore, visa exemption for Singapore citizens; ANA, Digital Agency information on Visit Japan Web; Japan Trip Navi, summary of the National Tax Agency’s departure tax rules; Mainly Miles, report on Japan’s JESTA plans. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Tax-Free Shopping in Japan · Travelling With Medication · Back to The Escape
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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