ETIAS Visa Waiver for Japanese Citizens
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Get notified when ETIAS is mandatory
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Welcome to Europe
European Travel Authorization for the Japanese
Japanese citizens looking to travel to Europe will soon apply for a brand new European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS). The electronic visa waiver is scheduled to become fully functional in late 2025. It will be mandatory for Japanese citizens who wish to travel to any EU Schengen country starting from the date.
It is believed that the Visa waiver for ETIAS is in development to fight the threat of terrorism and illegal immigrants inside the Schengen area’s borders. Although currently Japanese travelers to Europe are not required a travel permit for a short-term stay, by the year 2025, the ETIAS will be a must for Japanese citizens.
Journeying from Japan to Europe using ETIAS
After Japanese citizens receive an ETIAS Visa waiver, they need to print and show their valid travel authorization at the border of their destination country. It is crucial to note that ETIAS isn't an assurance that you will enter Europe.
The border guards of your national terminal or point of arrival will determine the possibility of granting you access to the Schengen zone. Suppose border officials believe that Japanese citizens intend to stay longer than they are allowed, seek employment in Europe, import contraband items, or in any other way violate the ETIAS rules. In that case, they may be denied entry into the country concerned.
There are other restrictions and rules to bear in mind when traveling towards Europe from Japan like the ones currently in force. This includes carrying the firearms, exporting and importing alcohol, tobacco perfume, currency, or tobacco. Any of these items brought into the Schengen area could result in being denied entry or removal of an ETIAS Visa waiver.
Border guards can also require from Japanese citizens for proof of the following before allowing admission into Schengen zone:
• Proof of having enough funds to cover the journey
• Travel health insurance coverage that is adequate
• Tickets for return for Japan
Please be aware that only Japanese citizens 18 years old or older have to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver before traveling to Europe. Minors can travel using their normal passport, but their legal guardian or a parent should request an ETIAS authorization.
Get notified when ETIAS becomes mandatory
ETIAS required:
These countries will require an ETIAS visa waiver upon their arrival on their territory.
Austria- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican
What is the procedure for Japanese Citizen Applying to ETIAS Visas to Travel Europe?
To be eligible for the ETIAS Visa waiver to Japan, Japanese citizens will require:
• An authentic Japanese passport with more than three months of validity remaining after the date of the intended arrival in Europe
• A credit or debit card
• An email address
These are the primary ETIAS prerequisites for Japanese citizens, which applicants must meet when completing an application process. If you do not have the required documents or information submitted, applicants could be refused the ETIAS visa exemption. In addition, applicants should know that after an ETIAS application has been approved, ETIAS will connect directly to a Japanese citizen’s passport. If your passport is due to expire (or is stolen or lost) before the expiration date that ETIAS is issued, it’ll need to be renewed before traveling to Europe with the new passport.
If you are applying for a Europe visa waiver, the passport must last for a minimum of 3 months beyond the duration of your stay as per EU regulations. Additionally, passports older than ten years old could not be accepted as valid travel documents.
Japanese citizens can apply online to be eligible for ETIAS. The enrollment process is quick and easy and is very similar to the ESTA for those traveling to the U.S. Like for a majority of the travel authorizations, applicants must fill in an online form and answer a series of security questions.
During the applying process, Japanese registrants will be required to provide their details. They will be required to submit their:
• Name and Surname
• Gender
• Nationality
• Birthdate
• EURODAC
• Current address
• A telephone number
To ensure security and for immigration purposes, the applicant will be required to answer some questions about their employment status and criminal records details. They will be required to answer questions regarding:
• The applicant’s academic background
• Their current job status
• Any criminal record that is held in Japan
• Any convictions that relate to human trafficking
• Travel to conflict zones
• If they have overstayed before in EU, or have been exiled from a nation before
The ETIAS application process will permit European immigration officials to screen passengers before they embark on their flights to Europe. The information of visitors will be screened through a variety of criminal and informational databases, including:
• EUROPOL
• SLTD (INTERPOL)
• DAWN (INTERPOL)
• EURODAC
• SIS
• VIS
They will determine whether applicants for an ETIAS have any criminal records for infractions listed on the Europe-wide database. This will ensure that terrorist and criminal activities can be effectively stopped in the free travel zone of Europe.
Additionally, to obtain an ETIAS, the applicant must pay a small cost. After payment and the process are completed, the person applying for it can wait for the approval of their ETIAS Visa waiver. It is important to note that the ETIAS Visa waivers for Europe are payable in advance by making a secure online payment using a debit or credit card.
When you have completed the ETIAS application for the Japanese citizen is fully completed and submitted, the approval is granted within 96 hours. The ETIAS that has been approved will be delivered to the user’s registered email address to be utilized immediately.
What type of authorization do Japanese Citizens require to enter Europe?
There are currently no EU visa requirements applicable for Japanese citizens with stays of less than 90-days. Following 2025 however, Japanese citizens traveling to Europe will require the ETIAS Visa waiver.
During its three years validity period, ETIAS will permit Japanese travelers to stay for 90 days within the Schengen region for tourism, business, or transit reasons. If you plan to stay longer or take travel for other reasons, it is necessary to obtain a Schengen visa is required for Japanese citizens or a valid national visa is required.
With the legitimate ETIAS, Japanese travelers can travel into any European Schengen country where the visa waiver is applicable. This ETIAS Visa waiver offered to Japanese nationals aims to lower the restrictions on entry but still maintain the highest quality of international security. Since the ETIAS travel authorization for Japanese citizens covers the entire Schengen region, the citizens will have the ability to visit any one of 26 Schengen member states. However, they must declare a specific country of entry once they arrive in Europe, after which they will be able to travel to any country that is part of the agreement.
Bilateral agreements signed between Japan and EU Members States
Through reciprocal agreements negotiated between Japan and a few EU Members States, it is now feasible for Japanese citizens to remain in certain European countries longer than the 90-day Schengen duration.
It is the Schengen Area countries with already signed visa waiver agreements together with Japan along with the highest number of days that are allowed under the arrangement are as follows:
• Belgium (3 months)
• Bulgaria (90 days)
• Denmark (3 months)
• Germany (3 months)
• Denmark (3 months)
• Greece (90 days)
• Spain (90 days)
• France (90 hours)
• Italy (180/90 days)
• Latvia (90 days)
• Lithuania (90 days)
• Hungary (90 days)
• Netherlands (90 days)
• Austria (6 months)
• Slovakia (90 days)
• Sweden (3 months)
The following Schengen-associated countries are a part of bilateral arrangements with Japan:
• Iceland (3 months)
• Liechtenstein (90 days)
• Norway (90 days)
• Switzerland (90 days)
To benefit from any of these bilateral agreements, Japanese travelers must stay within the EU nation they are applying to for an extended duration. It is not possible to travel freely across Europe beyond 90 days.
To this end, Japanese citizens are advised to travel from their specific EU nation directly into a foreign country, with no transit within the Schengen region.
If needing an exemption from visa requirements that permits the traveler to visit multiple EU countries simultaneously, citizens of Japan must apply for an ETIAS.
Governments can modify bilateral agreements among Japan and EU Members.
ETIAS will allow Argentines to apply online. It will contain easy-to-answer security, health, and travel planning questions. It will take less than 10 minutes to complete the ETIAS online form. After completing the ETIAS form online, applicants from Argentina are advised to review all information to ensure it matches the data on the biographical page in their passport. Even minor errors can cause delays or even result in denying an ETIAS visa waiver.
After reviewing all data, applicants can proceed to the payment step. This allows them to pay the ETIAS fees with a debit or credit card. After approval, applicants will receive an email with their European visa waiver. ETIAS applications usually take 3 business days to process.
Requesting a Longer Stay Schengen Visa from Japan
An ETIAS allows only travel or stays within the Schengen zone for 90 days per time. For extended stays or reasons not covered by the ETIAS, it is required for the person to apply for the Schengen visa. This type of visa can be available as a single-entry authorization, double-entry, or multiple-entry.
To apply for this type of visa, applicants require an appointment at the local consulate or embassy in Japan or the Schengen nation they intend to visit. In an appointment for the Schengen Visa appointment, applicants must bring the following documents:
• A valid Japanese passport
• A completed Schengen visa application form
• The copies of the Schengen visas held previously by the applicant
• A recent passport-sized photograph of the person applying for the visa was shot against the white background
• The proof of financial resources required to remain within the Schengen zone
• Health insurance coverage
• Information on round trip tickets for flights
• Accommodation arrangements made by the traveler
The duration of the Schengen visa granted by the embassy consulate is determined according to an individual-to-individual basis. It is based on the specific situation of the applicant.
FAQs on ETIAS Requirements for Japanese Citizens
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Japanese citizens will need ETIAS visa waiver to travel to Europe from 2025. Until then travelers can freely enter the Schengen zone using their national passports up to 90 days. For longer stays, the Japanese need to apply for the Schengen visa.
