Visit Japan Web Guide 2026: Japan Entry & Customs QR Code, Step by Step

The question most travellers ask before flying to Japan is whether Visit Japan Web is actually required. This guide covers the 2026 process: how to register, how the combined immigration and customs QR code works at the airport, which airports have self-service kiosks, and how to add family members travelling with you.

Information checked July 2026. Entry rules can change, so confirm on the official Japanese government site before you travel.

What is Visit Japan Web, and is it required in 2026?

Visit Japan Web is an official service run by Japan's Digital Agency. Before departure you register the details needed for immigration, customs declaration and tax-free shopping, and the system generates a QR code you present at the airport.

It is not a visa and not an entry permit. You can still enter Japan without it, you will simply fill in paper forms on the plane or at the counter, which usually takes longer. Visit Japan Web exists to speed up the queue, not to grant permission.

• Official site: services.digital.go.jp/visit-japan-web/ (run by the Digital Agency, free of charge)
• Japanese nationals returning home can use it too, not only foreign visitors
• Avoid third-party agent sites - the official registration costs nothing

How to register on Visit Japan Web: what you need

Set it up one to two weeks before departure so there is time to correct mistakes. The whole process takes about ten minutes.

What to have ready: a valid passport, flight details, your first night's address and phone number in Japan, and a working email address.

How the Japan entry QR code works at the airport

Since 2024, immigration and customs have been merged into a single QR code rather than two separate ones. At the airport the flow is roughly:

• Immigration: show your passport and the Visit Japan Web QR code, then photo and fingerprints
• After collecting baggage, scan the same QR code at the customs electronic gate
• Both checkpoints may scan it, so have the screen ready before you reach the counter

A screenshot covers you if you are offline at that moment. But once you are through, you will need data for train routes, taxis, contacting your hotel and checking your return flight. Installing a Japan eSIM before you fly means you are connected the moment the plane lands.

If you are on Android, the dual-network Japan eSIM (KDDI and SoftBank) supports a wider range of handsets.

Which Japanese airports have self-service entry kiosks?

Some airports have self-service machines where the Visit Japan Web QR code completes both immigration and customs in one go, which is faster than the staffed counter. Currently available at:

• Haneda Airport Terminals 2 and 3
• Narita Airport Terminal 3
• Kansai Airport Terminals 1 and 2
• Fukuoka Airport

Other airports still use staffed counters, where the QR code will still speed things up. Coverage is being expanded, so check the signage on arrival.

How to register family members travelling with you

Travelling with children or older relatives does not require a separate account for each person. Add them as accompanying family members inside your own account, register their passport and flight details, and each gets their own QR code that you can present from one phone.

One caution: a family member's name in English must also match their passport exactly. This is the most common reason people are sent back to re-enter details at the counter.

Visit Japan Web FAQ

Is Visit Japan Web mandatory? Will I be refused entry without it?

No. Visit Japan Web is not an entry permit. You can enter without it, but you will need to complete paper forms on the plane or at the counter, which usually takes longer.

When can I start filling in Visit Japan Web?

You can create the account at any time, and register trip details once your flight and accommodation are confirmed. One to two weeks before departure is a good target so there is time to fix errors.

Does the QR code work without an internet connection?

Take a screenshot after registering so you can show it offline. You will still want data after clearing immigration for transport, taxis and contacting your accommodation, so arrange a Japan eSIM before you fly.

Are immigration and customs the same QR code?

Yes. Since 2024 both procedures use a single QR code, although in practice it may be scanned once at immigration and again at customs.

Can I correct my details after submitting?

Yes. Log back in, edit the trip details and a new QR code is generated. Editing requires a connection, which is another reason to have mobile data while travelling.

Bottom line

Visit Japan Web is optional, but ten minutes of preparation removes one queue on arrival. Practical advice: register a week before departure, screenshot the QR code, check eSIM compatibility if you are on Android, and sort out your Japanese data plan in advance so you can walk straight out of the terminal.

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