What is Visit Japan Web and do I need it?

Learn what the Visit Japan Web service does, how its QR codes work at the airport, and whether paper forms still work if you skip it.

Published October 20, 2026 at 5:10 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Visit Japan Web is a government website run by Japan's Digital Agency. Travelers use it to enter their immigration record and customs declaration before landing, then show the QR codes on arrival. It is recommended but not mandatory, because paper forms are still available for travelers who prefer them or lack a smartphone.

What Visit Japan Web actually is

Visit Japan Web is an online service run by the Digital Agency of the Japanese government. It lets travelers complete arrival procedures in advance: the immigration entry record, the customs declaration and, if wanted, registration for tax-free shopping. Japan's national tourism organization describes it as an optional service that makes arrival procedures more convenient. It works for people arriving from overseas and for people returning to Japan.

Since January 2024, the immigration and customs 2D codes have been unified on Visit Japan Web, so one account can produce what is needed at both counters. The older Customs Declaration App codes stopped being valid on that date, so any guide that still mentions a separate customs app is out of date.

Tax-free shopping registration is a separate, optional part of the service. Visitors who plan to buy goods that qualify for consumption tax exemption can link their passport details in advance, which may reduce paperwork at the shop counter. The feature is only useful to shoppers, so travelers who do not expect to make larger purchases can leave it alone and still complete the immigration and customs parts.

How to use it step by step

The usual order is to create an account on the Visit Japan Web site, add a traveler profile with passport details, and then register the trip: flight, planned length of stay and place of stay in Japan. After that, the traveler fills in the foreign national entry record, which is the electronic version of the card that new entrants submit at immigration, and the customs declaration. Each section ends with a QR code.

The Immigration Services Agency stresses a few points. Every family member needs their own entry and their own QR code, children included. Short-stay visitors, such as tourists or people visiting relatives, should enter a stay of 90 days or fewer. A screenshot of the QR code is acceptable, but if any detail changes, the record must be corrected and the code generated again.

Cost, timing and what happens at the airport

JNTO notes that the service is optional, and official pages do not describe any usage fee. Because the records need passport and trip details, it is sensible to complete them at home with a reliable connection rather than at the arrival hall. The immigration page recommends finishing the entry before reaching the immigration counter so that the process runs more smoothly.

At the airport, the QR code does not replace inspection. Travelers still meet an immigration officer, who checks the passport and takes fingerprints and a photo for most adults. At customs, the declaration code is scanned at an electronic terminal and travelers are guided to an e-Gate or an inspection desk. According to Japan Customs, e-Gates are installed at seven airports, including Narita, Haneda and Kansai, and officers may still inspect bags.

Timing within the trip also matters little for the paperwork itself, because the records describe the arrival rather than the whole holiday. Even so, an itinerary that changes shortly before departure, such as a new flight or a different first-night address, is a good reason to open the account again and update the entries before leaving for the airport.

Who benefits most, and special cases

Visit Japan Web suits travelers with a smartphone or tablet and a little time before departure. Families can often add several traveler profiles under one account, which can save time at the counter because every person already has a code ready. Solo travelers and business visitors who land at busy hours often find it shortens the wait for the paperwork part of arrival.

Some people are better served by paper. The immigration agency says the paper entry record is meant for people unfamiliar with smartphones or apps. Re-entrants, meaning residents returning on a re-entry permit, and some other groups are not eligible for the electronic entry record. Older travelers who dislike small screens can ask a relative to help set up the account, or simply fill in the printed forms on the plane.

Common mistakes and misunderstandings

A frequent mistake is thinking Visit Japan Web is a visa or a permit. It is neither; it only collects information in advance. Another misunderstanding is that a QR code guarantees entry. Landing permission is always decided by an immigration officer, and the code just saves time with the paperwork.

Other slips are practical. Travelers sometimes enter an overly long stay, leave a family member without a code, or forget that a changed hotel or flight needs an updated QR code. Some also try the older customs app, whose codes no longer work. Another risk is look-alike websites, so follow links from official government pages.

Group trips need a little extra coordination. When friends or relatives travel together, it helps to agree on who will create which profile, keep each person's passport details at hand, and double-check spellings against the passport photo page. Names that differ from the passport can mean a record has to be corrected.

Planning tips and paper alternatives

A good routine is to register a week or so before departure, save the QR codes in a place that works offline, and keep a screenshot as backup. Charge the phone before landing and carry a paper note with the first night's address in case a battery dies. The passport should be ready, since e-Gate terminals read the chip in an IC passport.

If an online route does not suit the trip, paper still works. The entry record and the customs declaration forms are normally handed out on the plane or found in the airport arrival area, and the printed customs form is available in many languages. The e-Gate procedure is done by each person, although Japan Customs says a child under 100 centimeters tall can pass through the gate with a family member. Staff in the arrival hall can point travelers to the correct counter.

Wrap-up and next steps

To decide quickly: if a smartphone is available and the flight is more than a day away, set up an account, add each traveler and generate the codes. If not, plan on paper forms and arrive with a pen and the first night's address.

Before departure, check the Digital Agency and Immigration Services Agency pages for the current steps, since screens and rules are updated. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Visit Japan Web free to use?

The official government pages do not describe any usage fee. Be careful with websites that ask for payment to create a Visit Japan Web account, since they may not be the official service. Start from links on a Digital Agency, Immigration Services Agency or Japan Customs page.

Can children and babies use their own QR codes?

Each accompanying family member needs their own entry record and QR code, according to the Immigration Services Agency. A parent can usually prepare the profiles for children. At the customs e-Gate, the Japan Customs page says a child less than 100 centimeters tall can pass the gate with a family member.

What happens if the phone dies or the QR code will not load?

Arrival does not depend on the phone alone. Paper entry and customs forms are available, and airport staff can direct travelers to a counter. Keeping a screenshot, a printed copy of the code and the first night's address makes any delay shorter.

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