First trip to Japan? The stressful part is often not the itinerary—it’s the airport paperwork queue.
Visit Japan Web lets you pre-register immigration and customs online, then show one QR Code on arrival.
This piece follows the Digital Agency, Immigration Services Agency, and Japan Customs public pages. If a blog conflicts with those sources, follow the government site.
Official sites
- Digital Agency Visit Japan Web
- ISA: Foreign Entry Record / VJW
- ISA: joint kiosks
- Japan Customs passenger clearance
- MHLW border measures
What Visit Japan Web covers
- Immigration: foreign-national entry information (Japanese nationals / re-entry cases usually skip this block)
- Customs: accompanied and unaccompanied goods declaration
- Tax-free shopping (optional): a separate tax-free QR
Remember:
- ISA recommends electronic Foreign Entry Record submission via VJW (paper ED cards still OK)
- You can fill forms on a PC; you must show the QR on a phone/tablet at the airport
- Since 2024, immigration + customs share one QR
- Proxy input was discontinued in 2025—use your own account
Prep checklist
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Passport | Register + bring to immigration |
| Arrival flight | Trip schedule |
| Japan address & phone | Contact / stay details |
| Occupation & purpose | Immigration fields |
| Cash, alcohol/tobacco, restricted items, unaccompanied goods | Customs answers |
| Phone/tablet | Display the QR |
Flow overview (official STEPs)
| STEP | Action |
|---|---|
| 0 | Create an account with email and sign in |
| 1 | Register the user: passport, basics, optional Japan contact |
| 2 | Register this arrival/return schedule |
| 3 | Complete immigration and customs for that schedule |
| 4 | Display the QR Code at the airport |
STEP 0–1: Account and passport
- Open the official site and create an account.
- Register the user and passport via camera scan or manual entry.
- If scanning fails, enter manually; tax-free features usually require a successful passport read.
- A warning may appear if passport validity is under about six months—confirm airline/entry rules for your trip.
- Add family members in the same account if needed; each person generally uses their own QR at the airport.
STEP 2: Register your trip
Create a schedule with flight and stay details (enter fresh, reuse prior data, or pull visa data when offered). Double-check arrival date, flight number, and Japan address. If you change hotels, update the schedule and re-open the QR.
STEP 3: Immigration and customs
Open the saved schedule and complete Immigration and Customs Declaration.
Immigration typically covers residence, occupation, purpose of visit, length of stay, and Japan contact details. ISA warns stay-period mistakes are common—enter 90 days or fewer for typical short-term tourism/business/visiting relatives.
For customs, review questions about dutiable goods, tobacco/alcohol limits, large amounts of cash/securities (thresholds follow current Japan Customs rules—often discussed around ¥1,000,000 equivalent), prohibited items, and unaccompanied goods. When unsure, check official customs guidance or ask an officer—under-declaring is worse than asking.
A quarantine / health-guidance block may still appear; answer as shown. Actual measures follow current policy.
STEP 4: Using the QR at the airport
- Tap Display QR code on your procedure screen.
- Agree and show the unified immigration + customs QR.
- Follow airport signs for immigration kiosks/counters, then customs electronic declaration devices or inspection lanes (official notes mention Haneda, Fukuoka, and Naha as places where you can often declare electronically while waiting for bags).
The QR does not replace your passport. ISA allows screenshots of the immigration QR, but you must regenerate it after edits. Tax-free QR rules differ—Digital Agency says do not use screenshots for tax-free.
Some airports offer joint kiosks (VJW QR + IC passport for immigration+customs data). See ISA notice and our airport entry guide.
Tax-free QR (separate)
Tax-free shopping uses another QR with eligibility limits (typically short-term stay / certain statuses) and passport reading. Official guidance: do not use screenshots for the tax-free QR—show the live screen in store.
Common mistakes
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Passport scan fails | Switch to manual entry |
| Hotel/flight changed | Update schedule + re-show QR |
| Wrong family member shown | Switch traveler, then display QR |
| No signal at arrival | Open beforehand; ISA allows immigration QR screenshots (regenerate after edits); enable eSIM after landing |
| Tax-free screenshot rejected | Show the live tax-free QR |
Arrival order for independent travelers
- Immigration with passport + Visit Japan Web QR
- Baggage claim
- Customs electronic declaration / inspection
- Turn on Japan eSIM data for maps and rides
Most Japan travel eSIMs can be installed before departure and activated after landing—follow your plan’s validity notes. Browse Japan eSIM; timing tips: install vs activate.
Bottom line
- Register passport + this trip’s flight/hotel
- Finish immigration + customs once (one QR)
- Show a live QR on your phone; keep the passport with you
- Update after changes; keep tax-free QR separate
Official hub: Visit Japan Web.
