The Japanese government “strongly recommends” that you use an app called Visit Japan Web to upload your Covid vaccine status and/or your negative Covid test status.
If you are not triple vaccinated (ie, boosted) or if you are unvaccinated, you will need to have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan. For more details on this, see our Covid Vaccination and Testing page.
Technically, instead of using the app, you can bring hardcopy proof of vaccination or negative test results BUT some airlines might refuse to board you. Foreign airlines are more likely to refuse those without the app, while Japanese airlines are more likely to allow you to board without the app. Just to be clear, Japanese immigration officials will allow you to enter Japan as long as you have valid proof of a negative test or triple vaccination, but you can expect more questions when checking in to your flight, particularly if flying with a foreign carrier (who might simply refuse to board you).
Visit Japan Web
Visit Japan Web app
The Japanese government strongly recommends that you use the Visit Japan Web app to upload your Covid vaccination and/or Covid test documents. Using this app will allow you to move much more quickly through your arrival airport.
When should you fill out Visit Japan Web?
If you’re uploading proof of vaccination, you can fill out Visit Japan Web a few weeks before flying (but closer to departure is also okay). If you’re uploading negative test results, since you need proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of boarding, you’ll obviously have to do it closer to departure. The Japanese government is efficient and usually approves test results within a few hours of submission.
Time required to fill out and instruction manuals
When you first download the app and look at the instruction manual, you may get the impression that it’s going to take a long time to complete Visit Japan Web. In practice, it takes about 30 minutes and is pretty intuitive. I suggest using the simplified manual and quarantine section manuals linked below. Once you successfully complete Visit Japan Web and your vaccination and or test results are accepted, you get a blue completion screen. This means your good to go.
Three parts to Visit Japan Web
Note, Visit Japan Web actually consists of three parts: 1) immigration information (ie, disembarkation card information), 2) quarantine information (ie, Covid vax or test information), and 3) customs information (ie, customs declaration). In practice, only 1 and 2 matter and you can do your customs declaration at the airport.
Important tip
You will need a charged smartphone with internet access for Visit Japan Web to work at the airport when you arrive. Japanese airports have free wifi, so connectivity is not an issue, but be sure to charge your phone before flying. Just in case something goes wrong with your phone or you cannot get online at the airport, it’s a good idea to do two things: 1) take a screen cap of the completion screen (see below), and 2) print out your completion screen and QR code and keep it with your passport.
Important Visit Japan Web Links
- Here’s the Visit Japan Web download site.
- Here’s a detailed manual for using Visit Japan Web.
- Here’s a simplified Visit Japan Web Manual (scroll down for instructions).
- Here’s a Visit Japan Web Quarantine Section Manual.
For Those Who Cannot Use Visit Japan Web
Note for those without smartphones or those who just don’t want to use Visit Japan Web, there’s a simplified online process to register your Covid vaccination or negative test status that allows you to print out a QR code (upon acceptance) and show that at check-in and upon arrival at the airport. This is called the “Quarantine Questionnaire.”
Japan Entry Procedures
Arrivals: Narita Airport, Japan - image © Toby Oxborrow / CC BY-SA 2.0
Before you land in Japan, you will likely be given a disembarkation card, just like before the pandemic. You’ll have to give the address of your first night’s lodgings, so it’s useful to save that on your phone or in writing.
Upon disembarking in Japan, you’ll be asked to show your blue Visit Japan Web completion screen at several checkpoints on the way to immigration (scroll down so that your phone shows the screen below – this is the bit they want to see). If you don’t have visit Japan web or you do not have a blue completion screen, you’ll be sorted into a separate line where you will have to show proof of your vaccination status OR proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight.
Visit Japan Web completion screen
Once you get to immigration (passport control), you’ll be asked to show your passport, disembarkation card and Visit Japan Web completion screen and your fingerprints and picture will be taken.
After clearing immigration, you’ll enter the customs hall, pick up your luggage and pass through a customs inspection counter, where you will only have to show your passport. Once you clear immigration and customs, you will not be required to show your Visit Japan Web completion screen to anyone else during your entire stay in Japan.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals.
- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a Japan Rail Pass – here's why it's worth it
- A prepaid Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
