JAPAN FACILITATES ONLINE EVISAS FOR UAE RESIDENTS, SAUDI NATIONALS AND SAUDI RESIDENTS & QATARI NATIONALS

Since November 2022, UAE nationals are not required visas to visit Japan. The full visa waiver for Emirati nationals has been incredibly successful, and this is now supported by a number of additional new measures to ease travel for many living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These new measures include:

• Effective immediately, all foreign nationals who would otherwise be required a visa to visit Japan and who reside in the UAE, and all Saudi nationals and foreign nationals residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are now able to simply apply online for a short-term stay visa for the purpose of tourism travel to Japan. Applicants need to apply via the dedicated website JAPAN eVISA, where upon successful submission, a digital confirmation visa will be sent to the applicant. When entering Japan immigration, the eVISA holder needs to simply log on to the Japan eVISA website and show visa. No screenshots or printouts of the page will be accepted. For further details on how to apply online visit the online instructional video.

• Effective immediately, Qatari nationals can now apply at Japanese Embassies, ConsulateGenerals or Consulates, to have their passport registered. Upon registration, applicants will then receive a “Visa Waiver Registration” seal within their passport, which will entitle them to multiple short-term stays in Japan without a need for a visa for a period of 3 years (or expiration date of the passport).