No More Visa for Malaysians to travel to Japan

No More Visa for Malaysians to travel to Japan

Japan is ready for more South East Asia tourists. In ther bid of attracting more tourists from SEA, Japan has abolished short term visas for countries like Malaysia and Thailand.

Remember I blogged about the visa requirements for Japan Visa?

Read: How to apply Japan Visa in Malaysia 

You don’t need one if you hold the ordinary biometric passports with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards (issued since February 2010) who wish to enter Japan for short-term stay. I have attached the sample of the passports as credited to the Japanese Embassy of Malaysia website.

I have also picked up the announcement from the website as follows, source at http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit/visa25062013.html

Exemption of Visa for Malaysian Nationals holding biometric passport with an embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO（International Civil Aviation Organization）standards starting from 1 July

25 June 2013

1. From 1st July 2013, the Government of Japan has decided to abolish the requirement of short-term visa for Malaysian Nationals who hold ordinary biometric passports with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards(issued since February 2010) who wish to enter Japan for short-term stay. 

However, this visa exemption only apply to Malaysian Nationals holding ordinary biometric passport with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards. Malaysian Nationals who do not hold ordinary biometric passport with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards are remain advised to obtain a visa to enter into Japan. 

When you plan to visit Japan, please kindly check if your passport is a biometric passport with embedded microchip that is compliant with ICAO standards. 

For checking method, click here. 

2. In accordance with the above visa exemption, the duration of stay in Japan to be given to Malaysian Nationals at that time of entry inspection will be for maximum 90 days. (Those who plan to stay for more than 90 days or work in Japan, remain requested to obtain a visa as before.) 

Read: How to apply Japan Visa in Malaysia

3. When you enter into Japan, your entry permit will be issued at the entry point by the Japan immigration (This is the same for those who enter into Japan with a valid travel visa). Please take note that you might be asked about your purpose of visiting Japan or requested to submit necessary documents (For example: Return flight tickets & etc.). 

Please be aware that you might be denied entry if you are entering Japan for short-term stay but the total duration of your stay in Japan in a year exceeds 180 days. 

4. If you have any enquiry, please contact the consular section of Embassy of Japan in Malaysia at the phone number below. 

Consular Section, Embassy of Japan in Malaysia   Tel: 03-2177-2600 – http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit/visa25062013.html

Personally, I think this is a great effort from Japan to encourage more tourists from South East Asia namely Malaysia. With frequent flights from Malaysia Airlines and AirAsiaX, there is a surge of new breed of Malaysian travellers to Japan. I visited Japan last year and I fell in love with it. It is definitely in the matter of time I will visit Japan again.

Read also: Kansai Thru Pass Review and Where to Buy?, Where to buy JR Pass in Malaysia and all our adventure in Japan!

Wilson Ng