Visit Japan Web for US citizens — how to register before arrival
Visit Japan Web (vjw-lp.digital.go.jp) is Japan's free pre-arrival portal. Register at least 6 hours before your flight to complete your immigration and customs declarations and access faster Joint Kiosk lanes at Japanese airports.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Required | No, but strongly recommended |
| Cost | Free |
| Register at | vjw-lp.digital.go.jp |
| When | At least 6 hours before arrival |
| Covers | Immigration ED card, customs declaration, tax-free shopping |
| Enables | Joint Kiosk fast lanes at major airports |
Note: Complete Visit Japan Web at least 6 hours before landing — registrations submitted within 6 hours of arrival may not be processed in time for airport use. Paper forms remain available on arrival for those who do not register.
What Visit Japan Web covers
Immigration ED card
The Entry Declaration (ED card) is the immigration arrival form that all visitors to Japan must complete. Via Visit Japan Web, you complete this online before arrival and receive a QR code. At the airport, scan the QR code at the Joint Kiosk instead of filling out a paper form.
Customs declaration
The customs declaration form is also completed via Visit Japan Web before arrival. Your QR code covers both immigration and customs, allowing you to clear both in one streamlined process at the Joint Kiosk.
Tax-free shopping
Registering on Visit Japan Web connects your passport to Japan's tax-free shopping system. At participating stores, you show a single QR code instead of handing over your physical passport at every store — a significant time-saver for shoppers.
Step-by-step: registering on Visit Japan Web
- 1
Go to vjw-lp.digital.go.jp on your phone or computer.
- 2
Create an account with your email address. You can register multiple travelers (family members or travel companions) under one account.
- 3
Add a new trip — enter your passport details, flight number, and arrival date in Japan.
- 4
Complete the immigration ED card section — this covers your address in Japan, purpose of visit, and standard arrival declaration questions.
- 5
Complete the customs declaration — declare any restricted items, cash over ¥1 million, and goods for tax-free shopping.
- 6
Submit both sections. You will receive QR codes for immigration and customs.
- 7
Register at least 6 hours before your flight lands in Japan to ensure the QR codes are active.
- 8
On arrival at a major Japanese airport, proceed to the Joint Kiosk area. Scan your passport and then your Visit Japan Web QR codes. The kiosk processes both immigration and customs and prints a slip for the officer.
- 9
Show the printed slip to the immigration officer and proceed through.
Joint Kiosks at Japanese airports
Joint Kiosks are automated processing terminals at major Japanese international airports including Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), Kansai (KIX), Chubu (NGO), and Fukuoka (FUK). They process both immigration and customs declarations in one step using your Visit Japan Web QR codes.
How Joint Kiosks work:
- Scan your biometric passport at the kiosk
- Scan your Visit Japan Web QR code
- The kiosk processes your declarations and prints a slip
- Present the slip and your passport to the immigration officer
- Proceed through — significantly faster than the paper form queue during busy periods
Note: You still pass by an immigration officer at the end — Joint Kiosks do not replace the final officer check, they just make the paperwork step much faster.
JESTA — what US citizens need to know for future travel
Japan is developing JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), a pre-travel electronic authorisation system similar to Australia's ETA or the US ESTA. JESTA is currently planned to become mandatory for visa-exempt visitors to Japan, including US citizens, from 2028.
In 2026: JESTA is not yet required. US citizens enter Japan visa-free with no advance authorisation.
What to expect when JESTA launches: US citizens will need to apply online and receive approval before booking travel to Japan. The application is expected to be similar to the US ESTA — a short online form, a small fee, and rapid approval. Monitor the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (mofa.go.jp) for official announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Information compiled from official government sources and verified data: