This guide covers UK entry requirements for Japanese citizens in 2026, including the ETA, study, work, and family visas. Good news for most travellers: Japan is visa-exempt, so Japanese citizens do not need a visa to visit the UK — they need only an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), costing £20, for stays of up to six months. A full visa is required only to study, work, or settle. Those routes succeed at very high rates, with work and study both around 99%.
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Fees from the Home Office visa fee calculator, 8 April 2026 schedule.
Japanese citizens are visa-exempt for UK visits and need only an ETA, costing £20, applied for through the UK ETA app. The ETA is now fully required for Japanese nationals and authorises stays of up to six months. A visa is needed only to study, work, or settle — and those routes succeed at around 99%. Visa fees from Japan are charged in Japanese Yen.
UK Entry Requirements for Japanese Citizens 2026
Japan is on the UK's visa-exempt list, so Japanese citizens do not need a visa for tourism, family visits, or business trips of up to six months. Instead they need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — a quick digital permission costing £20, linked to the passport. A full visa is only required to study long-term, work, or settle in the UK, and those applications from Japan succeed at around 99%.
No, not for visits. Japanese citizens are visa-exempt and need only a £20 ETA to enter the UK for up to six months. The ETA is applied for through the UK ETA app and usually approved quickly. A visa is required only for studying, working, or settling — routes that carry roughly 99% grant rates for Japanese applicants.
The UK ETA allows tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings, and short courses of up to six months. It does not permit work or long-term study. Applications are made via the official UK ETA service on gov.uk, cost £20, and most are approved within minutes to a few days. One ETA allows multiple trips over two years.
UK Visa Statistics for Japan 2026
Because Japanese citizens travel visa-free, visitor-visa numbers are tiny — almost everyone uses the ETA instead. The visa applications that do occur are for study, work, and family, and they succeed at very high rates. Japan is a strong UK work and study market, reflecting deep business and university ties between the two countries.
| Visa Category | Applications | Grant Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Work | 5,205 | 99% |
| Study | 2,738 | 99% |
| Family | 172 | 96% |
| Visitor (visa) | 227 | 81% |
Source: Home Office Immigration System Statistics, year ending March 2026. Most Japanese visitors travel on the ETA, not a visa.
UK Student Visa from Japan 2026
Japanese students staying longer than six months need a UK Student visa, which costs £524 from Japan plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year. A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor is required. The Japanese student grant rate is 99%. Short courses under six months can use the ETA instead.
The UK Student visa needs a CAS, the English language requirement, and maintenance funds of £1,483 per month for London or £1,136 elsewhere. Graduates can then use the Graduate Route for two years of post-study work. Fees from Japan are paid in Japanese Yen at the Home Office calculator rate.
UK Work Visa from Japan 2026
The Skilled Worker visa from Japan costs ¥182,623 for up to 3 years, needing a graduate-level job, a £41,700 minimum salary, and a sponsoring UK employer. Health and Care Worker visas cost ¥72,247. The Japanese work grant rate is excellent at 99%, on over 5,200 applications a year — a strong corporate link with Britain.
The Skilled Worker visa needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer and a salary meeting the going rate in the Home Office eligible occupations list. Many Japanese workers come via intra-company transfers within the Global Business Mobility routes. Healthcare professionals use the lower-fee Health and Care Worker route.
| Work Visa Type | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker (≤3 years) | ¥182,623 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | ¥360,787 |
| Health and Care Worker | ¥72,247 |
| Global Talent (with approval) | ¥45,712 |
Youth Mobility Scheme for Japanese Citizens 2026
Japan is a partner country in the Youth Mobility Scheme, which lets Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 live and work in the UK for up to two years. Places are allocated by ballot, with a set annual quota for Japan under the Youth Mobility Scheme. It is one of the few routes that allows work without employer sponsorship, making it popular with younger Japanese travellers who want UK work experience.
UK Spouse & Family Visa from Japan 2026
The UK Spouse visa from Japan requires the UK sponsor to earn at least £29,000 a year, with fees paid in Japanese Yen. The initial visa runs for 33 months, with a pathway to settlement after five years. Japanese family applications succeed at 96%. Processing takes up to 12 weeks, or about 6 weeks with priority service.
The UK Spouse visa lets Japanese nationals join a British or settled partner under Appendix FM, leading to settlement after five years. The sponsor must meet the £29,000 income requirement and prove a genuine relationship.
How to Apply for UK Entry from Japan
For visits, Japanese citizens apply for the ETA through the UK ETA app — no appointment, just a passport scan and photo. For study, work, or family visas, applicants apply online at gov.uk and can usually use the UK Immigration: ID Check app rather than visiting a centre. The process mirrors other visa-exempt countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
- Visiting? Apply for the £20 ETA via the UK ETA app — approved quickly.
- Studying 6+ months? Apply for a Student visa with your CAS.
- Working? Secure a sponsored job, then apply for the Skilled Worker visa.
- Aged 18-30? Enter the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot.
- Joining a partner? Apply for the Spouse or family visa.
- Give biometrics via the ID Check app where eligible, then get your eVisa.
Visa decisions take around 3 weeks for study and work, and up to 12 weeks for family cases; the priority visa service can shorten non-settlement decisions where offered. The ETA itself is usually issued within minutes to three days. Our guide to processing times after biometrics covers visa timelines.
- Japan is visa-exempt — visitors need only a £20 ETA, not a visa.
- The ETA covers visits up to 6 months and allows multiple trips over 2 years.
- A visa is needed only for long study, work, or settlement.
- Work grant rate 99% (5,205 applications); study 99%.
- Skilled Worker visa: ¥182,623; minimum salary £41,700.
- Youth Mobility Scheme open to Japanese citizens aged 18-30.
- Visa fees from Japan are charged in Japanese Yen.
No, not for visits. Japan is on the UK's visa-exempt list, so Japanese citizens need only an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — a £20 digital permission — to enter for tourism, family visits, business, or short courses of up to six months. A full visa is required only to study long-term, work, or settle in the UK. Those visa routes succeed at around 99% for Japanese applicants.
The UK ETA costs £20 and is applied for through the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website. You scan your passport, upload a photo, and answer a few questions. Most ETAs are approved within minutes, though it can take up to three working days. One ETA is linked to your passport and allows multiple visits to the UK over two years, each up to six months long.
Yes. To work, a Japanese citizen needs a sponsored job and the Skilled Worker visa, costing ¥182,623 for up to three years with a 99% grant rate. To study longer than six months, the Student visa applies, also at 99%. Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 can also enter the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot for a two-year work-and-travel visa that needs no employer sponsorship.
On the ETA, Japanese citizens can stay up to six months per visit, with multiple trips allowed over the ETA's two-year validity. There is no fixed yearly cap, but the UK must remain a place of visit rather than residence. For longer stays, a Student, Skilled Worker, Youth Mobility, or family visa is required, several of which lead to settlement after five years of continuous residence.
The Skilled Worker visa from Japan costs ¥182,623 for up to three years, or ¥360,787 for longer, paid in Japanese Yen. The Health and Care Worker visa is cheaper at ¥72,247 and is exempt from the health surcharge. All work visas need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary meeting the £41,700 general threshold or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.
The Youth Mobility Scheme lets Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 live and work in the UK for up to two years. Japan has a dedicated annual quota, and places are allocated by ballot. Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, it needs no employer sponsorship, so holders can take almost any job. It is a popular route for young Japanese people wanting UK work and travel experience before returning home.