How to apply for Japan visa for Malaysians - 2024 travel guide

Japan was one of the later countries to reopen for international travel following pandemic border closures - but the good news is that covid related travel restrictions have been withdrawn, and travel to Japan is once again an option. If you’re thinking of a trip you’re probably wondering about how to get a Japan travel visa for a Malaysian citizen - or if one is even needed at all.

This guide has you covered with a look at different rules and requirements for Japan visas for Malaysians, plus the process for submitting a Japan visa application in Malaysia if you’re not eligible for a waiver. We’ll also touch on the Wise card as a good way to spend when you’re in Japan, with low fees¹ and the mid-market exchange rate.

Do Malaysians need a visa to Japan?

So is it necessary to get a Japan visa in Malaysia before you travel? The good news is that if you’re heading to Japan for a short trip as a tourist, you may not need a visa at all.

In fact, if you’re going to Japan for tourism, transit, to visit friends and relatives, or to attend a business meeting, for up to 90 days, you’ll usually be able to enter without a visa². However, you’ll need a biometric passport which meets international standards - we’ll look at what that means in just a moment.

Japan visa requirements for Malaysian citizens

As we mentioned, you won’t need a visa for a short stay as a tourist, as long as you have a passport which meets ICAO standards. You can tell if your passport is eligible by looking at the front cover. ICAO passports have a small image of a computer chip, under the word Passport which is embossed on the cover³. Most passports in Malaysia issued in the past decade are ICAO compliant, but some older passports may not be just yet. Double check yours to see if you can enter Japan with no need to get a visa.

If you do need a visa to enter as a tourist you’ll have to make an appointment⁴ at the Japanese embassy to apply for your passport, and take along⁵:

• Your original passport
• A photocopy of your Identity Card (front and back)
• A completed visa application from
• Passport photos
• Completed schedule of stay form, showing your itinerary
• details and accommodation information (hotel name, address and telephone number)
• Bank statements for the past 3 months showing you have adequate funds - these may need to be certified by the bank

Japan visa for Malaysians - work or study options

If you’re heading to Japan to work or study, or for a trip which will last over 90 days for any purpose, you’ll need to apply for a visa. In this case you’ll need a sponsor, which could be your employer, school or spouse if you’re going to Japan to visit family, for example.

The sponsor will need to apply for and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before you can complete your long term visa application. Once you have this in hand you’ll then need to apply for your visa with the following documents⁶:

• Your original passport, which must have a valid long term visa for Malaysia if you’re not a Malaysian citizen
• A photocopy of your Identity Card (front and back) of you’re a Malaysian PR
• A completed visa application from
• Passport photos
• Original or copy of the COE which your sponsor has obtained

You can apply for your Japan visa 3 months before you intend to travel, and as there’s no expedited service, you’re advised to get your application in as soon as possible to avoid delays.

Japan working holiday visa

Unfortunately at the time of writing, Malaysian passport holders are not eligible to apply for the Japanese working holiday programme. To get a Japan working holiday visa you’ll need to be from one of the 29 countries which offers bilateral arrangements for young people to work in both countries. You can get a full list from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website⁷.

As these arrangements do change from time to time, if you’re planning on applying in future, it’s worth double checking if Malaysia has been added to the list before you discount this option.

How to apply for a Japan visa in Malaysia

If you’re going to Japan for a short trip as a tourist you won’t usually need a visa at all. However, if you need a visa because your passport isn’t ICAO compatible, or because you’re moving to work or study, you’ll need to arrange to apply for your visa in person at the Japanese Embassy.

Appointments are available Monday to Friday, mornings only. You’ll need to arrange your appointment by email - but be aware that there’s a fixed set of information you need to include in your message, so it’s worth checking the Japanese Embassy website before you hit send⁴.

Send your email to visa@kl.mofa.go.jp, and use Appointment for visa application as the subject.

Japan visa Malaysia price structure

Malaysians won’t usually need a visa to go to Japan for a short break. But the good news is that even if you’re applying for a long term visa to work or study, there’s no fee for you to pay once you have all your paperwork arranged. In the event that there is any fee - for specific visa types for example - you may be able to pay on collection of your visa, so there’s no charge if your application is rejected.

*All fees correct at time of research - 16th July 2024 - double check the details before you apply

Travelling to Japan? Save money on MYR to JPY rates with the Wise card

You’ll not need a visa for Japan for many trips - and if you do need one you might find that you’re not charged a fee for it. However, Japan isn’t a cheap place to visit, so you do still need a smart way to manage your money between MYR and JPY for low cost spending while you’re there. Check out the Wise card.

The Wise card could be a perfect companion for your travels to Japan and beyond. There’s no need to get yen in cash before you travel, and no need to stand in line at a money changer once you’re there.

Just open your Wise account, and add MYR which you can use to make payments in Japan with the mid-market exchange rate. The card will simply convert from MYR to JPY using the live rate at the time of payment, and low fees from 0.43%¹. You’ll get a notification every time so you can check and compare how much the conversion cost.

Your Wise card comes with a linked digital Wise account which supports over 40+ currencies for holding and exchange, and lets you send payments to 160+ countries, and get paid with local bank details from 19 countries. That’s super handy when you’re in Japan, but also on your next trip, wherever that may be.

Use this guide to help you arrange that dream trip to Japan - and get the Wise card to make your money go further while you're there.

Order your Wise card today! 💳