Entry rules · Ghana passport

Do Ghana passport holders need a visa for Japan?

Yes. Ghana passport holders need a visa for Japan, applied for before travel.

Checked against official sources on 30 Oct 2026. Two independent checks agreed.

The rule

Entry
Visa required. Apply for a visa before you travel, with a visit in person: to a consulate or visa centre, or to give fingerprints.
Status
Verified 30 Oct 2026
Official source
Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁)
Applies to
A short tourist visit with an ordinary Ghana passport.

What the official sources say

The passages the two checks relied on, with where they come from. Quotes are shown as published, in the source’s language.

Entry: visa required

(2)査証免除国・地域の方以外の場合には、日本の空海港における上陸審査の際に、「短期滞在」の査証が必要となります。

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · Q7 · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

ビザとは、在外公館で発行されるもので、その外国人が持っている旅券(パスポート)が有効であるという「確認」と、ビザに記載された条件により入国することに支障がないという「推薦」の意味を持っています。

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · Q1ビザ(査証)とはなんですか。 · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

本邦に上陸しようとする外国人(乗員を除く。以下この節において同じ。)は、有効な旅券で日本国領事官等の査証を受けたものを所持しなければならない。

Government of Japan, e-Gov Laws and Regulations (Digital Agency) · 第六条第一項 · Law, retrieved 20 Oct 2026
More quotes (18)

我が国に上陸しようとする外国人は、原則として有効な旅券を所持していることのほかに、所持する旅券に日本国領事官等が発給した有効な査証を所持していなければなりません。

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · 1 査証(ビザ) · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

「特定国(日本が査証免除措置(査証免除措置の一次停止又は査証取得勧奨措置をとっている国を除く)をとっている国・地域)」とは、以下の特定国覧に記載する国・地域です。

Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · 特定国一覧 · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Japan has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions listed in the table below.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Visas are issued at the Embassy, Consulate-General, Consular Office of Japan abroad. They cannot be obtained when you arrive in Japan or while you are staying in Japan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · VISA (*Note) · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Once all the documents are ready, you may apply for a visa at the consular section of the Diplomatic Mission of Japan with jurisdiction over your place of residence, at an accredited agency, the Japan Visa Application Centre, or online, by the method specified by the Diplomatic Mission of Japan where you will submit your application (visa application cannot be made inside Japan.).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · 1. Visa Application Procedures · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

All foreign nationals/people who need to obtain a short-term visa to Japan AND currently reside in the following countries/region, are eligible to apply for a visa online: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Online application for the visit to Japan with tourism purpose (single-entry) · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

A5: There are four ways to apply for a visa: (1) the visa applicant him/herself goes directly to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General, (2) the visa applicant writes a Letter of Proxy and get a proxy to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in his / her place, (3) the visa applicant uses an accredited travel agent approved by the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General and (4) the visa applicant uses the JAPAN eVISA website and apply for visa online.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · 1. Prior to the Application, Q5 · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

However, depending on the circumstances in your country or region, there are cases that the documents should only be submitted by the applicant him/herself going to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General, or through an accredited travel agent.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · 1. Prior to the Application, Q5 · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Checklist for “Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checklist for “Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa” · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

for all nationalities except China, Russia, CIS Countries, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checklist for “Single-Entry Short-Term Stay Visa” · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

A. Provided by visa applicant

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Documents to be submitted · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Japan, where the visa application is to be submitted, requires detailed confirmation.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checklist notes · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

passport, will not be returned.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Checklist notes · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Eligibility · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

All foreign nationals/people residing in these countries/regions, except those who are exempt from short-term visa, can apply for an eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA website.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Eligibility · Government page, retrieved 20 Oct 2026

All nationals of the countries and regions listed below require a visa to enter Japan. Click on the nationality of the visa applicant traveling to Japan. * Philippines * Viet Nam * China * Russia * CIS countries, Ukraine, Georgia * Other Nationalities

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Short-Term Stay · Government page, retrieved 30 Oct 2026

Foreign nationals/people who wish to travel to Japan for tourism for a short-term period can apply for a visa online and receive an electronic visa (eVISA) through the JAPAN eVISA system. As of May 15 2026, the JAPAN eVISA system is available for nationals/people residing in the following countries/regions. Eligibility 1. Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, United Kingdom, U.S.A. All foreign nationals/people residing in these countries/regions, except those who are exempt from short-term visa, can apply for an eVISA through the JAPAN eVISA websiteImage: Open a New Window. 2. Application should be made through an accredited agency in countries/regions below. For details, applicants are advised to check the website of the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over their place of residence. * (1) China Nationals of China, who reside in China * (2) The Philippines Nationals of the Philippines, who reside in the Philippines and participate in a packaged tour organized by designated travel agencies * (3) Viet Nam Nationals of Viet Nam, who reside in Viet Nam and participate in a packaged tour organized by designated travel agencies * (4) Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and United Arab Emirates All foreign nationals/people residing in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea (except jurisdiction over the Consulate General of Japan in Jeju), Singapore and United Arab Emirates, except those who are exempt from short-term visa 3. Notes (for both 1. and 2. above) * (1) Japan eVISA is available for those traveling to Japan by air or sea (limited to international scheduled passenger ferries between Japan and Busan or Shanghai). * (2) During the application process, the applicant may be requested to appear in person at the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over the place of the applicant’s residence for an interview. * (3) Only ordinary passport holder is eligible to apply through JAPAN eVISA website.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Eligibility · Government page, retrieved 30 Oct 2026

A5: There are four ways to apply for a visa: (1) the visa applicant him/herself goes directly to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General, (2) the visa applicant writes a Letter of Proxy and get a proxy to go to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General in his / her place, (3) the visa applicant uses an accredited travel agent approved by the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General and (4) the visa applicant uses the JAPAN eVISA website and apply for visa online. However, depending on the circumstances in your country or region, there are cases that the documents should only be submitted by the applicant him/herself going to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General, or through an accredited travel agent. Check with the embassy or consulate general to which you plan to apply before making the application. For information on the countries/region where the JAPAN eVISA website is available, please refer to the online visa application page.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan · Government page, retrieved 30 Oct 2026

Japan for other passports

Visa-freeUp to 90 days
Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
Visa-freeUp to 30 days
Brunei
eTAUp to 30 daysPublic data
Qatar
eVisa
Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Visa required
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How this rule was checked

On 30 Oct 2026 we checked this rule against the official sources that govern entry to Japan, chiefly Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁). Two independent checks reached the same result.

Public visa data (as of 17 Feb 2026) said the same; the check confirmed it.

See this check in the log of checks and changes, and how verification works in the methodology.

Something here is wrong or out of date? Report a wrong rule.

Government travel advice for Japan

United States
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
United Kingdom
No advice against travel
Canada
Exercise normal security precautions

What these governments tell their own citizens about travel to Japan as a whole, as of 30 Sept 2026. It is not about visas, and it reflects each government’s relations and consular reach as well as conditions on the ground.

Plan your trip

Before you travel

This page answers whether you need a visa and how long you can stay on a short tourist visit. It does not cover passport validity, other documents or permission to work. Entry rules change, sometimes without notice, and border officials make the final decision: confirm the requirements for your trip with the official immigration website or embassy of Japan.